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The reason we didn’t go for a childminder was because of the holiday and sickness situation. So when the childminder is on holiday, there’s no alternative care, or if the childminder is sick they can’t go. Whereas in Nursery that doesn’t happen. I guess it depends on what sort of job you have and the flexibility. But that wouldn’t have worked for us.
I liked the idea of the childminder for younger babies and my girl went when she was 1. I also had issues with them being sick and then I’d have to take the day off work etc. maybe try and find one that has a bit of a bigger team so that doesn’t happen? I did move my girl to nursery at about 15/16 months as I moved area
My first went to a childminder from 1yr and she was amazing. But fast forward 3 years and we wanted to send our second to the same lady… she’s still amazing but now only doing 3 days a week. So we found another childminder for two days a week and she’s just not as good. It’s pushed us to put our little one into nursery (but he will be 2 by then). It really does depend on the childminder, I didn’t realise how lucky we had been.
We went nursery due to the longer opening hours and reliability that other people have mentioned
We chose nursery because of all the above. Sickness, lack of cover, smaller groups, less safeguarding imo, liked the idea of a more structured place, did not like the idea of the childminder taking my child outside with other kids/in a different car etc x
I personally chose a nursery for my 11.5 month old (when she started) cos I didn't like the idea of having no childcare if the childminder was ill or on holiday. I have seen child minders out in local groups and they seem to chat amongst themselves and not engage with the children they are with. I've had to flag that a child needed changing (poo) and apparently another parent had told them 45 mins earlier. I also prefer them to be with children on their own age cos I can't imagine how everyone's needs/learning is happening with such big age differences at a childminders.
I used childminders for my older 2, but this time I'm using a nursery. The reasons are that I don't have family locally, so zero backup childcare. I therefore don't want the stress of a CM being sick or on annual leave, so a nursery is absolutely my best option! Plus, I don't want to have to provide meals etc, it takes the stress away as I'll be working 30hrs a week
I like a childminder for younger babies as my little nephew went and he got that 1-1 with the minder and she fed him and did everything for him but it was also a little setting so she only took on 3 other kids. Ive sent my little one to nursery i did decide a childminder first but i didnt feel like at the age of 2 he would get enough social interaction.
Also with sick days and holidays i know he will be able to still go into nursery and be looked after by someone and a childminder in my area was WAY more expensive than nursery
Nursery. It’s hard enough trusting someone else with your child so I would rather he was around multiple adults than just taking one persons word for how the day has went with no other adults watching. That was the biggest thing for me, then there’s the holidays issue, sickness, mixed age group and potentially older kids around that I know nothing about their family dynamics, worse staff to child ratio than a nursery, needing to provide packed lunches etc. I just think the nursery is more reliable and trustworthy. The childminders in my area also do a lot of school runs so I wouldn’t be happy with my son getting dragged along to them all week in all weathers lol. That being said, I will need to use a childminder for wrap around school care but by then he will be older and will be able to tell me what goes on x
We had a cm and moved to a nursery as our first and second cm became pregnant. I didn’t like not being able to book holidays when I wanted to and working it around the cm. I also wanted more socialisation as he got older as my son was speech delayed.