What age to start nursery

[Zoeandisla]

Hi everyone
I’m curently on maternity leave and my pay is going to drop a lotin couple weeks. We will struggle with bills etc. My daughter just turned 3 months and I’ve set up a meeting with work to discuss my options in going back to work. I’m thinking a nursery for 30 hours per week. I dont want to go back but I feel I have no choice. And then there’s the cost of childcare! Anyone in same/similar situation or can share experience/give advise.
Got to the point where I’m not sleeping at night sick with worry.

It used to be normal to return back at this time full time and typically it was the mum who struggled more than baby (understandably) I remember crying my eyes out even though I was leaving mine with family.
I've had several children from this age as a child-minder (before understanding more about bonding and benefits of a close carer relationship I would have gone for a nursery as I didn't want my baby bonding closely with anyone else) If you find the right person your baby can thrive and they still understand your their mummy and special - Ive had some 50 hours a week they still love mummy best but Im their second home they stay for years coming in and treating it just like home and when mummy cant be there and they are worried they come for reassurance and cuddles but still run to mummy for more on pick up.
You may find child-minders are cheaper in your area, they still take the various schemes and funding and are inspected by Ofsted like nurseries and work to the same standards (EYFS) many have as high a qualification if not higher than a nursery manager and you have the consistent person looking after lo every day which if things go well can see you through to senior school and beyond.
Child-minders often have assistants and co-minders reducing the need for alternative careers (assistants can be left for 2 hours if they have first aid so can cover appointments , co-minders can cover holidays and sickness) or they network with others so can suggest alternative familiar care.
You get the time to chat with your cm about baby every day and it is the person who fed them cuddled them etc, a real partnership can develop and they often go above and beyond in emergencies like overnight care if you go to hospital. They tend to be more flexible if your stuck in traffic - within reason and given suitable contact to update them.

Thanks that was tralky helpful, I hadn’t really thought of a childminder before. Just looking at some prices and they are cheaper. I must say my mind goes into overdrive and can’t help but think what if my child is harmed in some way. Typical parent I guess. Been looking on childcare.co.uk for some reviews etc

Well the same would go for a nursery? What if your child was harmed there? You could go through life thinking the worst if everyone. There have been far more reports of abuse/wronguns in nurseries than childminder (actual registered childminders, not nannies or babysitters that the press wrongly calls childminders).

Honestly I know dozens and dozens of cms and they are all super lovely and good (usually amazing) at their job and love their mindees to bits.

Please do visit both. Good luck.

As frosty says there have been many cases in both accidental injury and abuse in nurseries so numbers are not a guarantee. If you see a childminder ask to go back when they are working so that you can see how the children react to them and how loving and warm they are. In a cm's setting you know who is with your child and build a relationship with them. In a nursery although they have key workers they don't always work directly with your child and can be off some days or part time so handovers are often to other staff members.
Ask to look at references and for thing like siblings and long term use that gives a good idea of how happy the users are.