Grandparents or nursery

amandada

Another vote here for bit of both if you can arrange it!

Lunar_Eclipse

lincsdan86 wrote: »

Hi all,

Just wanted people opinions on something.

At such a young age, grandparents; no question! I see no advantage to nursery whatsoever for babies. You are so incredibly lucky that your child has this option and unless you have a very good reason not to choose your parents (ie they are completely unloving and useless at meeting a baby's most basic needs) I really don't know why you would opt for nursery. The only advantage as I see it is that they get used to nusery from an early age, but it's not a good enough one for me personally.

Nursery (I'd recommend a pre-school) can come in a few years to build on social skills. Children who are looked after by family have numerous advantages. Three is a perfect age to start 1/2/3 mornings a week at nursery IMO.

Good luck and enjoy those lovely cuddles.

ETA: just read whole thread and agree that full time might be far too much for your Mum, although if your Dad still works and you have young siblings at home, it sounds like they are still young and active. So maybe 3 days with Grandparents & 2 at nursery. My Mum had my eldest 3 days a week when I returned to work (no nursery places available because you seem to need to put your name down straight after 12 week scan!) and was very happy to do so; they are very close now. The nursery came in when she turned 2, which in hindsight was far too early and I would keep them home until 3 given my time again. But just my personal viewpoint. My parents are mid-50's (now) and very active fyi. It certainly helps as they grow into toddlers and become demanding/active/tiring!

SarahNeedle1872

We do both (well kind of) and I think that is the best way. My OH works nights, and I work days at the same place. We both have a variable shift pattern (OH works different days each week, as do I, but my times can change ie sometime 9-6, sometimes 14-22).
DS goes to nursery Mon, Tues and Fri, and then between mine and OH's says off, and Nanny and Grandad, we look after him the rest of the week. Depending on shifts, sometime he will go to Nanny and Grandad twice in a week, sometimes not at all. OH and are are lucky that we have a degree of flexibility in or work times, and DS gets the best of both worlds.

HTH

lilac_lady

Grandparents don't often get asked if they want to have their grandchildren when the parents work. It's taken for granted by many parents that the grandparents will become the child carers. I watch my DGS one day a week and the other granny does another day. When my DIL made noises about wanting to work more hours I said that she'd need to find a childminder if the other granny couldn't do it. I never heard anything else about it and she hasn't increased her hours. I love having DGS and but I have my own life to lead too. I babysit at other times to let them out together so I feel I do my bit.

lincsdan86

I have to admit i never asked my mum, she offered. The only problem she would have is if she was treading on the other GPs toes, but they havent been any help at all (not tht we expected then to be) but my parents have brought the push chair and some other things, whilst the PIL dont seem bothered one bit, but that is a different matter.

galvanizersbaby

Hello Lincsdan

I would say that ideally it would be best (longterm) to have a mixture between Granny and nursery (while a baby mainly to give Granny a break)
I think once baby gets older it would be good if you could use a nursery or preschool for part of the childcare.

I think for time being best keep all options/avenues open for after you have the baby - there is nothing to stop you starting off with Granny and seeing how things go? (if there is a waiting list at nursery put name down).

Thank your mum for her kind offer and make it clear that she's to let you know if she is finding it a struggle - can't imagine my mum looking after either of mine for a day let alone all week!

Good luck with the new baby x

kirstle99

Hi there,

Wow I wish I had the luxury of a 'Grandparents' option, firstly you are very lucky to have one who lives close by and willing to help look after the baby. Here are my thoughts....
With the grandparents, you must think of some unforseen circumstances, like, what would you do if Granny got sick or went on holiday?
With nursery, most are closed on bank holidays & weekends where I live, maybe you could have baby in nursery on normal days & ask Granny to help out on weekends & bank holidays? (there are about 2 weeks worth of bank holidays in a year i think).

pattycake

I would like to address this from the perspective of the grandparents. My daughter took a year off from her teaching job and has now returned to work.

I look after my adored granddaughter for two days and week and her other granny does two days. Fridays are at nursery.

I love my granddaughter to bits but I find her completely exhausting. The responsibility seems heavier than 30 years ago when I had my own children and of course I am that much older!

I have her for two consecutive days and turn my home over to her. All the toys are out, high chair etc. I ignore the mess and then have a cleaning day afterwards. Her other granny has the days split. I have spoke to other grandparent carers and they all say how tiring they find looking after babies regardless of how much they enjoy it as well.

I take her to a Toddler Group and to Story Time at the Library. She loves the interaction with the other kids and it is plain that the time at nursery is very beneficial in making her social. I completely devote the two days a week to my granddaughter. This week, circumstances have meant that I have had her for three days. I am completely shattered!!!!

Yorkshire-Lady_3

You don't seem to have thought about a childminder?

A home environment, but interaction with other children.

lincsdan86

Yorkshire-Lady wrote: »

You don't seem to have thought about a childminder?

A home environment, but interaction with other children.

Your right we have not thought about this as we dont no where to start looking, I might do that now.