Unsure what to do?? Help??

[swirly456]

I have to make a decision and one of the biggest factors in this decision is finance.

Our son (15 months) has been booked into a lovely nursery for when I return to work.
I return two days and my mum will have him one and nursery 1.5 days (that's a minimum there)
It's going to cost £440 for 1.5 days a week .
We underestimated how hard this would be financially and we aren't sure how much I'll come out with but we should be able to pay the fees just about.
SIL has offered to have our son free of charge on Fridays. The issues I have is that we've never really been that close and I don't really like how she parents her own child (8 years old). I used to live there with them both and was very close to her daughter. She lives at home with my partners mum and always has. She doesn't work in the week.
I just don't know if I trust her. But I struggle to trust anyone with my son.
What would you do?

Nursery all the way. It won't close/let you down/ need time off and you have control over standards etc

No harm in a few days with aunty of your mum ever needs a break / day off etc

We just about broke even on childcare for a few years, but it was worth it to keep my foot on the ladder in the long term.

Nursery. Accept you're going to be broke for a little while! Thank your SIL profusely and maybe see if she would be available for occasional cover rather than such a substantial commitment - gives you time to see how she is with your little one more too?

Thanks guys! You all seem to be saying nursery and I think my gut feeling is nursery. I worry about the communication side of things with SIL as she doesn't communicate like an adult as it is and don't want it to end up causing arguments in the family

Did you look at alternative registered childcare like Childminders? They tend to be cheaper

Yes I did @jannier and multiple nurseries and there's only one that I liked