As a childminder myself I am often asked how people find me and what makes them choose to leave their most precious possession in my care, after all there are many different types of childcare options available these days eg. family, nanny, nursery, childminder or workplace crèche (if you are very lucky)
I remember looking at childcare when my eldest were little and found the experience quite daunting. I looked at childminders and nursery schools before making my final decision which was based on lots of research and the “feel” I got from the setting.
Parents need to remember that there is no right or wrong choices for childcare, it’s a matter of personal choice. What is important, however, is that you ensure your child is receiving quality, professional care suited to their stage of development.
When choosing childcare I would strongly advise you to take the age of your child into consideration. Babies thrive on physical interaction and cuddles, so you may choose to have a one-on-one carer such as a professionally qualified nanny who would work in your own home, or a similar home setting such as an Ofsted registered childminder.
For an older child, social, physical and intellectual development should be considered, so you may choose a larger setting, such as a nursery. It is also worth investigating whether the setting accepts childcare vouchers and if you are entitled to two and three year old funding which allows you 15 hours of free childcare a week – most Nursery schools accept this funding as do some childminders.
Get as much information as possible – all professional childcarers have to be Oftsed registered and their reports are available online but I would also recommend speaking to other parents who have used that service and look into the pros and cons of each childcare setting. e.g
- Is it close to home / work
- easy to park
- clean, good state of repair and lots of age appropriate toys
- Do the kids get taken out to play / have an outside area
- whats the ratio of adults to children
- are all staff first aid trained
If you’re employing a qualified nanny, check the references, and then check them again. All registered nannies are qualified, first aid trained and police checked, (unlike unqualified nannies).
The best way to really get to know your childcare is to observe how the carer interacts with your child at an interview or visit. See if the carer responds to your child as an individual and communicates well with you too. All childcarers should have written policies with their ideas on safety and find out if their ideas fit in with your child’s routine, diet, discipline, toilet training etc.
Please also remember that you may need to find alternative care if your child becomes ill as if a child is in nursery care, or cared for by a childminder, they wouldn’t be allowed to attend until they were better to avoid spreading the illness (usually 48 hours after being symptom free). leaving you stranded without childcare. With nannies, this isn’t a problem as they are working in your home.
Choosing childcare can seem like a daunting task so I recommend you take your time and look into all your options thoroughly. A great starting point is your local authority website who should have an up to date list of all early years carers available on their site.
I also recommend checking sites such as netmums and mumsnet, although my own referrals seem to come through my Facebook page or website.
It is a really difficult decision deciding what to do for the best isn’t it. It was quite easy decision with my son as there was a really nice nursery right next to where I worked, however, I still haven’t decided whether to put my daughter into childcare or keep her at home.
It is a really hard decision to make. I was all for going back to work and also had booked Maxi on to a local nursery and payed the extortionate monthly fee. Then he got unwell and POW I knew there and then that I couldn’t leave him in the hands on anyone else no matter what. So we moved 300 miles so that we could afford for me to be with them. No right or wrong, just what is right for my family.
It is really a hard decision isn’t it? I was a qualified ofstead registered Nanny for 14 years and still keep in touch with all the families I’ve worked with, the bond is so great and it’s such a rewarding job
Its always hard when you have to make the choice of whom to leave your kids with for childcare.
I’m trying to work this all out with my youngest right now – he really wants to stay home but now he’s turned 3 I’d love him to be going to pre-school. It’s a hard choice.
It was a really difficult choice with my son but we were happy with his Nursery care so I’ve put my daughter into the same setting.
Really good tips, I need to get my head around the timings for Baby but think we have just over a year before she goes to pre-school x
There are some really good tips here hun, my mum is a registered child minder and growing up there was always kids around that she was looking after x
Luckily this is one decision I have been lucky enough not to have to make yet – have always managed to either work part time round partners hours, or been blessed enough to be a SAHM/WAHM. Some really useful info here tho.
I was lucky to find an amazing childminder when Chloe started school and 11 years later we are still there. She has had Dylan since he was 7months old. I love the relationship he has with her.
It certainly inn’t easy, I am lucky enough to stay at home with my children, my oldest has ASD and I have made the decision to work from home, it is so hard though to find the right place to leave your children.
Great tips Kara. I’m lucky to have been able to stay at home with mine, I couldn’t imagine leaving my babies for one minute! I think I’d prefer a childminder though so as to feel more homely x
Childcare is always such a conundram for WAHM’s isn’t it, Kara? We struggling with deciding what to do when the kids were little and ended up with a nursery, paying massive fees! Now, we just use after school clubs as they are, of course, that little bit older. Some good sites to visit here to help with what is always a tough choice to have to make – leave our kids elsewhere.
It is so tricky, trying to find what is right for you and your child. I was so stressed, I chose to become a SAHM!
Wow, so many decisions to make about something so important, not sure I envy anyone having to make such a big decision like this.