Childcare - which would you go for?

[Buddhababe]

Hi there

I am a stay at home mum but intend to go back to work part time some time next year if all goes to plan. I have a 16 month old and am due again in August.

At the moment I am bringing my DS to various playgroups but feel he will need more socialization a few days a week soon. I was thinking Nurseries are the best way to go and to maybe have him go for the mornings a few times a week. It would also help when the new baby comes along.

Or, do you think a part time nanny or childminder would be better. I am just conscious of the socialization aspect which might be lacking in this case.

Many thanks

I'm a big fan of my DS's nursery, he is 18 months and started at 1 morning a week for about 2 months, until settled and now he goes 2 mornings, (been going for 6 months now) he has come on leaps and bounds, most of which I can honestly put down to being in the same room as 5-6 babies his own age, some a little older. Sharing, eating, communicating etc

My friend leaves her DD with a childminder, which is good, but there are only 3 children there, the other 2 are nearly pre school, so socialisation aspects aren't as good, although both her and her DD are happy with that...

My DS (21 months) goes to nursery ft, and he adores it. He is very social, and exceedingly energetic, and I don't think that the more homely enviroment of a childminder would suit him.

He loves being with other children his age and a little older, and being in a fairly tight age group (his room is 18m-3, but they also divide into 18m-2 and 2-3) means that they do lots of age appropriate activities.

Go and see a few nurseries, and a few childminders, and see how you feel about them all.

thanks I think I will go down that route. Is Ofsted the best place to check out which nurseries are good in the area do you think?

Go and see all of the ones which are around you - the Ofsted reports only tell you what a particular inspector thought on one particular day. Its pretty easy to see whether its a nice enviroment, what the staff are like with the children etc. When we moved, we looked at one nursery that had a very recent good OFSTED report and it was terrible - in fact we made a complaint to OFSTED. And friends of ours used a nursery that had a not so good OFSTED report from 2 years earlier, but had really worked to meet all of the criticisms.

Personal recommendations are good too - ask around, and your HV might know too.

Thanks cmotdibbler,wil do, by the way what does HV mean,sorry!!

Health Visitor - some are as much use as chocolate teapots I know, but some (my old one for instance) have their finger firmly on the pulse of all matters under 5 in their area

ahhh, i am not great on the acronyms! thanks