Childminder/Nursery/Family combo?

[BurpingFrog]

I'm going to be at university full time from September and am at a bit of a loss with regard to the best childcare for my DS who will be 1 and a half.

My DM has offered to do 1-2 days, and DS knows her very well and is used to being with her (we have lived with her since he was tiny, and spends time alone with her already). She will do lots of fun activities with him and could take him to a group or two. She could start off with 2 days while he is still little but would want to taper it off, maybe by the time he turns two depending how he goes.

I don't know how best to split the 3-4 remaining days. I've met a childminder who is lovely, and I like the small scale and personal bond aspects. Also he could already start doing half days/days with her from now to get used to it.

There is also space at a nursery which seems very nice and prioritises time outside in a big green space, which I know he would really love. Also does Makaton which we use at home too (he is signing quite a lot now.) It's also more convenient to get to.

Is it best to choose either childminder or nursery (which?) for three days, and use my mum for the other two?

Or could it work to combine all three? 2 nursery, 2 childminder, 1 mum for eg. Or 2 nursery, 2 mum, 1 childminder?

Three settings seems a lot but the time with my mum is basically "home".

If anyone has any words of wisdom I'd be grateful!

I wouldn't split with CMer and home / G'ma and Nursery. It can be too much for some dc to have that many different care givers.
There is no 'right' / 'wrong' in terms of CMer vs Nursery. It is personal preference.
Financially, you are more likely to find a CMer who you can pay for the hours you need them to attend, rather than a Nursery - where you are more likely to have to pay for a "session" even if you don't need them to be there all those hours. (Will depend, as all Nurseries set their own contracts and all CMers set their own - that is a generalisation).
CMers will often take your LO to groups, if that is a deciding factor too.

Do you know your timetable / contact hours though ?
Unless you are doing something like medicine, I can't see you needing 5 full days cover, especially if you live with your Mum and she can be a bit flexible around which hours she does.

Hi BackforGood thanks so much for your message.

I agree about the three-way split being a lot. I suppose I am just wondering about having the chance for him to see what suits him best and then potentially increase either CM or nursery.

I think I like the idea of the CM better in theory, but put off by the fact she doesn't have a big outdoor space and doesn't do Makaton (just seems a shame that he is communicating well with it and suddenly wouldn't be able to get a response). Also the holidays she takes are not in uni holiday time.

Do you mind my asking if you have used either/or CM and nursery?

Thank you for the suggestions about contact hours and childcare flexibility too. I don't have my timetable yet but it is Medicine that I'll be studying so I think 5 days is likely, though I hope I might be able to collect him early some days.

Oh, how funny - I was assuming it was likely to be anything but medicine!

Yes, I used CMers for each of mine.
That said, I visit a LOT of Nurseries each year, with my work.

Thank you.

I might do a trial half day or two with the childminder soon and take things from there. I used to work in a nursery and thought it was great, but that one was only for children aged 2 and over and I suppose I'm warier of nurseries for babies (just because of not being familiar with them in the same way).

And yes, a funny coincidence!

Hi, I would check the childminder you like does trial sessions as this quite un heard off, I offer settling in sessions ready for when they start but this is only after a contract and deposit has been paid. If a parent then decides not to use the space or leave in first 4 weeks they do not get there deposit back. She may only have a small out door area but then go to parks etc

Hi Apple, thanks for your message. Yes she said she would offer the trial days (I would pay her) as she has space to do so at the moment.

I bet your CM would be able to learn some makaton. Perhaps you could pull together a crib sheet of your son's favourite signs. Our nursery didn't use much makaton but they learned it for DS and taught the children it when he went from the younger children s room into the preschool room still signing.

I agree 2 settings is probably enough for now. You may well end up using all 3 over time, perhaps replacing CM with nursery when he is older.

Our eldest had quite a complicated childcare setup, with me some days, nursery others, and a rota of my husband and in law's one day a week, and the usual me at DH at the weekend. I made a weekly calendar with photos of who'd have her each day and we reminded her every evening and morning. Complicated is doable, but I think a simpler set up is better at 1.