My son goes to an excellent Nursery near where I work and has been going there since he was 6 months. He will be 2 3/4 years when I start Maternity Leave with for our second child.
My questions are based on how to keep him happy and me sane and not go bankrupt.
When I go back to work again both children will be with a childminder, local to where we live (we plan to leave London and move to Hertford).
Changing to a childminder is due not being able to afford Nursery Fees for two (currently costs £750 a month for one! ) and my son will start school - well reception - towards the end of my Maternity leave and I think a childminder who can pick him up from school till I get home while looking after number two all day is probably the best combination.
So the poor child have to cope with sibling rivalry, staying at home all day with Mummy (will he get bored & miss all his friends), starting school and then going back to full time childcare.
Do you think it would be easier on him if I started looking for a childminder as soon as we move to Hertford and then once found spend a month with him at the childminders 2 day a week and Nursery for the other 2 days. Then keep him at the childminders for 2 day a week while I am on Maternity, and then when I return to work he goes to the childminder for all 4 days except when he is at school and the baby stays all day at the childminders all 4 days.
I don't know yet what we can afford when I am on Maternity as that depends how the shares do on my company's sharesave scheme. I also don't know if we can afford for me to stay on a 4-day week , but that's another thread/story
It would be completely impractical for him to stay at the Nursery while I am on Maternity because of the distance not to mention the cost.
Sorry this thread is so long but I couldn't see how to explain in less words.
Thanks