I'm very uncomfortable with the idea, but there is a good chance I'll have to put Jacob into childcare much sooner than I had hoped. If so it will only be a few hours each week except for the holidays. I'm lucky in that I'll be able to get a lot of money towards it (not through benefits), so what type would everyone recommend? Can you please list any pros and cons? At the moment I hate the idea of any kind, even leaving him home with my husband!
What type of childcare?
- Thread starter moss
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Its a very personal decision hun, in my opinion, and the only way you will know which one works best for you is to pay them a visit and do taster sessions. This is what we did cos I didnt know where to start, so we had sessions with a childminder, a nursery and a nanny to see what suited us and baby. In the end we went for the nursery for several reasons. The main ones being that it is set up very much like a school atmosphere so we thought it would get him used to that kind of envoronment from the start. Its been really good for him having contact with so many kids, and they have to follow a schedule of developmental stages when teaching them things, so we have been able to follow his early education. Plus the nursery we chose is literally round the corner from our house and was one of the cheaper ones in the area, so that kinda swung it for us 
Charlie:-)
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Ive just been speaking to my HV about childcare and she posted a booklet to me which lists all teh different childcare options, pros & cons for each and a rough estimate of cost and any help you may be entitled to towards the cost.
Its a really good booklet put together in association with surestart I would see if you can get a copy sent to you also.
Its a really good booklet put together in association with surestart I would see if you can get a copy sent to you also.
I don't think its unusual to feel uncomfortable about childcare, particularly when your baby is so young and you have no family close by - this is one of the main reasons I took a year off work (although I know this is not possible for you).
We went to visit a couple of childminders and a couple of nurseries while I was still pregnant. We decided on a childminder as in all honestly we couldn't afford a nursery (here a childminder is about £10/£14 cheaper a day than a nursery, partly due to us just paying for hours that we use rather than full days, but also because the hourly fee is cheaper too) and it was also important to us that DD stayed in our village, mainly due to the fact that the childminder can take her to and from the school nursery once she is 3. My OH is a primary teacher and as a family, we are very keen for her to go to state nursery with a qualified nursery teacher (not stay on at a private nursery) once she is 3. There is a beautiful lovely nursery with a fab outdoor policy with an organic children's garden in the next town and if we were rich then maybe we would have put her there for a couple of years until she reached 3, but then if I was rich, I wouldn't have been going back to work!
There are benefits to all kinds of childcare, I think you've got to look at what you can afford, what is nearby to and practical for you and above all, use your instincts - if you're not comfortable with a nursery or childminder, don't touch them with a bargepole!
Valentine Xxx
We went to visit a couple of childminders and a couple of nurseries while I was still pregnant. We decided on a childminder as in all honestly we couldn't afford a nursery (here a childminder is about £10/£14 cheaper a day than a nursery, partly due to us just paying for hours that we use rather than full days, but also because the hourly fee is cheaper too) and it was also important to us that DD stayed in our village, mainly due to the fact that the childminder can take her to and from the school nursery once she is 3. My OH is a primary teacher and as a family, we are very keen for her to go to state nursery with a qualified nursery teacher (not stay on at a private nursery) once she is 3. There is a beautiful lovely nursery with a fab outdoor policy with an organic children's garden in the next town and if we were rich then maybe we would have put her there for a couple of years until she reached 3, but then if I was rich, I wouldn't have been going back to work!
There are benefits to all kinds of childcare, I think you've got to look at what you can afford, what is nearby to and practical for you and above all, use your instincts - if you're not comfortable with a nursery or childminder, don't touch them with a bargepole!
Valentine Xxx
daftscotslass
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We've gone for a nursery. It was the first out of several we visited and it was the only one I immediately got a good feeling about. So many nurseries are clinical and have perfect displays of only the children's best work. This one was so hands on, they had got the babies painting by stripping them off to their nappies which I think is brilliant. They have a HUGE outdoor area and wellies and raincoats for the older children to borrow - they still go out if it's raining . Staff turnover is great - they have had the same staff (adding a couple more as they got more children) since it opened
A childminder was also an option for us but in the end it didn't work out much cheaper. I actually went to school with the children of several of the ones with vacancies (they seem to all be one big clique) and there is no way on this earth I would put my daughter with them having seen how their kids turned out as adults!
. Staff turnover is great - they have had the same staff (adding a couple more as they got more children) since it openedA childminder was also an option for us but in the end it didn't work out much cheaper. I actually went to school with the children of several of the ones with vacancies (they seem to all be one big clique) and there is no way on this earth I would put my daughter with them having seen how their kids turned out as adults!
We went for a childminder as it is a lot cheaper here. I am glad though as Emms gets more 1 to 1 time and hopefully wont get as many lurgies. Check out what options are available. You might want to check out whether nurseries are manned mostly by very young girls as well - not what we really wanted for Emms. Our CM has 2 girls of her own and has quite a good work history of childcare inc. qualifications. 
Also I found it positive as I really wanted some time to myself and doing something where I was my own person. I was finding it hard work to be at home with Emms, it had started to affect my confidence. It is also positive as you get someone else's opinions about your child and their advice which can be really helpful.
Also I found it positive as I really wanted some time to myself and doing something where I was my own person. I was finding it hard work to be at home with Emms, it had started to affect my confidence. It is also positive as you get someone else's opinions about your child and their advice which can be really helpful.
