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Lone parents

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Original poster

Nursery

14 replies

newmumworking1 · 27/04/2014 23:17

Hello all. Wonder if I can get some advice from you? My daughter is 7 months old and I can no longer afford the nanny we have (my ex was contributing half until recently).

Therefore I need an alternative. I run a business so have some flexibility but not much! I can occasionally work from home with a nanny here but don't have room for a live-in.

I don't like the idea of a childminder (I am not sure why and perhaps I need to rethink this?!).

Would you consider sending your daughter to a nursery at such a young age? And if so, what's the best way to find one?

Do let me know! Thanks so much in advance.

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TensionWheelsCoolHeels · 28/04/2014 07:58

I think you need to find details of local childminders and nurseries and go and check them out. You'll not know what suits best until you get a feel for what they do. I was lucky enough to find a CM who only took my DD (for the 1st year) so she had 1-2-1 care which she thrived in. She then had a wee friend when she took in another baby. 9 years on she still goes to the CM as she loves it there.

Attheendofmytether123 · 28/04/2014 07:59

My DD1 went to nursery 3 days a week from 12 weeks old because I had to return to work. She was fine and loved it. DD2 has just started going 1/2 a day a week at 16 weeks to give me a break as contact with their dad is sporadic and unreliable. Again, she is fine.

To find one, we asked around for personal recommendations and then rang to arrange to have a look round and picked the one we liked best.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 28/04/2014 08:04

Imo at that age a CM is a "better" option as it is a much smaller group of children, one on one care etc. Its a home from home.

Cupid5tunt · 28/04/2014 09:07

My daughter was in nursery from 9 months but had settling in sessions from around 6 months.

She loves it to this day and often kicks up a bit of a fuss at having to leave as she is the first to be collected.

If I were you I wouldn't rule out a childminder. Check out some in your area, you may find that you change your mind.

Lioninthesun · 28/04/2014 10:02

My friend has her boy in with a CM and she only has one other child - he loves it and has gone since he was 6mo. It seems far easier than a 'live in' nanny and they can be pretty flexible with times, diet, etc. As others have said perhaps have a look online and get some recommendations.

cestlavielife · 28/04/2014 11:40

there are great child-minders (and some not so great) and great nurseries (and some which wont suit) . go check them out.

Lonecatwithkitten · 28/04/2014 13:35

I like you just couldn't get comfortable with a childminder. I looked at a lot of nurseries and found one that had values and ethos I liked. DD started when she was 3 months old and stayed until she went to school.
She was very happy there and still at the age of 10 is friends with two girls from nursery.
The key for me was low staff turnover, outdoor space and no agency staff.

Lonecatwithkitten · 28/04/2014 13:36

Oh yes bizarrely in my area childminders are more expensive than nursery!

mammadiggingdeep · 29/04/2014 06:00

I use a nursery, dd2 was a bit older than yours but the nursery has been amazing. I'm so happy that I made the choice. I didn't like the idea of leaving my dd with one adult. The procedures and policies are water tight so I have very little concern with safe guarding etc.

Busymumto3dc · 29/04/2014 06:06

Two of my dc have attended nursery from 5/6 months and the other from 21 months

They have all done well

I did use a cm for a while but only becauSe I knew her I would not have been comfortable with a stranger

insancerre · 29/04/2014 06:13

The best recommendation is from a parent whouses a nursery.
Ask around your friends maybe and make a shortlist and go and visit them.
Out of interest, all those saying not to usrca nursery, have any of you been in a baby room in a nursery?
Most of them aim to create a homely environment. They are not production lines where everything is regimented and run to a tight schedule. Far from it, most are a home from home where babies have their own routine

antsypants · 29/04/2014 06:43

DD was at nursery from around the same age, she was fine and i found a place where they provided a really nurturing environment. Like yourself I was dubious about a childminder, for me, it was a concern about a lack of accountability, in my mind I had convinced myself that at least in a nursery there were different staff members etc.

I do sometimes think I did her a disservice, everyone I have met who had a childminder has had nothing but positive things to say about the experience, their child had a really close and caring relationship, they got a lot more one to one time and so on.

But then she is the youngest in her year, and I do think the hustle of the nursery has really prepared her for that, she is confident, bright and bubbly.

In terms of picking a nursery, I made a shortlist of three, visited them in the early afternoon when they kids would have had their nap and be active, and really, just trusted my instincts, I had a list of questions, the way that I approached it was that when I wasn't there, I wanted the person that was to be as caring and affectionate as they could be, I wanted her cuddled if she was upset, I needed the reassurance that it would be fun for her, the place she went to had an older room manager and lots of lovely younger staff, so it was active and bright... I also found it reassuring that they were happy for me to make her food (It was important for me at the time, with going back to work full time)

jan2014 · 29/04/2014 19:25

when my dd was very young around 5 months she went to nursery part time. i was so worried about it, but was so happy i had made that choice afterwards - they totally loved her and were excellent carers, couldn't have asked for more, and it got her used to other people and children.

starlight1234 · 29/04/2014 19:54

I am a CM but my DS went to nursery so have seen both sides...I agree...Go visit some of both and get a feel for both ..I can tell you for my DS I visited a pre school and 3 nursery's ..I knew as soon as I walked in the last one it was the right one for my Ds...

Personally I would choose a CM if I had a 7 month old...but you have to do what is right for you

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