Childminder or nursery?

[Mrshoffie]

I need to arrange care for lo one day a week, and can't work out which to go for. Which did you choose, and why?
Also, when making enquiries for these, what should I ask/check?
Thanks

 

[mkm1083]

I've done both an in-home daycare and a daycare center. The kids got sick a lot more at the daycare center and it was more expensive and had stricter rules. They get a little more individual attention in the in-home daycare. But the daycare center had a more structured educational program and the kids were socialized a bit better. Also, with the daycare center I felt they got outside more and had more little "field trips". I prefer the in-home because I work a lot of overtime in my industry so the more flexible hours are a must for me.

You'll want to check cleanliness, child to caregiver ratio, and for me I just liked observing the caregiver with my child to see if they would get along well.

 

[Mummy2onexx]

i choose to send my daughter to nursery (she started at 11 months for 2 days a week) mainly because i wanted her to mix with other children because she wouldn't have much chance as i dont have any friends with children and she only has my nephew so her cousin as a child friend/family

i checked the ofsted of a few close to my college and found one with 'outstanding' so i rang up asked availability for the days i wanted (thursdays and fridays) they had spaces so i went to view it and then i payed a deposit for of £150 a couple of days later to secure her place i also checked the child to staff ratio, educational programmes, meals, what kind of play they would have and ects, its all a very nice experience hun, i haven't much experience of childminders but i'm sure that would be good too as your child will have one to one with a childminder - its down to your personal choice hun, good luck

 

[harrybaby]

I love using a childminder for lots of reasons, but the main one being that I have a good one-on-one relationship with the lady, by daughter has developed a close bond with her and for me this was important as I left her to go back to work when she was just 8 months old.

My childminder, goes to playgroups everyday, she also does trips to local farms, parks, libraries etc and she visits the same groups as my "mummy" friends so my daughter has the same social circle. Its funny in the week, my mummy friends will text me to tell me they got a big cuddle from my daughter at playgroup

Other benefits are...

• Flexibility for hours
• Lots of attention on me and my daughter (rather than seeing a new person everyday)
• Less illnesses
• More local (she lives 2 streets away)
• Home environment - my daughter has a good 15 years in school ahead of her, I like she gets to spend time in a home environment when im at work

 

[missVN]

I love using a childminder for lots of reasons, but the main one being that I have a good one-on-one relationship with the lady, by daughter has developed a close bond with her and for me this was important as I left her to go back to work when she was just 8 months old.

My childminder, goes to playgroups everyday, she also does trips to local farms, parks, libraries etc and she visits the same groups as my "mummy" friends so my daughter has the same social circle. Its funny in the week, my mummy friends will text me to tell me they got a big cuddle from my daughter at playgroup

Other benefits are...

• Flexibility for hours
• Lots of attention on me and my daughter (rather than seeing a new person everyday)
• Less illnesses
• More local (she lives 2 streets away)
• Home environment - my daughter has a good 15 years in school ahead of her, I like she gets to spend time in a home environment when im at work

All the same reasons that I went with a childminder. She is also much cheaper and a lot more flexible than the nursery we looked at

 

[lisa9999]

I love using a childminder for lots of reasons, but the main one being that I have a good one-on-one relationship with the lady, by daughter has developed a close bond with her and for me this was important as I left her to go back to work when she was just 8 months old.

My childminder, goes to playgroups everyday, she also does trips to local farms, parks, libraries etc and she visits the same groups as my "mummy" friends so my daughter has the same social circle. Its funny in the week, my mummy friends will text me to tell me they got a big cuddle from my daughter at playgroup

Other benefits are...

• Flexibility for hours
• Lots of attention on me and my daughter (rather than seeing a new person everyday)
• Less illnesses
• More local (she lives 2 streets away)
• Home environment - my daughter has a good 15 years in school ahead of her, I like she gets to spend time in a home environment when im at work

All the same reasons that I went with a childminder. She is also much cheaper and a lot more flexible than the nursery we looked at

Also as above

Childminders 'tend' to have several others that they socialise with, so I've found that my LO still mixes with lots of other children too x

 

[aimee-lou]

Earl currently goes to a CM 3 days per week and has done for a year now. I would say that that is much more homely environment and also cheaper and more flexible (hubby is a student so we needed term time only). Now Earl is going to start at pre-school for 1 session per week to compliment it so that he is socialised more with other children his own age (he's the eldest at his CM).

 

[peanut08]

I love using a childminder for lots of reasons, but the main one being that I have a good one-on-one relationship with the lady, by daughter has developed a close bond with her and for me this was important as I left her to go back to work when she was just 8 months old.

My childminder, goes to playgroups everyday, she also does trips to local farms, parks, libraries etc and she visits the same groups as my "mummy" friends so my daughter has the same social circle. Its funny in the week, my mummy friends will text me to tell me they got a big cuddle from my daughter at playgroup

Other benefits are...

• Flexibility for hours
• Lots of attention on me and my daughter (rather than seeing a new person everyday)
• Less illnesses
• More local (she lives 2 streets away)
• Home environment - my daughter has a good 15 years in school ahead of her, I like she gets to spend time in a home environment when im at work

All the same reasons that I went with a childminder. She is also much cheaper and a lot more flexible than the nursery we looked at

Also as above

Childminders 'tend' to have several others that they socialise with, so I've found that my LO still mixes with lots of other children too x

Same reasons here too, my childminder is looking after my Freddie once a week atm untill i got back to work in Feb for 3 days so i hope by the time i am back in work he will be very settled, we are 3 weeks in and he got really excited when i dropped him off this week my childminder has looked after all of my 2 sisters 3 children and now my boy gets to spend his time in childcare with his cousins, in a homely enviroment and also goes to the local childminders play session while his is with her, so he also gets to socialise with lots of other children too. I must say i am a very happy mummy and feel very confident that when i go back to work his needs are being well looked after

Also i have used a private nursery with my previous children and i must say i hated it but it was my only option at the time no choice to use or i would have had to give up work. So this time round i have made sure i have the childcare i want set in stone well before i return to work, i have been very lucky. I hope you will find that you are just as happy with the childcare you choose

 

[alicemummy]

Get an Aupair. We have a lovely girl, newly qualified to Level 3- lots of experience during her placements to look after LO. Costs us £300 a month plus her food and board. She will be leaving soon, but only because me and my ex are getting a divorce. It will add about £50 a month onto your food and household bills.

 

[suzib76]

i dont really understand the sickness thing tbh, mine have always gone to nursery and have never suffered any more illness than friends kids who had childminders

 

[Jemma_x]

We use a nursery. We looked at childminders but i just didnt really click with any and i didnt want to leave LO with someone who i didnt feel right with. For us when we went to view nursery i asked about ratios, food, did they cater for allergies (my lo has quite a few) what sort of things they do on a daily basis, did they go on outings, there security and i looked and saw how the staff were with the children

 

[ellismum]

We use a childminder for all the reasons previously listed but the most important part.....Long term childcare.

Alot of my friends have LO's in Nurserys and once they start school they need to look at finding alternative childcare whereas El's will continue with the CM and they will pick him up and drop him off.