Discussion
Afternoon all
My wife is thinking of going back to work in the next month or two and we obviously will have to leave our daughter with either a crèche or a child minder. Parents aren't a full time option as mine travel a lot and hers live 120 miles away.
None of our friends have kids yet so we've no one to get advice from so I open this to the PH massive. What are your thoughts on either. Personally I suppose I'm swaying towards the crèche option as I feel our daughter would get interaction with more kids but on the other hand she would get more attention with a child minder.
Cheers.
My wife is thinking of going back to work in the next month or two and we obviously will have to leave our daughter with either a crèche or a child minder. Parents aren't a full time option as mine travel a lot and hers live 120 miles away.
None of our friends have kids yet so we've no one to get advice from so I open this to the PH massive. What are your thoughts on either. Personally I suppose I'm swaying towards the crèche option as I feel our daughter would get interaction with more kids but on the other hand she would get more attention with a child minder.
Cheers.
Was in the same boat. Financially, for the first 6 months of the wife going back to work, my parents had our daughter 3 days a week, and then 2 days at the childminder. That involved me driving twice a week to Wales (130 miles each way) to drop off / collect my daughter.
Now she's in nursery full time, it costs roughly £900 a month.
Childminders ... My wife was a children s' Nanny for 10 years and has some real horror stories. We had issues with our childminder who tried to fleece us when we terminated our contract with her
anyway, our daughter loves Nursery and now has graduated into "big girls school". I work in London most days, so am out of the house from 07:30 - 19:00 each day, but my wife works locally so is able to drop off and collect the baby.
Im looking forward to January when we get an extra £300 a month subsidy from the government and I can afford to tax and run the TVR once more
Edited to add, childminder will have up to 3 children to look after ( depending on ages and if she has help. She will entertain / feed / change your baby. Most childminders have once a week get together s with other minders in the area so kids will play.
Children do get social interaction with childminders, and in most cases get a lot more personal attention than a creche that has to "watch over" children.
Ill give my wife a prod and get her one here too. im sure she'll wanna comment
Now she's in nursery full time, it costs roughly £900 a month.
Childminders ... My wife was a children s' Nanny for 10 years and has some real horror stories. We had issues with our childminder who tried to fleece us when we terminated our contract with her
anyway, our daughter loves Nursery and now has graduated into "big girls school". I work in London most days, so am out of the house from 07:30 - 19:00 each day, but my wife works locally so is able to drop off and collect the baby.
Im looking forward to January when we get an extra £300 a month subsidy from the government and I can afford to tax and run the TVR once more
Edited to add, childminder will have up to 3 children to look after ( depending on ages and if she has help. She will entertain / feed / change your baby. Most childminders have once a week get together s with other minders in the area so kids will play.
Children do get social interaction with childminders, and in most cases get a lot more personal attention than a creche that has to "watch over" children.
Ill give my wife a prod and get her one here too. im sure she'll wanna comment
Edited by JVaughan on Thursday 25th September 12:59
My wife's a childminder, she treats the kids she looks after like our own kids. She's always flexible about when the kids are dropped off/picked up, takes them to doctors appointments, goes to their school plays along with the kids parents, does homeworks and a lot of other stuff that you may not get with a nursery. She has an introductory period with new kids to give parents kids and herself a chance to see how everyone gets on before signing contracts and stuff.
Best way to see which is going to be best is to visit a few nurseries and child minders and which one makes you feel happiest/most comfortable as you'd know within a few moments if a place "feels" right or not.
Best way to see which is going to be best is to visit a few nurseries and child minders and which one makes you feel happiest/most comfortable as you'd know within a few moments if a place "feels" right or not.
Go with the child minder. My 8 month old is in a nursery (kids unlimited) and you wouldn’t believe the number of viruses that she has picked up.
Now ordinary childhood illnesses are ok, but if the child get's a virus the nursery won't take her in, so when you turn up and the baby’s got a bit of a rash you need a plan 'B' or its a day off work.
I tell you getting hand foot and mouth from your childs day care is harsh
Now ordinary childhood illnesses are ok, but if the child get's a virus the nursery won't take her in, so when you turn up and the baby’s got a bit of a rash you need a plan 'B' or its a day off work.
I tell you getting hand foot and mouth from your childs day care is harsh
Depends what you can find. My son went to nursery from 8 months old 4 days a week and has been ok with it - now aged 2. Lots to do - he plays with other kids etc.
We couldn't find a childminder we liked so that was our only option.
