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Original poster

going back to work what childcare is the best, need some good advice??

10 replies

princessbride · 13/06/2007 09:34

Im due to go back to work after two years, there are so many childcare options, au pair, mothers help, nannies, nursery and childcare in someones home, anyone got any good advice out there? x

OP posts:

Lolly68 · 13/06/2007 10:32

My DD is at full-time nursery and I'm very happy with it. I would love to have had a nanny but could not afford it at all so went with the nursery option. It all depends on your own personal preference really and I feel that DD has come on leaps and bounds mixing with other children.

Lizzylou · 13/06/2007 10:36

I worked for a while between the DS's and DS1 went two days a week to nursery, he really thrived and is very outgoing and confident. I would say it depends on your budget, but trying to get some time where your little one mixes with other children independently is a good idea (so if you go for Nanny/Au Pair look at a Preschool for mornings?).

flibbertyjibbet · 13/06/2007 10:47

My two go to nursery. I like the idea that I know where they are, (as opposed to childminder) they are mixing with lots of other kiddies, the day is structured with tons of facilities and activities, and its open 50 weeks a year regardless of staff illness, holidays etc. Even if we had the money I don't think I would go the nanny route having seen how sociable and confident a good nursery has made them.

CatIsSleepy · 13/06/2007 10:52

i have a CM but my dd is prob younger than yours...i like that she gets lots of attention and has slotted happily into another family. holidays are a bit of a pain but on the plus side when the trains went pear-shaped recently and i was horribly horribly late she was very understanding and even gave dd a bath. cheaper than a nursery too but that wasn't my motivation for going down that route. a nanny would be great but way too expensive.
but it's horses for courses really...depends on what you'd feel happy with and what you can afford...

Original poster

princessbride · 13/06/2007 12:25

whats a cm? sorry

OP posts:

CatIsSleepy · 13/06/2007 12:50

oh sorry-childminder

jellybellie · 13/06/2007 13:39

My ds has been in full time nursery since he was 6mths old (now 21mths)and we are more than happy with it. They mix with loads of other children and learn how to share etc, they have a routine which involves loads of messy play and activities that I would never think of doing with him at home e.g. playing with cornflower gloop (!). No need to worry about holiday/sickness cover, there are always several carers around and so many procedures and policies in place that the chances of anything going wrong are very remote. Ds loves going (and always has) and is a very happy and confident toddler.

We considered all the options and tbh using a childminder or a nanny or grandparents just didn't appeal to us for all kinds of reasons. I have to say though that we also visited several nurseries in the area before choosing the one we use now (which had a long waiting list) and there were some that I would not have felt happy leaving ds with.

rookiemum · 13/06/2007 17:13

Are you going F/T or not and how old are your children ?

I chose CM because I went back 4 days a week so didn't feel happy with DS being in nursery for that length of time, but also he was only 9mths old so again felt like a homely environment was the best for him. He loves it at the childminders.

Downside is her holidays and the reliance on one person. Our CM is fab and hasn't had a day off sick since we started back in Jan, but we haven't managed to get her hols to coincide with ours. We have a back up cm who is great but as DS isn't use to going there he gets upset when we drop him off.

Original poster

princessbride · 13/06/2007 18:15

i am thinking of going back 4 days aswell, cant decide between nursery and child minder. I have been at uni the last year and so they have been going two days a week to nursery, but i know they dont get much one on one time you know so im concerned about 4 days will be even worse, they are two and these years are really precious in their contact and ability to communicate so i want to make the right choice

OP posts:

rookiemum · 13/06/2007 20:08

Best advice I can give is go and see some CMs or if you are concerned about the particular nursery they are at then go and see some others.

I had DS all signed up for the nursery before I had him, but then through a combination of not getting the 3 days a week I wanted and through advice from Mumsnet I met a CM and she is fab.

However as they are already going to nursery and are presumably happy there, then it seems like the course of least resistance to have them there for the extra days.

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