Creche vs Nanny

Sher - Dorcas once worked for me in my younger, wilder days - before I had kids (I don't remember much of that) and then left. A friend of mine needed someone to watch her daughter and Dorcas got called and she worked for my friend for 2 years. I took her from my friend as my friend didn't need her anymore. She's also older and she's got 3 kids of her own. I didn't send her for training, but I'm thinking of sending her for cooking lessons later on when the kids are a bit bigger.

If you decide to get a nanny, you need to make sure you get referrals etc. It's not easy. I wouldn't just employ anyone from the street etc. I did have a look at creches and it just wasn't for me. I'm also a bit lazy, so for me to pack bags, drop them off at 6h30, rush home, bath them etc. was just a big NO.

You will also need to 'manage' your nanny. You will have to tell her how you want things done, when you are not happy with certain things etc. I keep talking to Dorcas about daily issues like security etc.. She's well trained now. She won't even open the gate for my clients collecting CDs etc. She gives it to them via through the gate. She won't allow anyone into the yard without calling first etc.

They do tend to slack a bit every now and again (just like we do at work), but a nice talk etc. and all is fine again.

Dorcas was the one telling me all the things that were happening at the play school (as she took Megan there and fetched her again - it's around the corner from our house).

I didn't send her on a first aid course either, but would recommend it. We live around the corner from Linksfield Clinic.

Dorcas also does not live in. She stays in Orange Farm and we in Sydenham. It's FAR! And when we moved there, we paid her more to cover transport. She's never not pitched. Even with the strikes. We had to sometimes fetch her somewhere as she could only reach a certain point.

Creches work for some people and if you can find a really nice creche, I'm sure you will be happy there as well. It really is a big decision that only you can make.

I am a mommy-to-be so speak from my "plans" and not from experience.

But I looked at the option of a day-mother thinking the smaller group would be better as more individual attention. however, the daymother i was interested in was just one person at her house with 5 toddlers/babies under the age of 2 years. I decided this would not work because who watches them when she needs the loo or if there is an emergency how does she cope (what does she do with the other 4)?

So then i thought about a nanny at home. I really like this idea as baby can sleep as late as they want in the morning when ever they want during the day as well as for however long they need to sleep. My dishes would get done and my floor would get vacuumed. Also, I could insist on towelling nappies being used as it would be at my own home (my own rules etc). But then I thought - I don't have a nanny that's been in the family for years, that i trust with my baby's life etc. Yes, you can take a nanny that you don't know to clean your house etc, but would you really trust that person entirely with your little baby? Aside from teh issue of if the nanny gets sick (if baby is sick at creche alternate arrangements also have to be made) I just wasnt' entirely sure i wanted to put my baby's life and well-being entirely into the hands of one person whom i didn't know well and have no other person keeping an eye on them.

So then I landed up back with my option of creche (which i'd been avoiding since the beginning). I'm not keen on creches for little babies because they don't really need the social interaction of other babies before the age of about 18 months, and then tend to get into a sickness cycle at creche - lots of germs means lots of illnesses. But then i just decided as long as i could find one i'm happy with, i'd rather give it a go and see. I intend to breastfeed and hopefully express and so continue baby on breast milk when he goes to creche which should helps combat the illnesses a little. Also, the creche i found is willing to use towelling nappies! And most importantly for me, there are a minimum of 4 "teachers" in the class (12 - 16 babies) so there is always someone watching the person looking after your baby, which means they can't do anything terrible or whatever to your baby.

So, that has been my decision so far - creche. What will happen after baby is born and after i've sent him to creche for a few months is yet to be seen.

See that is my problem. I dont have a live in quarters for the maid.

she will have to come in 5 days a week and wait for her to come in before going to work. most of them on our side comes in only at 8am, could be a problem. they come from mostly diepsloot area, I live in Broadacres. the creches there are just too riduclous with prices.

so really have to weigh the pros anc cons, and def will visit creches soon and do a spontaneous visit without calling, I just spoke to one at Lonehill and she said I must call her before I come through so she can get everyhing ready, get what ready ???

will just have to see.....

Definitely agree on the first aid course - we try and do one each year - we both go alone, me and my nanny (very madam and eve...)

Vision - oh heaven!!! Live in is the moment that you realise your sanity is starting to seep back into your world.

You then have the luxury (i still get excited by it) of a permanent babysitter.

So you can come home, sort baby out, have a cuddle, put baby in bed, pick up your big-girl-panties and go out for dinner while nanny (if it is agreed) stays with baby.

Oh the luxury.

Last night we went to my son's concert at school, I took my 4 year old daughter as eh wanted to see it too. I left my baby safely sleeping at home in her bed all warm and safe. While I watched other moms bringing their teeny-tiny babies along out on this freezing cold night and again I raised my eyes to the heavens and gave thanks to my LIN (live in nanny - bless her cotton socks.)

Sher also with a nanny it is nice if you have live in facilities because there are always public transport problems which could affect what time she gets to work.

I would send the nanny on a 1st aid course maybe?

The reason why we chose a small daycare:

Reliability

Training in CPR and child educare

One on one attention (he was the only baby). He was rocked to sleep, fed as needed etc as he would have been at home.

socialisation

We don't have to prepare bottles as the daycare does it for us.