April 2007 - Where did all the babies go?

[PillockOfTheCommunity]

at work so flying visit, still no internet at home

there's cling ons on the starboard leg

Like it!

Who can set it up??

Where is everyone??

Can I ask those of you working why did you choose either nursery or childminder? I think most of you send them to nursery dont you?

I'm not sure what to do if and when I get a job. My friend who is a childminder only has a space tues and thursday so she cant do it so now I dont know what to do!!

DD went to nursery when she was nearly 2 and I was at college but then when I had both od them and worked they went to CM cos Maia was at playschool so needed someone who could collect her. Am also going to have a problem when older 2 are on school hols

Just a quick post

Thank you so much to Octo (and all those that hassled her )

The test was negative (as I had thought) so not sure what is going on. - still no sign of AF

hopefully back later x

Caz, how do you feel about the bfn?

Pesha, the reason I sent both B and K to nursery, is that I felt it was better for them to be with lots of different people rather than just with one. Also, as the nursery has a pre-school attached to it, I thought it would be ideal for them to start and work their way up in a familiar place with familiar procedures etc.

I always had a worry (and this is probably total crap) that the CM may not do as much with the children.

Me again.

Also Pesha, I assume a CM has to take holiday some time. Nursery however are open regardless (apart from the usual Bank Holidays).

Danny's with a childminder.

Nurseries here in this part of London start at about half my take home pay (£35 a day) and that's for the Council ones - this isn't a problem, I'd actually prefer one and filled in two applications for D, but one doesn't take babies until 18 months and the other is very popular and prioritises paid for places for those with no particular needs to those who live closest. There's a new children's centre nursery opening up round the corner very soon which would be ideally located, and I might well find out more but now I've got a childminding arrangement in place, I think I'll probably just stick with that. Her rates are lower than the council nurseries anyway, and than other childminders.

Private nurseries here seem to be two thirds to all of my take home pay, I can't really do that. And I'm not really so low paid so I don't know what other people do round here. Lots of people seem to be going for the expensive options but most of them are in more professional type jobs, though I'm not sure how teachers (some only get a little more than me) and some other public sector workers think they can afford the fees I've heard them mention!

Pesha, have you tried getting a list of local childminders?

lol at dd eddas

dcs at nursery as it is attatched to my work, is subsidised, has fantastic ofsted reports, staff are like family and to be honest if that wasn't an option I don't think I would be working - never considered a cm - no idea why - just didn't

just been to Jump for a birthday party, I'm knackered and have a headache

all in bed asleep, I now have to go to shop for bread & milk [bugger]

hope you are all ok

mj - how's the lego party

Ha ha SPB - I "legged" it before you got me!

Pesha - O is with a lovely, lovely childminder who is down the road. She's been there since 5 months and I don't have any concerns about her not being stimulated enough etc. I chose a childminder this time (despite having chosen a nursery for N from age 1) because:

1. I was leaving her so early, and wanted her to be in a home setting
2. Like you, I needed someone who could have N for me in the hols etc.
3. I met this fab childminder who lives down the road!

I think it's somehow harder to be confident about a childminder in the abstract - somehow in a nursery you feel there will be more checks, structure etc. However, once I'd met my childminder, I had complete confidence in her as a person and a childcarer. There are 2 other little boys there so O has company, and she goes out to toddlers etc. The only downsides I can think of is that she is in someone else's car when they do the school run, and the worry that she will stop childminding and then I'll have a problem!

Thanks for that. I have a list of Cms and nurseries, nursery slightly more expensive but not much. There are pros and cons to both and I dont know what to do!!!

Biggest problem is M and N in school hols as obviously they're too old for nursery and there are no holiday clubs or anything so would have to be a cm for them. Which is gonna be difficult and weird to have them in a different place to D if hes at nursery. But then no guarantee a CM would have places for them as well as D in hols anyway. DP could have them occasionally as they dont really take much looking after so he could doze on sofa and just wake up for lunch or when instructed to do so by dd!! But its not fair for them to have that everyday in their hols. My mum teaches in private school so has ssame only longer hols but tbh cant see her wanting them for more than a one off.

No nurseries connected to school so no benefits like that. Hum de dum

Sorry for going on just using this to help me think it all through!!

Maia was fine at nursery and would have loved it as a long term thing. Nathan on the other hand was the sort of boy who would have been better with the closer, more personal relationship they can develop with a CM, at least until about 2 and a half/3. No idea with D yet as hes still abit too young to tell iyswim. Nursery might be easier for now and then see how he goes I guess. Oh I dont know though! Might try and visit a few, I think that'd be the best idea.

Sorry

you carry on pesha

my nursery has a playscheme for the holidays so I have that covered and dh on shift work helps as will only need school hols covering every other week

just noticed we need a new thread - anyone???

Where is everyone?

Octo made a recommendation for a thread title see below somewhere), but I have no idea how to set one up.

new thread