Spending time with your new baby is a great experience, but there comes a time when a mother must return to work. It can be difficult to know who can look after your baby once you return to work. The ideal childcare choice must suit you and your child and be affordable to you.
Nursery
Nurseries are an exciting environment for a child. They are usually full of toys and other children for your child to play with. Some of the advantages of sending your child to nursery are:
- Social Aspect - Your child has the chance to be social with other children. This can be particularly important if there are no siblings at home
- Qualified Staff - the majority of nursery staff have undergone a childcare qualification to ensure they provide the best care for your child
- Regulations and Inspections - Nurseries are regularly inspected for care standards by the care commission or other registered bodies.
Whilst there are clear advantages of using a nursery, there are also some disadvantages:
- Cost - Nurseries can be quite expensive and for some the price does not include meals or nappies and wipes etc.
- Child to adult ratios - Your child may not receive the level of attention you would like due to other children, especially difficult ones.
Read on:
Working Mothers - Choosing a Nursery
Childminder
A childminder works in their own home, providing care for one or more child(ren) The pros of Childminders are:
- Bonding - Your child is being cared for by one person with whom they can form a bond
- Social - Your child will be around other children of different ages
- Community Experience - Childminders are able to take children to and from school runs, and out about in the local community.
The main disadvantages of using a childminder are:
- Cost - every childminder will charge a different price for care, which can include different things.
- Reliability - If for some reason your childminder cannot look after your child (e.g. due to illness or holidays) you may be stuck for childcare.
Nanny
A nanny provides childcare in the families own home. Nannies are usually qualified childcare practitioners or experienced parents/carers. The benefits of hiring a Nanny for your home are:
- Travel - Hiring a nanny means no extra travel time between work and home.
- Tailored Care - Nannies are able to provide the type of care you are looking for and can tailor it to your and your child's needs.
- Household Help - If your children are of school age a nanny can help out with household chores while the children attend school
Hiring a Nanny can be a fantastic experience, however there are some downsides:
- Illness - Should your Nanny fall ill it will be difficult to find childcare at short notice.
- Sole Charge - It is important that all nannies are thoroughly checked and referenced as they will be looking after your children on their own.
- Cost - Nannies vary in cost, mostly depending on experience/qualifications. So hiring an experienced nanny will usually cost you more.
Family
Family are a great form of childcare. They are familiar with the child and are usually available at short notice. In general children are happy to be left in the care of grannys, grampas, aunties and uncles and their routine will not be too disturbed. The main advantage of family looking after your child is:
- Cost - Family are free! This means more money to spend on your little one.
Unfortunately there are also some disadvantages:
- Work Commitments - Family may not always be available due to their own work commitments, which may mean arranging childcare around these hours
Childcare Options
Every childcare option has it's advantages and disadvantages. It is important to take these into consideration before making any decisions.
Sarah Braidwood - Sarah Braidwood is a qualified Early years professional, with experience working with children from 0-12. Mum of one with a keen interest ...
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