nursery, childminder... decisions decisions!

[ojmummy]

hi, after some advice.

I will be returning to work in Sept & its looking like I will have to work 5 days My DS will be just over 8 months by then.

Just wondering what the best childcare choices will be, my Mum has offered to do one day per week. I have been to look round a local nursery (Ofsted 'good' in 2007) which seemed nice, I have also met a childminder who seems lovely but Ofsted gave her Satisfactory recently, and on the report it says children cannot use backgarden - I am assuming that its not childfriendly but I didnt question her about this when we met as I had a million other things going round my head. There are other childminders in the area too & I will see at least 1 or 2 more.

I need to drop off at 8.15am and pick up at 3.40pm so a relatively shortish day, a CM would work out cheaper as I will just pay for the hours I need rather than paying a nursery until 6 but not needing it until 6.

On the other hand I like the idea that DS will have other children his own age to play with at nursery & that they will have tons of toys/activities which he may not get at home or with CM. Also if I needed to go to supermarket or something I have the option of leaving DS in nursery until 6 if I needed to/wanted to.

What do you think about one day with my Mum, 3 in nursery and 1 with CM (or 2 nursery, 2 CM)? Do you think this would be too confusing for DS? Just thinking it would save a bit of £, give him some care in a family environment (CM) and also make friends etc within the nursery.

Sorry for the waffle! Hope this makes sense, just finding it really hard to decide whats best!

I agree with the poster who said - their is good and bad in all care groups - I've worked in Nurseries that have been fantastic and walked out of one that was a disgrace.

I know CM's that are amazing, commited and dedicated and sadly know some who are shockingly bad.

I am a CM now and if I was looking for care for my own child I would choose the best I found of either Nursey or CM, they each have strengths in different areas, so I would suggest that you look at a good selection of both and choose whichever you feel most confident with, you will know fairly quickly which is right for you.

I also think that Gran and CM or Nursery is the way to go rather than mixing all 3. WRT flexibility, as a CM parents often call and ask if they can collect later as shopping / hairdressers etc its never been a problem for me, in fact I worked the first 2 yrs of my planned holidays because parents were stuck. DH lurves me not

Good luck

We've used nurseries nannies and APs. It always gives me pause for thought when ex nursery employees say they would never use one themselves. I haven't to date worried about one on one care from the point of safety or the person 'having a bad day.' But we have experienced a lot of inconvenience over time over sickness, time off work for other reasons, unavailable for overtime etc.

On balance the nursery has been the most reliable form of childcare we have used. If I could do away with after school care and just use the nursery (DC2) and school (DC1) I would do it in a second.