Nursery vs childminder

[Nat888]

Ill be going back to work when baby boy is 6 months. Its early but starting to think about nursery's/ childminders ( they get booked up super quickly so trying to make a decision and see whats around)

Firstly I feel fucking awful about leaving him that early but reality is we can't afford our mortgage and bills on the shitty mat pay ill get beyond that. I'm getting full pay from work for 6 months so I'm luckier than most.

Nursery vs childminder ? I always thought childminder as thought he would get more attention but then there is the battle of when they are on holiday/away/sick. Also socially being around more children maybe better? The cost of a childminder is much cheaper so there is that too - but we could afford a nursery with some cut backs so both are an option.

Personal experiences?

I'll be working from home permanently as will my partner but having him here we have decided isn't fair - if we both have a zoom call at the same time etc it just wouldn't work

I went with a nursey for my little one and have no regrets. I loved how he would spend his days with children of a similar age and how well they did in communicating his targets and working with him to get him to reach them. The transition to school was so simple for us.

A childminder is an equally brilliant option. I really struggled to find one with an opening in my area.

The key is visiting a few before hand and ask loads of questions. You will get a feel for the best option:)

If you're working from home which is closer?
Ask the childminder how much notice is given for planned absence (obviously not going to cover sickness, but everything else).
Is the childminder one person or a pair?

I love our nursery. It is reliably open 51 weeks of the year so we very rarely have to search for alternative childcare. They are relatively flexible with days; we do 3 days a week and can change them at short notice if they have availability (although this isn't officially offered). I like that there are lots of children too because it's allowed my son to choose his friends from a greater pool of people when he may not have clicked quite so well with the few children cared for by a childminder.

I’ve done both and if we had another (not happening!) then we’d go for a childminder again.

We went for a CM for DC2 as she lives on our road and we WFH. She hasn’t been sick once in 3 years, she’s miles cheaper than a nursery and my DC loves her. I love that they do outings and she has other kids of similar ages and older ones before and after school. Mine works with her daughter so it’s quite a big group and they meet up with other childminders.

I used a nursery for my Ds when older i was a childminder later.

Personally baby age i would use a childminder when older nursery

I went for nursery for DS - I had an absolutely vile childminder when I was a small child, and I always hated there was never another adult to go to when she was picking on me - since it was just her, there was no escape.

I chose nursery because there are more adults and therefore more accountability and people to keep an eye.