Using multiple childcare options

[IndecisiveDay]

Hello,

I need to increase the hours my one year old is in childcare, his current nursery doesn't have all the days I need available.

I'm thinking about splitting his time across two providers either another nursery or a childminder. It would be 1.5 days at each, has anyone done this or is it a bad idea that will make it harder for him to settle in both places?

Thank you

I have worked with lots of dc who really struggle with this sort of arrangement. In the interests of fairness, they would only be mentioned to me when it is an issue, so it is perfectly possible there are an equal number of dc who manage absolutely fine.
If a little one goes to Nursery for only 1 (or 1.5) day(s) a week, then it can be a real "settling in" period every single week, as it means there are then 6 (5.5) days they aren't there. Many children do take a while to settle, and, for all of those, it makes it really difficult.
If you are either a lone parent, or you and your oh parent very similarly, then the child is still coping with 3 different 'care' arrangements - Nursery, CM, and yourself. If your dc is ever left with anyone else (2 separate parents, or if they stay with Grandparents, etc) then it gets even more complicated.
Is there a reason they can't go for the 3 days at the CMers or the other Nursery ?

Thank you for replying.

That's the other option I find another setting that can do all the days I need (going to start visiting places again next week haven't picked a second place yet).

The reason I'm considering splitting it is because he is happy at current one and settled quickly (been there since very young). So minimise the changes in his week by still going there as normal, but yes that might not give the new setting a fair chance.

Is the 1.5 days in each setting across 4 days or 3?

Depending on the nature of your job, I would look for a really lovely CM to do all 3 days. At the age of your DC, a really well set up CM has a lot of advantages over a nursery. Of course there are good ones and not so good ones, as with nurseries, but personally for a 1 year old I think a great CM is better than a great nursery.

The drawback with a CM is that they can be ill, go on holiday etc and you have to be able to work round that. I can see that (for example) a lone parent who wouldn't get paid if they didn't go to work could find that difficult.

Thank you.

I am going to contact some childminders I didn't actually visit any back when picked his current nursery.

Holidays/sickness could be a problem due to work; I have seen people mention on here about childminders who have back ups with others but from people I know locally that doesn't seem common here. Again a positive towards splitting the childcare as if childminder had holiday maybe could do extra nursery sessions.

I think if I'd been looking for the childcare pattern I now need 6 months ago would have just picked one childminder. Scared of giving notice to current nursery who have been amazing and then ending up somewhere that doesn't suit us as well.

I am generally a wimp and yes also a lone parent so I'm finding it helpful to put it on paper here as is just going around in my head.

My kids have various childcare (nannys and childminders), they are fine with it. As lomg as they know where they are going

Mine didnt have problems going to 2 providers, I think it depends on the child him/herself.

I prefer CM over nursey, I am lucky enough to have a reliable CM. She is also flexible although her fee isn't cheap.

Many children go to several people for childcare. Ive had children go to each set of grandparents and me and been fine with it. The advantage of building a relationship now with a cm is also that if you LO starts school nursery in 2 years you will have wrap around care in place if you choose wisely. That time will come around very quickly.

Thank you everyone for replying.

I'm going to try it at least for a couple of months and then reassess as current nursery will have space from September so have a fall back but open to finding somewhere that suits better.

Good point raised about the wrap around care from childminders in later years; have a short list of some to message when someone stops trying to help me type.

For me a childminder will be very best for your child. CM's can take care and watch over you child, but you have to also monitor them at a time.

I would prefer to choose in looking another nursery since they're the one that are permitted to deal with kids.

can you get a nanny for the other days? so theres less settling and its their own home?

My friend did this and it worked really well, their DC did 3 days at nursery and then 1 day with the nanny.

That's also a good idea grasspigeons, it would be less hassle for the child since he's already settled at home.