very worried about childcare

[Harriett]

Hi, I've got a few months to go until my first pops out and am worried about everything(!) but one of my biggest concerns is childcare. I will probably have to go back to work after three months and I have no idea where to start, and what will be suitable. I would appreciate advice and stories about when is the best time to decide (before or after birth) and what your experiences are on the various childcare options (I am pretty sure we can't afford a nanny or au-pair!). We live in East London and no relatives in a 100 mile radius (some say that's the best way!!!) so there is no family care option there either.
Thanks in advance!

Hiya, I was in your situation a couple of years ago. I looked a nurseries, and found them to be terrible cold and unnurturing. And, even if I could have afforded it (which I couldn't) I wasn't comfortable leaving a young baby in unsupervised care. So, I found a childminder to be the happy medium between a sort of "home-like" environment, affordable care, and some stimulation from other kids (not that stimulation has much effect when they are a few months old). I would suggest you look at childcarelink.gov.uk and do a search for childminders in and around your post code. Then contact a few to see what they charge.

Incidentally, I use a nanny now. But if you haven't got a house big enough to get a live-in then a childminder is cheaper (especially for only one child).