Now I have two am looking into a nanny - but still having trouble finding one who doesn;t want a 20k annual salary (we don't live in London).
We couldn't find a childminder we liked so that was our only option.
Now I have two am looking into a nanny - but still having trouble finding one who doesn;t want a 20k annual salary (we don't live in London).
Basically, everything that Mr V wrote!
Our Daughter reached a lot of milestones with the Child Minder, but at the end of the day the Child Minder can only provide so much in the way of care and education and our Little One clearly needed more stimulation!
At the end of the day, if you are going to opt for the Child Minder route, interview them thoroughly...they are after all looking after the most precious thing in your life!!!
If you want help with some of the questions, feel free to message me. I asked our Child Minder over 20 questions, things that I was asked as a Nanny.
Our Daughter reached a lot of milestones with the Child Minder, but at the end of the day the Child Minder can only provide so much in the way of care and education and our Little One clearly needed more stimulation!
At the end of the day, if you are going to opt for the Child Minder route, interview them thoroughly...they are after all looking after the most precious thing in your life!!!
If you want help with some of the questions, feel free to message me. I asked our Child Minder over 20 questions, things that I was asked as a Nanny.
Coco H said:
Depends what you can find. My son went to nursery from 8 months old 4 days a week and has been ok with it - now aged 2. Lots to do - he plays with other kids etc.
We couldn't find a childminder we liked so that was our only option.
Now I have two am looking into a nanny - but still having trouble finding one who doesn;t want a 20k annual salary (we don't live in London).
My daughter is currently in a nursery two days a week, when Mrs Meeja is at work.We couldn't find a childminder we liked so that was our only option.
Now I have two am looking into a nanny - but still having trouble finding one who doesn;t want a 20k annual salary (we don't live in London).
It took a long time to decide on this particular nursery, fortunately for me, I have access to an Ofsted spy!
The nursery has just had a long overdue major refit, and is now fabulous (it was ok before, but is really special now)
Within three days of finishing the work (which took at least four months) they have ramped up their fees by 20%, and have also said that they will now charge 50% of the fee for term time attendees during the scghool holidays (ie they do not attend, but you pay 50% of the fee to hold the place)
It has made it unsustainable for Mrs Meeja to actually go to work, so are being forced to look at alternatives (parent support is not an option for us due to my father's age, and the distance from my in-laws)
Government subsidies don't kick in for us for another eleven months.
I concur with the number of illnesses picked up at nurseries too - but I guess that helps a child's immune system in the long term.
Either works but in our experience, generally the ones that went to nursery are that little bit more confident, outgoing and able to mix with others than the ones that stayed at home with mum / childminder /nanny.
There are exceptions in every scenario though, so the overriding factor is the nature of the child (which may or may not be obvious yet, depending on their age).
There are exceptions in every scenario though, so the overriding factor is the nature of the child (which may or may not be obvious yet, depending on their age).
Baby gti is 9 months and goes to a nursery. He has interactions with kids up to 4yrs. He goes there one day a week as mrs gti works two days and her parents have him the other day. You can tell the difference in him after nursery as they constantly interact with him and hes always tired, whereas when nanny has had him, he doesn't. Our nursery is great, and baby gti's god parent works there which is great as we know someone and can trust them. I would send him full-time but the cost of fees against mrs gti's full-time wage, tax etc, doesnt make it worthwhile.
this is depressing me. I have to go back to work in feb/march time. My 3 month old daughter has a place at nursery. But now people have mentioned it - the illness thing is a real issue. Son is currenlty at home with the pox. In the first week I went back after son born , he was ill on day 3. I have no alternative but to take holiday. That first year was tough.
I really don't know what to do either. nannys are so expensive.
Then it is the dilemma how many days a week to work vs what childcare you can get - round here most places are booked up to septrember 2009 already.
I really don't know what to do either. nannys are so expensive.
Then it is the dilemma how many days a week to work vs what childcare you can get - round here most places are booked up to septrember 2009 already.
JVaughan said:
Was in the same boat. Financially, for the first 6 months of the wife going back to work, my parents had our daughter 3 days a week, and then 2 days at the childminder. That involved me driving twice a week to Wales (130 miles each way) to drop off / collect my daughter.
Now she's in nursery full time, it costs roughly £900 a month.
Childminders ... My wife was a children s' Nanny for 10 years and has some real horror stories. We had issues with our childminder who tried to fleece us when we terminated our contract with her
anyway, our daughter loves Nursery and now has graduated into "big girls school". I work in London most days, so am out of the house from 07:30 - 19:00 each day, but my wife works locally so is able to drop off and collect the baby.
