Childminder or nursery???

I have decided to go back to work part time, if they will have me back part time that is..

but i am in 2 minds whether to have George looked after by a childminder or go to a nursery.

What are your views?

Thanks

Nikki

I have found someone who will look after George and i am sooooo happy about it...

Its still 6 months off yet and things can change but at the moment im happy and so is Kelly (kellyk24) about it..

Hi nikki

i've been thinking the same, have actually just extended my mat leave till jan next year but will still need to make decision. It's scary, I absolutely cannot imagine the thought of leaving sam somewhere!

I swing between the 2, i guess there are pros and cons for each. Have you decided yet?

Rach and Sam x x x

Hi

i go back to work part time at the beginning of november and i've booked jacob into a nursery for 2 days, it has a brilliant ofsted report and when i went to vist it it was spotless, there was plenty of stimulation for the kiddies and a quite area with cots or big cushionsn for the kiddies to sleep on.
i wanted jacob to have interaction with other children and learn to play and share as he has no brothers or sisters.
i know when the time comes i will cry my eyes out but i do belive it is good for him.
thanks for your answer on my post about tickling feet, i wount be tickling them again i'll just sroke them like you suggest.

love+hugs

nicki+jacob. xxx

I'l look after him!!!

Or put him where Abbie is!

Kelly - i'd love it if you looked after him

but can you take the childcare vouchers?

Im not due back to work until 5th Jan 2010.. can you wait that long?

Talk to you tomorrow about it

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Nursery

Hi Nikki,

I got back to work in October part time, 3 days per week and Emily is booked into a nursery. I thought that interaction with other children is really good for her and will help her development skills and social skills, plus the nursery has a good ofsted report, good reputation and was really clean and organised and the room where Emily will be is large, clean and has lots of toys, plus a quiet area for sleeping.....

I did not want a childmilder as the one on one contact is not what I want for Emily and would prefer her to mix and get used to other children......

BUT I KNOW I WILL CRY!!

Good luck and hope you get what you want re the hours when you go back. When do you go back to work, I go back at the end of October !

Natalie & Emily xxx

That's a very personal decision but

You might be more comfortable with a childminder as they work in a home environment and don't have as many kids to look after as in a nursery setting. However, I know the good ones are very quickly fully booked (at least where I live). We looked for one for our 1st boy when I was 7 months pregnant, for him to start when he was 6 months old and we couldn't find a decent one. They were all super busy.
So we decided to send Etienne to nusery when he was 6 months and I went back to work part time. And to be honest we don't regret it one single bit.
We chose one with a very good ofsted report (go to http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxcare_providers/list_providers/(sort)/datesort,desc/(type)/33/(typename)/Childcare%20on%20Non-Domestic% 20Premises to read the reports), visited twice before making a decision, met the staff etc. We were happy because although it was a nursery, it's not a huge one, so Etienne didn't feel completely lost. And anyway,, by law they have to have one carer for 3 babies max, so it's ok. He absolutely love his carer there and thrive at nursery. It's lovely to see him being so happy there. I never had any worry leaving him there because the staff came across as being very good, cheerful etc, and they proved to be just that.
Once you've checked the ofsted reports, try and get a few recommandations from your friends, colleagues, etc. I found it invaluable.
Costwise, it might be a bit more expensive to put your kid to nursery, but I'm not even sure this is the case these days.
As long as your childminder or nursery is registered with ofsted, you can get childcare voucher through your work (most workplaces have them), which make payment a bit easier.
I hope it helped,
good luck,
Flo, Etienne 17 months old, and 35+2 pink bump.