Daycare nightmare

They are the only significant group of carers to be officially registered with the Local Authority, and subject to yearly inspections. They look after your child in their own home. The trouble is there are simply not enough of them to go round – they only account for around 6% of small children. Under the Children Act 1989, childminders can only look after three children under five at any one time – this includes their own. I would say word of mouth is the best recommendation. Otherwise, apply to your local authority for a list.

Over 10% of small children are put into nursery day care

Nurseries are expensive, the child is looked after all day in a large group and out of the home environment, and inevitably gets less personal attention. A separate 3% of mothers have a secure job to go back to with workplace nursery attached. Although this looks like the perfect solution – it is close to work, subsidised so it doesn’t eat up too huge a chunk of earnings, clean, safe, inspected etc – these teddy-strewn paradises do have their disadvantages, particularly for babies and younger children.

No matter how well run they are, both kinds of nursery are breeding grounds for the kind of microbes that small children entertain on a regular basis – particularly in the winter. Every sniffle, sore throat, chest infection and mystery virus passes through the infant population like a dose of salts. And then you get it. Also, there is a feeling that the institutional nature of nurseries is not really suitable for small babies, who respond much better to a more peaceful environment and one-to-one home-based care.

If none of the above tempt you and you can’t persuade a relative to step in, then you will have to employ a nanny.

This is the most expensive option and is not stress free. The live-out nanny has the advantage of distance – at the end of the day, she leaves you in peace. The live-in nanny becomes very much more part of the family, and has the advantage of being there at night. It is very important to negotiate hours very carefully. No nanny likes being asked to baby-sit at the last minute, even if she isn’t going out. You could also share another family’s nanny working in the neighbourhood, which has the advantage of giving your baby some social life with another baby of similar age.

Remember, your nanny will be responsible for the children only – tidying up after them and doing their laundry can be part of her job. Cleaning the house isn’t. A full-time nanny has sole charge of your precious one during the day. You have to be able to trust her completely, so be careful in your choice. There are many nanny agencies that will check references and screen nannies for suitability. But it is vital that you follow up references minutely yourself.