Childcare options

[purplepoppet92]

Hi all

I am pregnant with my LO, but unfortunately due to high demand for childcare in my area I've got to start looking soon in order to secure a place.
This is my first child so I am a little unsure which option would be best.

For a 1 year old, do people recommend a nursery or a childminder? I worry that a nursery might be a little busy for such a young child and worry that they might not get as much 1:1 time , but I can see the value in them for slightly older children.
In saying that, I have a very limited understanding of nurseries.

I would love to hear people's thought's/opinions

I’m personally going with a nursery with my baby due in September. My main worry with a childminder is if they’re ill or on annual leave, there’s no childcare for my baby, where as in a nursery they have alternate staff etc. We have no family to help so that’s a big factor for us. I also feel more comfortable with the nursery we’ve chosen after looking round so might be worth visiting a few places and getting a real feel for them.

My son has been at nursery since he was 9 months (now 3) and I think it is great for them, great for socialisation and for all the activities they do. He absolutely loves it.

The main issue with childminder for me was that there is no one watching them day to day, where in a nursery there's obviously more staff and a hierarchy (call me cynical!)

I used childminders for my DC until they were 2.5 then started at nurseries as I wanted the calm homely environment of a childminder; they are also more affordable which was part of the decision but when I looked at nurseries when my DD was little I wasn’t impressed by the ones in my area.

Mine has gone to nursery since she was 6 months (part time) and loves it.

I looked around and chose one that had a specific baby room and carefully separated the ages / development levels and she had wonderful care.

Have a look at both. There are good and bad of both, but the recommendation is for consistent care for small children, which could be a childminder, or a long serving key worker in a nursery.

I think it's worth checking out both. In the area we lived in previously, I saw a lot of really bad childminders out and about ignoring their charges - saw a small toddler fall badly (like fall 8 feet off a climbing frame, not trip over) even and his childminder not even notice. But in the area we have recently moved to, I see a lots more really good childminders. I honestly think it varies a lot between areas.

I would only go with a childminder who I had seen out and about at toddler groups and knew to be good with the kids.

When I have visited nurseries, I have found it easier to get a handle on the quality of care somehow but I have also paid attention when walking past to how happy the kids seem.

The evidence is for bonding with primary caregivers until 2. Based on that we picked a childminder when I went back to work at 6months; she has been fab. Off sick rarely, flexible on pickup/drop off (if we're late, no drama), and pre-COVID would take children a bit unwell - will still hold onto our son for a few hours if he's distressed/unwell and is flexible to his needs, like if the kids are knackered they go for naps early, if they want to draw all day they can. I didn't meet her at a toddler group, but visited her house when other children were present and I wanted to stay there myself and have a cup of tea; I wanted to run away from the nurseries, even though they were lovely.

However, now my son is 2, I can see the benefits of being in a nursery with other kids, and will be sending him to nursery at 2.5.

We have chosen to use a childminder. She has an excellent Ofsted report and have had personal recommendations. I like the idea of a homely environment and having one/two key familiar faces. I also like the fact that she takes them out and about to lots of places so lots of new experiences. Like a previous poster says it can be difficult if a childminder needs to close due to sickness/training as there isn't always a back up option. This is ok for me but might not be for others.

@Amz6219

My son has been at nursery since he was 9 months (now 3) and I think it is great for them, great for socialisation and for all the activities they do. He absolutely loves it.

The main issue with childminder for me was that there is no one watching them day to day, where in a nursery there's obviously more staff and a hierarchy (call me cynical!)

I had a real drama with a childminder v a nursery, and this is one of the big reasons I'm glad we went for a nursery. There are more staff around, DD key worker has a 'buddy' so if she goes to the loo etc there is already another person there to keep an eye on DD and DD was so had to settle in (and the CM we had booked cancelled our contract because of this after one afternoon) but nursery were able to spend that extra time with her because her key worker could have her buddy help with her other two little ones. Nursery all the way

We went with a nursery from 9 months. We viewed 3 that friends recommend and they all had a dedicated baby room that was away from the toddlers and preschoolers and more set up like a living room, with a sofa for key workers to feed bottles or cuddle their charges, a separate kitchen to where the meals were made for making up bottles and had dedicated nap spaces. At the end of the day we'd be told how many wet or dirty nappies, how many oz of milk and how much of what food had been eaten. I'm sure childminders and other nurseries do similar but thought I'd mention this for reassurance!

I was very emotional putting my son in nursery when he was still so small but as the last couple of years have passed I'm so glad I did, he loves his key workers and nursery staff so much and has made so many friends. If we have another child I'd choose nursery again although it's a little more expensive because our experience has been so positive. The only reason we didn't meet any of the recommended childminders was the risk of sickness/holiday making arrangements tricky.

Also a nanny tho that’s not a cheap option

Tho once have 2/3 kids def cheaper to have a nanny

Have a look at both and see which you prefer.

There's no right answer. Both mine have been in nursery since one and it's been fine.

I will say though, book in for full time hours. It doesn't cost you more to reserve a full time place. Then if you have flexibility if you decide to return part time. It's easier to drop days than get extra ones or change them.

In our nursery the max ratio for babies is three babies to one member of staff. However they are not always at max capacity, like today, when we only had four babies, and three staff. It was lovely as one did some paperwork, while two of us took the babies out for a walk (two in buggies, two walking on reins).

I have the best of both worlds - my childminder works with 3 assistants so ratio is the same as nursery but for half the price

All being equal I’d say childminder until 2.5 or 3. But it’s down to the quality of the individual setting imo - I stayed at home with DD for two years so we were out and about at the same activities as CMs and there were some I’d have handed her over to without a backwards glance and others that are really not in the right jobs. But then again a nursery that hires a succession of disinterested 19 year old “apprentices” on £4 an hour isn’t exactly Norland either.