Childminder or nursery?

[ploopypleepy]

As the title says, will be going back to work full time towards the end of the year. It's not really a money thing as I know nursery is generally more expensive, but is one better than the other ?

I’d have preferred a childminder up until preschool but has to go with nursery because we would have been stuck if the childminder was Ill or on holiday. It was fine though and the advantage was that our kids got to know the nursery staff really well having been with them since babyhood. Even though they moved to different key workers they’d still see the old ones and get cuddles from them.

We went for a nursery. Better opening hours and more flexibility. The childminders round ours didn’t fill me with much confidence either and still don’t when I interact with them at toddler groups. I reckon a brilliant childminder would be worth their weight in gold though.

Our childminder is brilliant. She’s a qualified teacher too. She links with another childminder so they often do things together and DD benefits from a slightly larger group of children. She takes them to playgroups and out and about to different places like the farm or aquarium - all included in what we pay. They spend tons of time outdoors. She provides food and it’s all homemade and healthy. DD loves mixing with the older children before and after school too.

In 18 months she’s never closed for illness - and actually in contrast to what you often hear about nurseries she’s not trigger happy on sending DD home for the smallest reason - she’s only ever sent her home once when she was actually sick. She charges for term time only in the standard pricing structure, but does actually open in the school holidays for those that want it, apart from Christmas and 2 weeks of the summer hols - but obviously that’s a consideration that we wouldn’t have with nursery so a downside.

I went with a childminder because DD was 11 months, a super clingy lockdown baby and I just felt like it would suit her better at that point. We looked at some nurseries but with Covid none of them were letting us look round really whereas we were able to visit our childminder and I just had such a good feeling about her right away, I knew it was the right fit.

Now DD is 2.5 I think she’d probably be equally happy at a nursery, but when we first sent her I don’t think that would have been the case. We are going to send her to school Nursery once she’s 3.

@AliasGrape my DD nursery closes for 4 weeks per year. (My DD goes to both a CM and nursery. Apart from a week at Christmas the holidays are at different times so the other can take DD for extra sessions.)

It is a charity run nursery and the charity do other childrens activities. They have had staffing issues due to staff leaving but all they do is reallocate staff so those who have some qualifications and experience in running activities for children of certain ages, get moved to do so. This means they never close or refuse children unless the children are ill.

Nursery were supposed to have pets. Unfortunately due to various issues they don't. Luckily the CM now has a menagerie of pets as some small animals were rehomed to her.

Oh and my CM has done wrap around care for mindees who go to nursery sessions within walking distance from her home.

Love our childminder. One adult, children of different ages, home environment, own room to nap, trips to toddler groups, popping to the shops, making lunch, going to the park. For me it felt as close to what I'd be giving my kids at home if I wasn't at work. Nothing against nursery - but for me a childminder gave the personal touch I wanted.

We were lucky to get a very good one though. In the 7 years she's been looking after one or both of my children, she's never once closed for illness. She does have time off occasionally but not excessive and we work around it easily (e.g. a week at Christmas, a week in summer - think that's it).

Thanks for all your replies ... seems there is positives to both. I'm still no clearer but as my baby will be so young I'm leaning towards a child minder

It's interesting some feel children will learn more from being with children their own age I find the reverse younger children are keen to try what they see the language is so advanced and they want to try fine and gross motor skill activities and no reason why they shouldn't with the right supervision which is easier as you only have one really young child we sit around the low table baby in a low chair and I support everyone no holding back development by an arbitrary birthday move to a bigger room just like you wouldn't in a family when we go to school the number who can't put on a coat and doba zip aged 4 amazes me mine are starting around 18 months (supported) and achieve it around 2. Most stay with me to reception, I've had a few go to school nursery but they regressed because they were copying the others or staff automatically doing things like writing names or putting coats in without finding out what a child can do.
Babies love it and the older children are so caring and supportive it's amazing to see every time

Another one that opted for nursery - mainly for the reasons already listed.

Mine didn’t thrive at nursery they were always poorly so took them out after a year, they now go to a CM only 4 months in and OK so far.

I vote childminder if you find a good one.

One with experience and qualifications. I wanted one person to really know my child and work with me.
I wanted my child to feel at home and part of a family.

Agree with @jannier. In my experience children have thrived more in groups of different aged children rather than the same age. Younger children are drawn to older children and their language and communication and ability to develop friendships and socialise is far superior as they learn from the older ones. In turn the older ones learn to be nurturing and caring towards the younger ones.

When comparing CMs and nurseries, it is very much the feel you get from a setting and what your individual child is like. Both CMs and nurseries have to follow the statutory EYFS, have to plan a curriculum and teach, are inspected by Ofsted and have to complete training and follow safeguarding requirements. So for some previous posters to say there is more safeguarding in a nursery is incorrect.

The downside to a CM is that as they work alone then they may be unreliable if they have a lot of sickness or time off. But having said that, I know of several nurseries that send children home all the time for debatable reasons.