Creche vs Nanny

Yip - no doubt this is probably one of the hardest decisions we have to make: who takes care of your LO while you are at work. I am fortunate that my mom stays close by and will be coming to look after Emily when I go back to work, so this is at least not something I have to worry about for right now. My mom is a widow and lives alone, so she will come very early every morning and leave after dinner at night or sleep over if DH and I want to go out.

My only concern now is how long do I let her stay with my mom for and when is time for playschool...... I am torn between keeping her at home with my mom until she starts Grade R or sending her half day at about 3 years old. But, will cross that bridge when we get there. There are also extra mural activities that I want to get her enrolled in once she can start interacting with other children so that she is not toooo sheltered

Good Luck in making the decision that's best for you and your baby - I know it's a TOUGH one!!

Sher, I'll still help you, and we (my nanny and I) have started a domestic recruitment agency in Johannesburg.

My nanny is part of the management at church, so she knows the congregation and who needs work etc.

We recruit people form the church, bring them to my house, make sure they can read, write and follow a routine. Give them a week basic training and then place them. We charge a placement fee of R400.

I did start a thread under good and services about this so if you are interested please check it out.

I can send the ladies on Edubabe and first aid courses, but seeing as there is an extra cost involved in that, obviously it will cost more to place such a person.

Dylan also has a daily diary. they let me know stools, what he eats or drinks (mls), naps taken and his general mood.

Marijke we run a book like that. Send it back and forth everyday with details of what C ate and when, and if her tummy worked, if medicine was given (only if I consent in the morning when I drop her off), how much she slept. It is really important. I also like it because I can look back in a couple of months and see the progress she's making. It's like a diary.

I have no experience of Creche versus Nanny. I'm a stay at home mom and my little girl suffered from severe stranger anxiety from 10 weeks of age till about 5.5 months. I can not imagine that it would have been beneficial to her to go to daycare or creche at that age.

Very suddenly she turned into a social butterfly and now has everyone wrapped around her little finger whenever we go anywhere. I still firmly believe that we are taught social skills by our parents.

I also agree with whoever it was that stated (i think Joli) that demand feeding isn't possible at creche and for me doing baby-led weaning this was SO NB!

My sister had a daymother with her first son and that lady was excellent, she would write down what your child did during the day - how many poo & pp nappies, what he ate, if he has been niggly, when he had his naps, how long and amount of milk bottles.

I think these things are really important with a small baby because you need to know how much of what your child is getting in and what his routine is. If I had to work I would take B to a daymother who has only a few kids (I live in a small town, so we know everyone) but might be taking B to a playgroup for a few hours a week from next year on but only to play.

yip can be scary, thats why have to really do alot of homework on creches, first aid courses,their qualifactions and for nanny too, I wont just take a nanny of the street. I must go find the post where a lady on the site said she can help me out with a trust worthy nanny closer to the time, she is in the diepsloot church congregation

I had a maid once a week and was not reliable. its so hard to find a maid for one day of cleaning house, I can only imagine how difficult it will be to find someone to take care of my precious one 5 times a week and who I can trust. wish life was simple - LOL

this is only concern at the moment, what is right for her.

Claudia - one of the reasons I took Megan out her 1/2 day play school is also for that same reason. I paid R1000 per month for 3 x week for 4 hours at a time and then had to learn that a lady was employed just like that with no experience or qualification 'from the street so to say' to watch the kids while the owner is replying to emails / on facebook???? So ya, you never know.