When a new child arrives, all parents ask themselves the same question: What kind of childcare should I choose? Nursery or nanny? There are many possibilities, all of which have their positive and negative points. So what should I choose?
Favouring a home-based nanny
A home-based nanny is the perfect childcare option for some families. Indeed, this type of childcare allows families to organise their family and professional life more easily. In addition, the child can benefit from all the advantages of a nanny while keeping his/her bearings.
The advantages
- The child can evolve in its environment
- Easy to organise
- Flexibility of schedules
- Respect for the child’s rhythm
- Easy to find compared to a place in a nursery
The disadvantages
- The price can be high (up to one SMIC per month or more depending on experience)
- You are considered an employer, so you have to deal with the administrative procedures
- Difficulty of replacement if the nanny is ill or takes leave
- Lack of socialisation as opposed to community care (transition to nursery school)
Favouring a group nursery school
Other parents, however, prefer to have their children looked after in a group nursery . This is still the most popular option for young children, but it should be remembered that places in nursery are scarce. Even if it is difficult to access, the nursery nevertheless has many advantages.
The advantages
- Socialisation of the child
- More “personalised” care
- The childminders are supervised by a nursery nurse
The disadvantages
- Difficulty in finding a place
- Fixed hours that may not be convenient for you
- Lack of individuality or even a “factory” feel if there are too many children
- Illnesses can circulate among the children
How to find a place?
In order to be sure of finding a place in a nursery, you should start early. Some nurseries recommend that you register from the 6th month of pregnancy. We advise you to find out as soon as possible from your local authority so that you can submit an application as soon as possible.
Other childcare options?
Perhaps you are in the process of choosing a childcare option for your baby and you can’t find what you are looking for in a nursery or a nanny? Well, these two solutions are relevant, but they are not the only ones. There are other childcare options that may be more suitable for you.
Using a childminder or a family nursery
If you are not happy with a nursery or a nanny and want to find an interesting in-between solution, we suggest that you look into family nurseries. This type of childcare consists of having your child looked after in groups of 1 to 4 children by childminders employed by the family nursery (in their homes). In addition, these childminders take the children to the nursery premises once or twice a week so that they can meet other children and socialise.
The advantages
- A more affordable price
- Open all year round
- Socialisation of the child
- The childminders are professionals in the field of early childhood
- Supervision by early childhood educators and a childminder
The disadvantages
- Very limited number of places
- No care possible if your child is ill
- If your childminder is ill or on holiday your child will be entrusted to another childminder and will have to adapt to a new environment
Sharing childcare with a nanny
If you like having your child looked after in your own home but there are some inconveniences that bother you, then maybe shared childcare is for you. Shared childcare involves two couples taking on a nanny. You will employ the same person and your children will grow up together in familiar surroundings.
The advantages
- A more affordable price
- Socialisation with the other child
- Children grow up in a familiar environment
- The nanny can sometimes do housework in addition to childcare
The disadvantages
- You have to make arrangements with the nanny but also with the other family (where the baby-sitting takes place, which days, additional tasks, …)
- You are still considered an employer, so you have to deal with the administrative procedures
- Difficulty of replacement if the nanny is sick or takes leave
Opting for a micro-nurseries
Micro-nurseries are collective nurseries, but with fewer children. They provide better support for the child in educational projects while maintaining a social link between the children. In addition, if you are interested, some of them specialise in bilingual nurseries .
Les avantages
- Un prix calculé en fonction de vos revenus
- Accompagnement par un personnel qualifié (éducateur, auxiliaire de puériculture, …)
- L’enfant baigne dans de nombreuses activités et projets éducatifs
- Votre enfant garde un lien avec les autres enfants
Les inconvénients
- Il est compliqué de trouver une place (environ 10 par micro-nursery)
- Plus de possibilités que l’enfant tombe malade plutôt qu’avec une nounou
- Horaires fixes pouvant ne pas vous arranger
What about an au pair?
You may not have thought about it, but an au pair may be suitable for looking after your children. An au pair is simply a person, of foreign origin, who will look after your children in exchange for accommodation, meals and compensation. This person comes with the aim of improving their language skills during their stay. This can be a very rewarding experience for you and your children.
The advantages
- Total flexibility of the babysitter
- You will be able to organize yourself very easily with the person
- As she lives with you, she knows all your habits and those of your children
- She can introduce your child to a foreign language and especially to another culture
- It is an opportunity to open your mind for your child and for you
The disadvantages
- You cannot use the babysitter as you wish, even if she can do more hours than a nanny, she needs time off to improve her language skills or simply to discover the country
- Do not consider the au pair as an employee, but as a “temporary” member of your family
That’s it, this article is over. We hope you have found this information useful.
In conclusion, the question is not whether to have a nurseryor a nanny. There are no right or wrong solutions, just childcare that is adapted to your needs and those of your child.
If you need help or have a question, please contact us. And if your child grows up and needs another form of childcare, Marypop offers babysitters adapted to your needs (home care, video care, foreign language lessons, etc.). More information on https://www.marypop.com/.
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