Nanny, childminder or nursery for two children when returning to work

[Stace9875]

I’m currently on mat leave with baby number 2. Sadly got made redundant however I’m having a chat about a potential job next week. High pressure managerial role which is what I did before.

Our 2.5 year old will be starting nursery soon - 5 mornings. Our second will be 1 when I go back to work.

Hoping to do
4 days work a week - off Mondays
2 days in the office 2 at home
Toddler has 5 mornings of nursery - it’s the free allocation is she will be 3 when starting

my parents will kindly look after my kids Tuesdays and Wednesday when I am in the office

So I need cover for the two work from
home days Thursdays and Fridays - a whole day for the 1 year old and afternoons for the toddler

What is everyone’s experience of nanny vs childminder? I could put my 1 year old in nursery for the two days but I would still need cover for my toddler in the afternoons

Honestly the stress of trying to juggle all the possibilities is making me dread the return to work. Husband works full time but we need both of our salaries with two kids.

I’d put the toddler and the baby in the same nursery, both full days when needed.

I would extend the toddler's days to full days and put the 1 year old in as well. By far the simplest option rather than adding another form of childcare into the mix.

I'd also both both of them in the same nursery for two full days. Much simpler. We used our funded hours at private nursery stretched over a full year instead of term time and paid the extra.

Nanny.

We had a nanny for my son until 2.5 and it worked really well. When he was close to 2, we put him in nursery 4 mornings a week as well. Nanny did some housekeeping in that time.

It's not just about what's easier, but nursery means A LOT of illnesses.

Having a nanny will not only minimise illnesses, but she will take care of your children when sick. Whereas nursery will send them home and you'll have to keep taking time off work.

My boy does nursery half days
then nanny 2 hours in the afternoon 3 days a week

the house feels so much more balanced

If you can afford nanny, the holidays and sickness are then covered plus the DC laundry and meals.

If it's a private nursery your DS will already be going to, I would 100% but baby too and top up son's hours so they're both there all day Thursday and Friday.

Why is the toddler only doing mornings? Are you not working in the afternoons?

Mon - You have both kids
Tues & Weds - Grandparents have both kids
Thurs & Fri - Nursery full day for both kids

It's kinder for them not to have too many different childcare types, I wouldn't get a nanny or childminder when nursery is already definite for one child anyway. I also wouldn't put a child in nursery for any less than 2 full days so they can settle in properly. Funding should cover the 2 days and in a private nursery can stretch to cover most of the year meaning you don't need extra childcare for holidays until they're at school. My son gets 30 hours free and that covers about 2.2 days a week when it's stretched to cover the year.

Is there a reason why you've opted for half days rather than full days?

I'm out of the loop now, but I thought Nursery funding had been extended to 30 hours, not 15 ?

But I agree with almost everyone else.
You work 4 days, so try to find a Nursery that can take both dc for 4 days.

You are lucky enough to have fit, able and willing Grandparents to help you out if there are days when they are sent home or too unwell to go in.