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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Nursery v CM?

24 replies

LyndaG · 27/12/2007 22:37

I go back to work in May and need to get childcare sorted for 3 days a week MIL is doing 2 days a week. DD will be 11.5months...

I have no idea where to start?

CM seems more flexible to me? But is this best?

What questions do I need to ask?

Yet another parenting mind-field

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

bahKewcHumbug · 27/12/2007 22:40

it very much varies depending on the nursery and CM. My Cm is definitely more flexible than our local nurseries. I wanted a home environment and she has four childrne of her own, two dogs and several cats and he loves it there (has been there since about 15 months and is now two and they are like a second family to him).

Visit a few nurseries and CM's try to get references (though obviously they will give good ones), read ofsted report and trust your instincts. Good luck

nannyL · 27/12/2007 22:42

Id recoomend a (good) CM any day

especially for a child under 2.

Having seen what i have seen with my own eyes i would NEVER send my own baby to a nursary.... ever

but a lovely childminder in a nice home... would definitley consider!

Original poster

LyndaG · 27/12/2007 22:43

My mum used to be a CM so I am thinking it is more suitable and personal....you hear horror stories about nurseries and CM tend to have their own kids....

ahhhhh

OP posts:

Heated · 27/12/2007 22:48

I'm from the other perspective where nursery made sense for us since mixing with peers was important since we were new to the area & live where there is not a lot of opportunity to meet other children of the same aga. Having total reliability (i.e. if care-worker unwell not an issue at a nursery) was essential. I work p/t so I felt the balance between 1-1 with me and nursery was right.

Heated · 27/12/2007 22:55

Also meant to add, I was very confident with the staff looking after my children. My dd adores her keyworker who is a lovely smiley grandmother and they gets loads of outdoor and creative opportunites I couldn't give them.

When ds starts school I am going to find a CM for out of school hours, so will be asking for some advice myself

blueshoes · 27/12/2007 23:00

I went for a nursery, after having done my research and making sure it was the right one for dd and now ds. For me, having a difficult child meant I preferred the checks and balances that a good nursery offers.

I was a little concerned about what goes on behind closed doors with a non-speaking child. There are more than one set of arms to cuddle in a nursery and prevents any one carer from being overloaded with my dd's demands.

Wifi · 27/12/2007 23:04

You could always contact your local child office which are govt based. Think it's called Child Info Service. They will give you a list of Nurseries and CMS that are checked and up to standards. I am sure that any CM or nursery would not be worried about you speaking to the parents of their looked after children alone if they have nothing to hide.

Wifi · 27/12/2007 23:05

And it doesn't matter what questions you ask, most childcarers have their answers off pat. Gut instinct is good too.

Original poster

LyndaG · 27/12/2007 23:10

Thanks Ladies just another thought anyone know how much a nanny share is? I only need 3 days a week as MIL helping other days and potentially can do a 3rd day once a month just wondered if it would be cheaper

OP posts:

Wifi · 27/12/2007 23:18

No idea but a childminder with their own children in a clean & happy environment is probably cheaper than a Nanny who has had to study an awful lot and will expect to be paid for it.

nannynick · 28/12/2007 00:36

A 3-day per week daily nanny live-out based on a 10-hour day, I would expect to cost around £300 a week. If shared with another family (so the nanny cared for your dd, and other families children at the same time in your home), cost could drop I expect to maybe around £200 possibly less. Nanny shares are not easy to arrange, though a plus point is that a nanny may be more inclined to care for a mildly ill child, than a nursery.

dylansaunty · 28/12/2007 08:47

Just to put one point right, childminders have to have a basic level of qualification, CRB check, and first aid certificate, and be registered an inspected by OFSTED. If I'm correct, I don't think nannys have to have any of these, they can be completly unqualified and unregulated. (although obviously there are many great nannys who have got all this and much more) but assuming a nanny has to study more than a childminder isn't corret.

yogimum · 28/12/2007 08:55

ds went to a nursery one afternoon a week from five months. It wasn't the nursery that impressed me but the baby room manager who was fantastic and I immediately knew i could leave him in her care.

ToomanynewyearsROSElutions · 28/12/2007 10:40

im a cm, but even if not a baby that young i would not send to a nursery!

nannynick · 28/12/2007 10:43

There is a related thread to this, over in CHAT - Tell me why you chose a nursery instead of a childminder for your baby?