Im looking forward to January when we get an extra £300 a month subsidy from the government and I can afford to tax and run the TVR once more
Edited to add, childminder will have up to 3 children to look after ( depending on ages and if she has help. She will entertain / feed / change your baby. Most childminders have once a week get together s with other minders in the area so kids will play.
Children do get social interaction with childminders, and in most cases get a lot more personal attention than a creche that has to "watch over" children.
Ill give my wife a prod and get her one here too. im sure she'll wanna comment
whats the £300 subsidy for? and what age does the child have to be for you to get this?Now she's in nursery full time, it costs roughly £900 a month.
Childminders ... My wife was a children s' Nanny for 10 years and has some real horror stories. We had issues with our childminder who tried to fleece us when we terminated our contract with her
anyway, our daughter loves Nursery and now has graduated into "big girls school". I work in London most days, so am out of the house from 07:30 - 19:00 each day, but my wife works locally so is able to drop off and collect the baby.
Im looking forward to January when we get an extra £300 a month subsidy from the government and I can afford to tax and run the TVR once more
Edited to add, childminder will have up to 3 children to look after ( depending on ages and if she has help. She will entertain / feed / change your baby. Most childminders have once a week get together s with other minders in the area so kids will play.
Children do get social interaction with childminders, and in most cases get a lot more personal attention than a creche that has to "watch over" children.
Ill give my wife a prod and get her one here too. im sure she'll wanna comment
Edited by JVaughan on Thursday 25th September 12:59
-my partner is due in Feb09 and only taking 9mths off work so will have to be full time care too, we're not sure to go childmider or nursery yet either..
our place charges £39 a day or £155 a week. Mrs gti is part time as the tax would make her wage for 5 days less than £20 a day full-time. Expect to be charged the earth. If baby is unwell, we still pay £39. if we book holiday(!!!!) we pay half, 2 weeks per yr max. otherwise we pay every week. I work shifts and am off the day of nursery 1 in 3 weeks, but still have to pay 
I shall be looking for a childminder if mrs gti gets a promotion she is being lined up for, as a childminder will take baby certain days with more flexibility than nursery, and hopefully will cost less than £155 a week!
I shall be looking for a childminder if mrs gti gets a promotion she is being lined up for, as a childminder will take baby certain days with more flexibility than nursery, and hopefully will cost less than £155 a week!
Coco H said:
I think it is when they are 3 years old.
But (as ever) it's not quite as straightforward as that. It applies only during school term-time and starts in the term following the child's 3rd birthday. So, depending on the exact DOB you may need to wait a fair while longer to take advantage of it.Also, it's not a straight "£300 per month" type of deal either; it's something like up to X sessions per week to a maximum cost of Y per session.
Another small help is if your employer will do Childcare vouchers; it's a salary sacrifice scheme up to a max of £243 per month so you can save the tax on that amount. Your childcare provider needs to be officially recognised for you to be able to take advantage of this though.
Ours went to a nursery when she was 1yo, and my wife had to go back to work. Its been 18 months now, and the nursery are great.
One good thing, is that they have charts of things that track milestones, and they have structured play that introduces things to the kids, until they become proficent. EG, can roll a ball, can hold cutlery by self, etc.
Another thing is that parents tend to compare the progress of their child versus what "the books" suggest is about average. You have to be careful with this, because you dont want to overdo it.
There are reports available about nuseries, so you can see what is good \ bad.
Ours (Carshalton) costs us around £700 per month for 5 days a week, and 7:30 am till 6:15 pm.
We're very happy with ours, and will be putting our next one into the same place.
One good thing, is that they have charts of things that track milestones, and they have structured play that introduces things to the kids, until they become proficent. EG, can roll a ball, can hold cutlery by self, etc.
Another thing is that parents tend to compare the progress of their child versus what "the books" suggest is about average. You have to be careful with this, because you dont want to overdo it.
There are reports available about nuseries, so you can see what is good \ bad.
Ours (Carshalton) costs us around £700 per month for 5 days a week, and 7:30 am till 6:15 pm.
We're very happy with ours, and will be putting our next one into the same place.
big_rob_sydney said:
One good thing, is that they have charts of things that track milestones, and they have structured play that introduces things to the kids
True. The foundation stage of the national curriculum now extends into the reception year at 'proper' school, so coming from nursery your child will immediately be at home with the structure and content of school lessons, which is a great aid to the transition to school.Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff