Help - Nursery Dilemma - Advice needed...

[confuseddotcom1]

I have a dilemma - My daughter is 6 months old and I will be going back to work full time shortly. I have a full time placement at a local nursery that I am not overly happy with. The place feels dirty and has been lacking good management until they recently got a new manager a week ago! Their Ofsted report was OK but only OK. They have also recently been bought out by another company, so lots of change could be on the horizon.

I have also been offered 2 days a week (Mondays and Fridays!) at another local nursery that seems amazing and has had great Ofsted reports. They have said at some stage full time will become available but can't guarantee this until Jan 2010! I would desperately love my daughter to go to this nursery but if I take this part-time option I will need to find another solution for her care mid week, possibly with a child minder.

Will this chopping and changing between her carers effect her in a negative way and be very unsettling for her?? She is a very easy going baby and adapts to things quickly but am I being unfair on her - even if it is only until the end of the year?

Does anyone have experience of a similar scenario and how did it work out? How did you child adapt? Any advice would be most welcome...

I have two DSs and although have not been in your precise scenario,I've been there to some extent. fwiw I'd say don't use a nursery you have a bad feeling about - listen to your instinct.

It's not ideal but the nursery/childminder combined looks better to me. And children do adapt.

Personal prejudice: For under-ones I think a childminder is much better than a nursery, the 1-2-1 relationship they develop is worth so much. Have you considered doing this and putting your name down on waiting list for the other nursery for when your DD is older?

Thanks for your advice! I think your right - gut feeling is often over-looked!

I agree re childminders for young babies but I'm struggling to find one I like and as their notice only comes up 1 month before they are available, I'm feeling nervous about finding one at all!

I thought that if I can't find one that is perfect for the full time option, then 3 days a week with someone who is OK might suffice until I can get the full time option at the nursery I like...

Confused (luv the name btw) if the nursery is dirty thats a good indication of the overall running of the place, i would go for the nursery / minder option and ask them to put name on wating list. I would bare in mind though that a lot of providers don't like shared care so I would check before making your final decision.