Is using both a nursery and nanny share/childminder too much for baby?

[minimac]

I'm looking into full time childcare to start in February and am finding that a ft nursery space or ft nanny share are difficult to find. I am therefore thinking of doing both part time ie nursery mon-wed and nanny share thurs-fri for example. However I wonder if this is advisable for a little one (my boy will be 11 months when I go back to work). Do children need total consistency when the parents are working full time or are they quite resilient and cope well/feel secure/happy etc if I arranged this shared care?

Thoughts/advice appreciated.

[Mrs TP]

I think as long as you talk to your son at the beginning of each day and explain where he (and you) is going it will be cool. Might have the usual settling in probs but I am a great believer that if you talk to children calmly then no matter how young they are or how much they do / don't understand they will get it eventually and look forward to a bit of diversity. Loads of kids go to nursery part-time and a relative for the rest of the time and what you are proposing is just half-a-step away from this. You have to do what works for you and what you are planning is consistent from week to week and will be fine.

[littleEDfamily]

We had a similar arrangement initially for our first baby (who was a similar age). I would not do it again - not that it was terrible, but in retrospect, I think consistency would have been better, for us (in terms of us being able to adjust to a certain routine) and her being able to really bond with her carers. I think for a little tot, the FT nannyshare would be by far preferable to FT nursery. That said, quite a few of my ex colleagues did half nursery half nanny and said they thought it worked really well.

I don't think a nanny is like family taking care - I am CONVINCED children know the difference as they pick up on the vibe (point being I think nanny share, esp if it's with another child is more of an adjustment for the child and just different to being looked after by a family member with whom they have a bond and whom they sense you are bonded to. Not to say they don't eventually become very fond of nannies, but in the shorter term, it's more difficult I am sure).

Good luck!

[EmmaCC]

Just to add another view- when I went back 4 days a week my daughte was 14 months. We had a brilliant Childminder who did the full 4 days and my daughter loved going there. However, when she reached 20 months we decided we should split the time and she should do 2 days at her Childminder and 2 days at nursery. I was convinced we needed to get her 'in' at a nursery or we'd miss out on a nursery place later down the line once we needed her to go. I have to say that with hindsight it was a mistake- all children are different of course but we have now realised that what my daughter really needed was consistency of care. She never settled properly at the nursery and I felt that this was cos she didn't know where she would be going each day even though we did explain to her each morning. My view is that whichever care you choose personally I would stick to the same one all week. I've just gone back to work after my second and my 3 year old and 9 month old have both gone to the same nursery 3 days a week and daddy/granparents are doing the 4th...think this is slightly different to sharing between nursery and a nannyshare but I'm a little nervous about how this will work as for logistical reasons the day with family falls in a Tuesday thereby splitting the week at nursery up- I really think 3 days in a row at the same place is better for them! However, life is not perfect, we all try to find the best childcare for our kids but in the end we can only do our best and if you're like me and all other working parents you will still feel guilty about some things! I honestly believe that as long as children get love and attention at home and that overall you are happy with the childcare in place then your child will be fine!! Good luck with everything...x

[mouseysarah]

In my experience small children are incredibly conservative little creatures and consistency can be really important. If you have the option to go for a full time nanny, nanny share or childminder then for a little one of 11 months I would expect that to be the best thing as it's a bond with a single carer and a consistent location and routine. A full time nursery would be the next best thing as it gives consistency of location and routine, but obviously can't give quite the same consistent bond with a single carer (although nurseries always do their best to establish a bond with a key worker, especially for the under 1s).

The other posters are right though, the most important thing is to find childcare that suits your needs and with which you feel happy and confident - if you find a brilliant nursery and a brilliant nanny/CM and that means splitting the week, that's better than a single nursery or nanny/CM which has other concerns or downsides for you and your child.

[sb]

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