Childminder or Nursery

[CJ1990]

Hello! I’m just after some help. My 10 month old daughter is currently at nursery three days a week. She absolutely loves it and I love the nursery. But the problem is she isn’t napping. She’s super altert and nosey so any noise and she’s up. Which is causing issues when picking her up (melt down all the way home which can be 30/40mins). I’m wondering if a childminder would be a better setting for her closer to home. Quieter home setting. I just don’t know if she’ll get as much out of nursery. I went to visit one today and not much going on. Sand pit, few toys, takes them out once a week 🤷‍♀️And I know even though she’s struggling with sleep she does enjoy the nursery. It’s been over two months now tho and her sleep there is getting worse if anything..just wanted People’s opinions and experiences! Struggling to make a decision!

If you think it's an unstimulating environment, that's one thing (though there isn't much they can do with them at 10 months, tbf). But I wouldn't worry about the napping thing. It won't be easier with a childminder. If anything, I think it would be harder as a childminder usually works alone, so settling a baby while looking after the others can be hard and I think they don't always get the one on one attention they might in a setting where there is more than one pair of hands on deck. Both of mine did not really sleep at all to start. Once they got used to it, they could literally sleep on the floor with other children running around them screaming. Also, 10 months is terrible for napping and sleep anyway, so it may not really have much to do with nursery. If she is otherwise happy and settling, I'd leave her be.

My 10 month old napped for 3 hours at the childminder this morning 🥳 she only has one other child during the day so nice and quiet at nap times but plenty of kids/interaction before and after school times

How does your DD normally nap at home? My nursery spent first few weeks rocking her in her push chair because that’s how she slept at home. What are nursery doing to try and get her to nap?

We chose a childminder and are incredibly happy with that decision BUT I wouldn't move her if she's settled well and is happy there - there's no guarantee it'll improve the sleep thing, and you'll be constantly looking for signs she's less happy than at nursery and beating yourself up about it. If you're happy with everything except her napping, and you think the nursery are trying everything they can to help with the nap issue, then I'd hold on and hope it resolves by itself as, overall, you're in a good position.

Is she not napping or only having 20 to 30 minutes or so? I think my daughter was the same when she first started nursery. They should be having quiet time even if there are some older children who do not nap.
It takes a while for them to settle in the routine but I expect she’ll soon get used to it, and all the interesting things will no longer be so interesting!

I love our childminder but I’ve not always found the napping works out well as the childminder is doing school runs and to different activities so DD would fall asleep in the car for short naps or have to be woken up.
Also the biggest bonus of a childminder for me is that the children are going out and about so one that only takes them out once a week wouldn’t be what I was looking for