MSE Newborn to 1 year Baby Club 1

JT100

turtlemoose wrote: »

Anybody on here use a childminder instead of nursery? Can you tell me why/pros/cons? Anybody absolutely wouldn't use a childminder?

I've only got 4.5 months left (eep!) and looking at childcare 8-6 mon-fri. OH wants a nursery, but I want to look at nurseries AND childminders.

My children went to a childminder from around 6 months as I was self employed and had to get back to work. They loved it and she is a good friend to us still now. I liked that my children became part of her family. I think this made me feel less guilty about leaving them. They had breakfast and tea with the childminders children, took her children to school and then did different activities each day that were tailored to my children and their interests. The childminder took them to a childminders group at the local Surestart Centre and she also took them to gym, music, dance, parks, museums and playgroups. What really suited my children was that she developed the activities to suit their routine and their personal stages of development. I really liked the personalised care, yet she still ensured the children were working to the Birth to 5/Early Years curriculum.

What suited me, was the ability to be a little more flexible. For example if I had additional work one week, she would have the children for extra hours. If I was stuck in a traffic jam, I just called her and it was no problem for the children to stay longer. I would just had over the extra money as and when required. When I had my second child, we arranged for her to have my daughter from 6.45am until my OH was able to leave the hospital to collect her. This was so valuable as I have no family living near by. She was a 'rock' to me when I broke up with my children's father. Knowing the children had the stability of one person caring for them, as opposed to a team at a nursery with students on placements and people changing jobs was perfect.

As the children got older, I combined the free nursery hours with the childminder (she would take them and collect them) If you find the right person for your child, then I really don't think you can go wrong with a child minder.

Regarding the other MSE member comment about school. Both my children are performing beyond the expected level for their ages with their school work and they had no problems at all settling into a school routine.

It is very worrying leaving your child with a stranger to return to work. I think that's why I liked knowing exactly who my child was in contact with each day. But ... I know that I was very very lucky to find the right childminder for us. If you have any other questions ... please ask!

*Ro*

Hello all x

Sunshine - :grouphug: glad he is improving I know it must be frustrating to want him home but he will get there we are all keeping fingers crossed its as soon as possible. Re food hope he is able to have something soon glad he is having his milk well. Xx

*Nutella*

turtlemoose wrote: »

Anybody on here use a childminder instead of nursery? Can you tell me why/pros/cons? Anybody absolutely wouldn't use a childminder?

I've only got 4.5 months left (eep!) and looking at childcare 8-6 mon-fri. OH wants a nursery, but I want to look at nurseries AND childminders.

I initially had my heart set on going down the childminder route until I started researching it further, and discussed it with OH who had concerns about the safety aspects/whether we could trust someone with our child. For us, there were two key reasons why we decided on a nursery: 1) Concerns about finding the 'right' childminder - we didn't know anyone who could recommend one. If we had, we may well have chosen that option. 2) The number of children a childminder is allowed to look after (6 - with max. 1 of these being under the age of 1).

Although nurseries have a larger number of children, each child has a key worker who's their main contact. With children younger than 2, the ratio is 1 adult per 3 children. This is a lower number than for a childminder.

I also think nurseries are better for preparing a child for school (due to their set-up/environment) whilst still enabling them to play and have fun and be around other children. And they're certainly not 'clinical'

Consider what you would do if your childminder is sick and can't look after your child for the day - how easy would it be for you to get time off work or work from home? Similarly, nurseries tend to be closed on bank holidays and over Christmas - would that cause you problems?

In London, childminders tend to be slightly cheaper than nurseries - not sure if this is the case elsewhere too.

This article is quite useful and highlights some questions to ask/things to consider to help you decide: www.babycentre.co.uk/a537558/preparing-yourself-and-your-child-for-childcare

Combining nursery and childminder might also be an option?...

*Nutella*

Sunshine, glad things have improved a little bit - hope the next few days pass quickly and you can get him back home. Although reassuring that he's in the best place for now and being looked after x

Katie, fingers crossed for an injury-free day tomorrow - poor boy!

Gillyx

I had a childminder growing up and I loved her, if I had to do child care it's definitely something I'd look into. Like the PP mine encorporated my 15 hours free nursery into our time so I got the best of both worlds. IMO it all comes down to the childminder and the nursery and what they are like, youd need to see both. Check the staff turnover in nurserys as they can worryingly high.

sunshine_1988

OH has gone home and A is asleep so its just me. We have got through so many clothes in here, we couldnt put him in sleepsuits with feet cos of the foot sensor so had to buy extra pjs! My mum has been doing our washing for us!

Just seen your lovely pics very cute. Ill post ina bit i am sure as am bored here!

*Nutella*

My LO had her first settling-in session at nursery today. She did really well Two hours today - I was there the whole time, but sat quietly int the corner. She was happily playing with the other children and also had a snack with them. She wanted a cuddle from me once, so I went over and played with her for a few minutes, then went back to my corner and she was happy again. The only time she cried was right at the end when she was tired and hungry - she was having her milk and looking all comfy on the nursery lady's lap when one of the other children crawled over and pulled her hair After that she just wanted to be with me, so I fed her the rest of the bottle, then we had a cuddle and it was time to leave. She fell asleep within a minute of getting into the buggy. The staff said she'd done incredibly well - I'm a proud mummy She's been all smiles this afternoon, so I think she had a good time!

Three hours tomorrow, and she'll be having lunch there too - I'll be there at the start, then leave for an hour or so and come back. Will see how that goes - she might also need to have a nap there tomorrow.

sunshine_1988

Sounds like she did well nutella. Hope the next one is just as good x

moneypenny21

Rang the breast feeding helpline today they said it sounds like a milk blister & gave some other solutions to solving it none of which have worked I'll keep trying. Seriously think it needs lancing off its that deep/big !

she asked me if my nipple was lipstick shaped after a feed I said no but upon inspection after a feed I see it is (even on the non painful side) This seems to be a bad latch? Except if its not causing me pain (one side is fine) is it a problem?!

Lazy Annie won't open her mouth !wide enough like she did in the first week or so so it's harder to get her on without it going lipstick shaped.

Thought I was doing well but I might have to get a home visit I think to help me out as I really feel like giving up due to the pain on one side & bad latch on the other but I know deep down I want to carry on.!

Sunshine glad things are improving for you big hugs xxx


Love all the baby pics!! !

Sammie_03

Sunshine - glad Aiden is improving, hope you all manage to get some rest tonight.

Nutella - :j for little one enjoying nursery. Hope tomorrow goes just as well.
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