Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.
Childcare
are there any downsides to sending ds to a childminder?
oranges · 03/04/2007 13:52
Serious question - I work at home and have a mothers-help type person come in and watch him a couple of days a week, but she is unreliable on times, and now ds is 1, I want to increase my work load and have more organised childcare. I am in central london where nurseries cost a fortune, and there seem to be some very reasonably priced childminders. But my mother and MIL seem horrified - say he needs a nanny or a nursery. But why? They say he wont get enough stimulation. Is that true? I thought he'd get more than in a nursery.
OrmIrian · 03/04/2007 13:58
It depends on the CM - obvious answer. Our CM (saintly wonderful woman!) gave them plenty of stimulation. They were always busy, always going out. And the fact that there were fewer children meant that all three of mine built a close bond with one other child that is still strong today. I think a good CM can be very stimulating.
TeeCee · 03/04/2007 13:58
My DD gets loads of fab stimulation with her childminder.
She looks after 4 or 5 other kids. Has a gorgeous labrador dog, a cat, a rabbit and a guinea pig. 2 fab teenage DD's herself, one of whom is doing childcare at college. The other kids she looks after vary in age. They go to a mother & toddler group, trips out and she comes home with things they have made togehter, painting etc and I get a report written on th days she is with her and emailed photos of her and all the other kids and animals!
I wouldn't swap DD being at the childminders with anything and am more happy with the set up than I thought i could ever be.
cece · 03/04/2007 14:02
I have always used cms. Have always been happy with the care my dc have recieved. Think 1 is far to young to send to nursery personally. I wanted them to have the same sort of set up I would have at home and form a bond with just the oned person. Much better for them emotionally in my opinion. I had one for 5 years and the children still see her even though they don't go anymore - she is like an extension to our family.
Rubybees · 03/04/2007 14:03
As a childminder (hehe) why wouldn't he get enough stimulation? That sounds odd TBH. We have smaller numbers (3 under 5, only 1 of these under 12months). I don't move from the floor all day due to playing with the children (apart from now when all in bed phew my bum hurts from the floor lol).
A childminder can be much more flexible for the hours you required etc. A nanny is great but they work from your home and may not be able to be as flexi
Maybe mum and MIL bit miffed you've not asked them (just a thought)
hth
suejonez · 03/04/2007 14:06
My DS has only been going to CM for about a month but I chose her becasue she has 17 yrs experince, her own children, came highly recommended by another parent (mumsnetter!). She has dogs, children husband in and out at various times - just like a normal home! HE is very happy there, her 16 yr old daughters friends work at local nursery for a pittance with parents being charged much more than a CM.
Would rather he had a lovely experienced mum looking after him than a lovely inexperienced teenager.
He is (touch wood) very happy there
suejonez · 03/04/2007 14:09
oranges I am also in London, I am posh'ish (am I Eleusis? - independent opinion please!) and my CM speaks with a slightly "rougher" accent and is obviously less well educated than me. But she is a lovely woman and more importantly DSA is very happy with her - but them I come from un-posh roots myself so perhapos it doesn't bother me so much.
saltire · 03/04/2007 14:10
CM's are allowed
3 under the age of five. Only one of those can be under 1 (a baby).
In Scotland, they are then allowed another three under the age of 12 (i've forgotten is it 12 or 16). It's different in England though.
I have three under 5's. One is 2.3 years old, one is 2.9 years old and one is 4. i also have 2 DSs of my own aged 9 and 7.
bozza · 03/04/2007 14:12
There are rules as to how many children a CM can look after at one time. to my mind the downside of a CM is if she is ill, her own child is ill, she is on holiday then you will have to take time off yourself or make alternative arrangements. How big an issue this is to you will influence the decision.
saltire · 03/04/2007 14:16
Thanks bozza, I knew it was different. In Scotland over 8's are definately counted, as my DS1 is 9 and he is included in my numbers, but I can't remember now if children are included up to the age of 12, or 16. I think it's because i've never minded anyone older than 10 really, once they go to high school they don't really want to go to a CM!
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