nanny vs creche

Karatemom, I live in Jhb north. Everything is expensive here!! My friend's kid is in playschool 3 days a week till 12 and she pays R2800 pm. No lunch!!

I'm sending Stefan to a nursery school next year, half day, no lunch 5, own snacks, 5 days a week for R2500 pm. That does not include the extra activities like horse riding, swimming etc. All that will be extra. Registration fee is R2000 and then I get a looooong list of stationary and stuff to send with him.

But when I say everything is expensive, i mean it!! When I looked for a place to get my LG vaccinated, I couldn't find anywhere to do the free state vacs, everyone just does the private ones. Eventually I found a little clinic and the sister charged me R460 to jab my child with FREE state vacs!!!!! I was horrified. Now I drive to another part of Jhb where I can get my baby jabbed for R20.

without a doubt I will def stay at home for the 1st 6 months of the baby's life. After that, closer to the time I will have to decide. I do however, lean more to having a nanny who will clean and look after baby at home.

Mybrat, no you're not allowed to request an HIV test. You can always ask in a polite way if the person is happy to get tested though.

W.r.t. interaction with other babies: there's no such thing in the first two years (at least). Kids at that age only play alongside one another.

I def second what Lonie said! If you have to go the creche route it's better to send them from 4 months. My LG developed severe separation anxiety at around 5 months, hence the creche disaster (amongst other reasons).

Memo, R 500 is still ok. We lost our R 1700 deposit when we took Lilly out of the school after six weeks

Mybrat, I waited till my LG was 5 and half months old (almost 6 months) before taking her to the creche..its was a big mistake as she took very long to adapt..the babies that were there from about 4 months were the happiest..They just adapt so much easier when they are smaller. For the first year I only worked till about 1:30, so picked her up at 2, to spend time with her the rest of the afternoon..

My DH and I have had this whole nanny and creche discussion as well.

DH wants me one day to stay home with baby until it is able to speak for itself and tell us when something goes wrong.

I on the other hand, would prefer to stay home until the baby is about 7 months and then send them to a day care (where they have about 5 babies to look after)

Or if i can find a really really good nanny (get the nanny to go on a First Aid Course) and let her work along side me during my maternity leave so i can get the feel of how she works and handles the baby.

On the other hand, It is good however, despite how many babies actually get sick at creche to let them have interaction with other babies / children their ages. up to 5 years is the most important years of their lives and their brains suck in every piece of information.

Maybe its just me, but i would do a background check on the nanny you decide to hire. I am fortunate to work for a company where i have the facility to do a criminal, credit checks on people.

One question though. Because SA has one of the highest ratings of AIDS, do we have the right to ask if the nanny (of any race) to do an AIDS test or ask them if they do have it? Has anyone been in this situation before?

Memo - that now seems to be the norm at all schools!

I have to send tissues and dusters etc with my bigger kids at primary school

Memo, 100's of children have been to creche and done well, so dont feel bad about going that route:)

@ Karate mom, I live in Durbs where things generally cost less and there isnt a single day mother that charges less than R1500pm for half day (you pay extra full day). I pay my nanny R2000pm (which is more than the going rate where I live) and I get a clean house on top of that - plus when I have another kid next year (well if I do), I dont then have to pay for 2 children, so a nanny can work out cheaper....

I have James on a waiting list for school in the year he turns 3, but I may actually wait and only send him the year he turns 4.