Childminder v nursery?

[Nunhead Groover]

Am thinking of taking my sons out of nursery and getting a child minder, partly due to cost. I think it would be great to have one special person looking after them 4 days a week but am worried about the transition from nursery to child minder and if it will be a big shock - especially to my 2 1/2 year old. What do people think? What are the pros to having a child minder? Are great ones hard to come by and where does one start? What are costs roughly or do they vary greatly? thanks :)

[BeccaL]

Our childminder was ?45 a day - daughter started school in sept. I think one consideration is how flexible your work is if child or childminder is ill - nursery less likely to let you down through staff illness but i can't comment re child illness. We had to change childminder when daughter was 3 because the first moved away and daughter gave new minder (who she already knew) a really hard time for 4-6 weeks. We liked the personal side of childminder vs nursery. Good luck deciding

[The Nappy Lady]

I've always used a childminder - nursery was pretty much ruled out as they are just so expensive, but also I am not keen on nurseries for under 3's. In any case I was lucky in that I knew of an existing childminder via two neighbours, both of whom had used her with their children (one of which was by then 21!) so I approached her as soon as I was pregnant.

I love the 'home from home' feel, it is as close as I can get to having my children looked after by a family member. I have known this lady for over 7 years now and feel very close to her. Both girls quickly built up strong relationships with her and are very happy there. When my eldest had chicken pox she could still go there as the other children there with her had already had it and passed it to her...typically my daughter wasn't poorly with it, just spotty so it wasn't a problem and I felt happy to leave her, and relieved that I didn't have to take 2 weeks off work. When teething or off colour generally my childminder has always been so lovely with them - happy to carry them around on her hip all day etc. if that is what they need.

My eldest now 'begs' to go there for the day when it is school holidays she likes it there so much, which is the best endorsement I could want as a Mum.

I think if you can find the right childminder it is fantastic, but of course as you say, it's the finding that is tricky. I was terrified my 2nd wouldn't get a place but in the end it all worked out as she was ready to start just as my older child started school, effectively freeing up a place for her....phew.

Good luck with the hunt/decision making.

Molly

[Pickle]

I see some really lovely childminders at the various groups I go to (and nannies) - for younger children it's a nice option as it seems they get more dedicated care and get to do things that they would do if at home with a parent, rather than being in the nursery environment. The childminders I chat to at playgroups all seem to charge around ?50 a day.

Good luck!