choosing the right care for your child

You know best what kind of childcare will suit your child and meet your family's needs. There are many types of childcare and all, with the exception of nursery schools and nannies must be registered with Social Services.

Getting the right childcare organised for your child makes returning to work less stressful and a lot easier. You can concentrate on your job responsibilities a lot better knowing your child is in safe hands. Choosing the right type of care for your child will go a long way to helping you balance your work and family commitments.

what choices do I have?

The three most popular choices are:

Nannies
Childminders
Nurseries

Other less popular and normally part-time alternatives for childcare are:

au pairs
a family member or friend
pre-school playgroup

These are likely to be cheaper, but may have the hidden drawbacks of requiring alternative arrangements during holidays or leaving your child in the custody of a non-qualified carer.

how do I choose?

This very much depends on you and your child. Factors you may like to consider when choosing childcare services include:

your child's needs

your needs

Age

The age of your child and level of care required at each stage of their development. You will need to be sure your child's routine isn't disturbed.

Social interaction

Does your child need one-to-one care all day or would he/she benefit from social interaction with other children? What is best for your child's emotional and physical needs and his/her social and educational development?

Reliability and continuity of care

How important is continuity in childcare to your child? What level of reliability do you require from your carer? How would leaving your child with someone else at short notice affect them? What type of childcare will allow your child to build a relationship with a carer who they can trust and feel comfortable with?

Flexibility

How many hours care you need for your child in a week? How flexible do you need this to be? Does childcare need to cover shifts or extended periods in the day because of occasional long hours? Are you prepared to and able to cope with being unexpectedly let down? The less flexible you are the more flexible your childcare will need to be to accommodate your needs.

Location

How far are you able or prepared to travel to reach your carer? How much travelling can your child cope with? Would you prefer your child to be close to where you work or close to home? Do you want to be relatively close to where you work, just in case you're needed, or close to home?

pros and cons of the childcare options

The links below provide you with a comparison of the three main childcare options, discussing the pros and cons of each, so you can choose what is best for you and your child.