Illness issues seems to me to be a major part of the decision - if a member of nursery staff is ill, the nursery still operates... they get a temp. Whereas if a childminder is ill, there is not always someone else to take over. This is why some childminders work in small groups, some may work from the same home, while others may live near each other and provide back-up care.

LoveMyGirls · 28/12/2007 10:59

Im a cm so biased but nursery's ratio's for babies are 1 carer to 3 babies in cm setting we can only care for 1 baby.

yogimum · 28/12/2007 11:21

the day my son was at nursery there was max of 3 babies and two carers. I'd have a nanny but didn't want to get into the whole employer/employee relationship. I would have considered a childminder if I had known of any in my area. You will instinctively know if somethings right for your child.

blueshoes · 28/12/2007 11:43

Interesting to know, LoveMyGirls.

I guess that would add to the general impression that childminders provide a more homely environment, closer to that of a parent at home with her baby and older siblings eg go on a school run, interacting with older children.

A nursery, on the other hand, would group the baby with other babies (max 1-3 ratio as well). This means that all the toys in a nursery babyroom would be age appropriate and activities and schedules more suited for a baby.

Horses for courses.

bahKewcHumbug · 28/12/2007 13:30

I think the sickness thing evens out - my CM has only been off sick 3 days this year (if they don't work they don't get paid) and IME cm's are more relaxed about taking childrne when they are ill than nurseries. Also my son would have freaked if his primary carer was off sick and a stranger was put in their place. I knew he needed to bond to one individual in order to separate happily from me.

Ultimately it does depend on both teh specific CM and the nursery - it's difficult to generalise.

CaptainUnderpants · 28/12/2007 13:50

Even if you have not made your mind up yet you need to find a nursery NOW !

People have their babies names down for day care nusery before they are born . You may have to put a deposit down and may lose this if you dont go with them but if you leave it much longer then you are unlickely to get in the one you want or is highly recommended, espcailly more so if you are need only a certain number of days.

they get booked and filled up way ahead, especailly for under 2 yrs.

Even if this is not your final decision you still have that option covered.

Which ever option you go for , pro and cons for both , recommendation is very important.

Good luck !

amidaiwish · 28/12/2007 13:53

you have to have a look around and see how you feel about the nurseries you see and the CM in your area that you visit.

my DDs are both in nursery and i have been very happy with it. Saying that it is a very popular nursery and i had DD1's name down from my 13 week scan. She started at 9 months old.

Kiddi · 29/12/2007 14:33

I am a CM and am as qualified as the manager level requirements for most nurseries, although they are improving basic qualification requirements for all levels of childcare providers, please do not assume that just because a nursery has a certain amount of qualified staff that they are the people who will be caring for you child daily. PLEASE ASK any carer you go to see, what qualifications and experience and who is with your child constantly.
the reason I became a CM when I had my second child, was I have always been biased towards Cms over nurseries as you are always only dealing with one person as is your child.

Sidge · 29/12/2007 14:56

Depends on the child.
Depends on the nursery.
Depends on the childminder.

I have used both and prefer nursery. I didn't have great experiences with my CMs and felt very vulnerable being dependent on one person. I don't have the sort of job where I can take a day off if my CM is ill for eg.

My DDs nursery was fantastic, very caring and the staff were excellent. I loved the place, the whole ethos and management of it was superb.

My CMs were lovely people but it just didn't work out.

Mum2Luke · 29/12/2007 17:44

I am also a cm with NVQ level 3 Early years qualification, I have also worked as a bank nursery nurse which meant I was working in more or less all the rooms.

It is a good nursery but some of the staff (I felt) were too interested in their nights out and were too young to look after babies. I had a cm friend mind my son while I worked there but I went back to cming as it was causing problems when he was not wanting me to go to work.

We are constantly being pushed to get more and more qualifications but because we are self-employed we cannot ask for pay rises each year. There is a consultation going on about the new registers and we might have to pay £100 per year to register if OFSTED gets their way. Alot of cmers will be forced to finish cming due to not being able to afford this. If any parent wants to sign the petition you can go to www.ncma.org.uk to view the consultation.

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