FTM baffled about where to start with childcare

[chelle85]

I am currently 39 wks pregnant with first child. Intending to have 12mths off work then return hopefully part time (not yet sure on 3 or 4 days)

I know it is a while off but I know friends have struggled to get their kids into their choice of nursery even with 9mths notice so want to try and get sorted now

My mum is willing to have him 1 or 2 days per week but for education purposes I want him to do at least a couple of days with a trained carer. I have no idea whether to go childminder or nursery for a one year old

I have had a look on FIS and there are only 3 nurseries and 6 childminders coming up which doesn't seem to give much choice

Where do I start? What should I be considering?

The council can often provide info. Have a back up plan in case your employer refuses your request to go PT. lots of employers do this.

IME a good CM is much better than a nursery for a one year old. But it can be hard to book that far ahead.

One and two year olds don't IMO need an "educational" or "social" environment, as long as their carer is attentive.

We used (several) london and south east nurseries, London might have been a factor, where there was often high turnover of staff and poor managers. DC had lots of sickness: the nurseries didn't publish sickness records.