Full time nursery or mix with childminder?

[Thewalker75]

I have 2 ds (nearly 3 and 18 mths) who are both currently at nursery 3 days a week and with Grandma 2 days a week in our house.

From January, Grandma daycare is over - she's helped us for a year and she's 72 soon and I've said that's more than enough go and enjoy retirement thank you very much!

My dilemma is whether I extend the days they are at nursery, which they both love but are absolutely exhausted when they get home, or look at getting a childminder to cover those two days so it's a bit more of a relaxed/home environment which is what they are used to?

Would a mix confuse them? Am I being precious at the thought of full time at nursery? Any ideas appreciated!

Ok got a quote for a nanny and that is no longer an option

Will extend their nursery hours whilst we can find a good childminder I think, we live in a small area and the one I was recommended couldn't do the days I want so it could be a long search.

No idea how you do it assuming we go to their house etc and just ask loads of questions like we did at nursery. Thanks for all the comments though it's been really helpful.

As a nanny I have never been provided with a car. Yes there are employer responsibilities but these can be outsourced mostly to a nanny payroll company.

A nanny though is an expensive option, so not surprised that you have now ruled that out. Typically it is more than the cost of a nurseyr or childminder for two children but the 1:2 ratio care and that care is provided at your home can be beneficial.

Visit a childminder and ask them questions like you did with nursery. Also post on Mumsnet: Childminders section for advice about finding a childminder.

Thank you. I'm meeting with a childminder next week who seems lovely and I've asked around and and people seem to really rate her where I live. I've also found a girl who has offered to come to our house but she doesn't sell herself as a nanny. Shes a third cheaper than the agency I was speaking to but its almost too good to be true. Meeting her in a couple of weeks.

The downside of the childminder is that it would mean them going to nursery one day, then to her for 2 days then nursery the other 2 days. Just worried I'm going to confuse them. Might have to start another thread on that issue alone!

Shes a third cheaper than the agency I was speaking to but its almost too good to be true.
A third cheaper... that does sound too good to be true. National Minimum Wage applies so maybe she is very young, so maybe £6.15 minimum wage but that would make the agency cost over £18 which sounds rather high. Meet them, check references, be aware of your responsibilities as an employer if it is permanent work, rather than just occasional babysitting. I don't know your location but try to establish what pay rate is usual in your area for a babysitter and for a nanny. Consider if what she wants to be paid is reasonable... and offer to pay more if it's too cheap - you are the employer so you decide how much to offer as salary.

With regard to the girl who's a nanny-but-isn’t-a-nanny, I agree with @nannynick.

I think adults make too much of the 'confused child' idea. I’ve never met a child who was "confused" by a wide range of varied experiences. I have met adults who don’t allow children sufficient time or space to adjust, or put unrelated problems down to 'not settling'.

Children really do not need the same, monotonous day-on-day routine. If you weren’t using childcare and they were with you, I doubt they’d be doing the same things every day. Nobody would claim a child was "confused" because they went to the park one day, shopping the next, the library the day after, etc......

Children are very adaptable if given the opportunity, and it helps them learn their own way of managing change, which is a great life skill.