Nursery vs Childminder

[wolfear]

I've been back at for two months and DS (9mths) has been at nursery. Apart from all the usual new mum/going back to work anxieties I'm not totally happy with the nursery. Don't get me wrong, they're not awful and the girls seem mice enough but it's things like having to hammer home several times certain points, like no dummy unless in bed, times for sleeps and bottles etc, even though I sat down with the room manager before he started and went through his routine and a few points I'd like followed.

The times recorded in his daily diary never match up, like he'll miraculously be having a bottle while he's asleep and having a nappy change while eating his lunch. I know that may sound petty but it seems they're just making up what's going on during the day and it makes me wonder what is really going on.

DS is always knackered and a nightmare after a day at nursery and he's usually very calm and content.

I do understand that they have their work cut out and there's other babies to consider and please feel free to tell me if I'm being unreasonable and expecting too much, but I don't think I am. It's my son's well-being after all.

Has anyone had experience of both nursery and a child minder and can compare? I'm wondering if a home environment is better for DS at this stage.

I put DS1 into a nursery when he was 9 months and he stayed there until he was 3ish. I didn't have the confidence to choose a childminder. I was never very happy with the nursery, although the staff where nice (but high turnover) and like you I never felt that they really told me what he'd been like that day. He was never really settled there. I think he, like most children that age, needed one person to look to who he knew was responsible for him, not lots of people coming and going. He needed a secure attachment to his carer. By the time I had DS2 I'd read more (Penelope Leach did a study about childcare and said best not to use nurseries for under 2 or 3's). In fact all studies I came across seemed to say CM much better for littlies than nursery. When I went back to work after DS2, I found a CM (looking was stressful) and put both children with her. DS2 was 1 yo. I am so, so pleased I did. She is lovely and the children are both really happy to go to her in the morning. She's really aware of whether there's anything wrong and I can tell by how she reports back that she really knows the children. I don't feel guilty leaving them with her (DS1 used to cry sometimes until he was 2 1/2ish when I left him at nursery) as they obviously have a fab time and are really attached to her. If I had the time again I would not have put DS1 in nursery at that age and wish I'd had the confidence to change him over to a CM earlier. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

My ds (10 months) is with a CM and loves the one to one contact. I'm not bothered about routine tbh and I don't get a daily report of poos, pees, food, etc. As long as he's happy at the end of the day then I'm happy.

hello,

i am just finishing maternity leave and dd (9mth) have been with a childminder for 2 weeks now.

when i was searching everybody told me to use a nursery but i all the nurseries i looked at were unappealing. to be fair, the whole reminded me of a an orphanage.

anyway, my childminder is fantastic, she has a logbook where she details everything dd does. she takes pics when she does anything new (standing up by herself this week) and print a copy for me.

for me, a childminder was definitely the best choice.

i think you have had a bad experience with your nursery - i posted on your original thread

i take it things are no better?

anyway, I wouldn't ust discount nurseries out of hand as there are plenty of good ones to be found

ask your local council for a list of approved childcare providers

hope you get something sorted

hi, i had basically the same experience as lilyfire. ds, now 4, went to a nursery from the age of 1 to 2. now i'm older and wiser and dd (17 months) goes to a CM. i went to see a nursery this time round and hated it. CM works much better for us. They can go to the park, the library, spend the day out and about, go to playgroups, dd gets lots of one-to-one attention and spends her days with someone who really knows her. I personally think CMs are a better choice usually for this age. i wish i had had the confidence first time round - i was just scared and didn't have confidence in my ability to choose a good CM. Nursery seemed easier and better organised. Please do try to go and see some CMs just to get an idea of what they do, and go with your instinct on where your ds would be happiest and best cared for. Best of luck!

There is lots of research to show that childminders are a better option for under 3's.

Every childminder is differednt, however, so finding one which you can be sure to adhere to your routine and wishes re dummy ect. would be ideal.

Have no experience of nursery but so glad we found a fantastic childminder....right place right time. Would not have done anything differently....

Originally I thought of nursery but they sounded scary in all kinds of ways, and the Council nurseries sound great but very few places particularly for young babies, and the others sounded prohibitively expensive.

I fell on my feet with a childminder - she lives very close and almost on our way out to/from work. I saw 2 but felt instinctively happy with the first, and ds seems really happy there - he started at 10 months at the beginning of March.