CHILD CARE

Ally is 10 months today. YAY! My maternity leave is coming to an end. NO! 

I can feel the separation anxiety creeping in. SNIFF! 

I still have just over 2 months before I have to return to work.  I know it seems like I have been off forever. When I speak to friends and family in Nigeria, they ask me how work is and when I say I am still on maternity, they are like 'Ah an, for how long?' lol.  I took 12 months which is the maximum you can take in the UK plus all my annual leave. I have been off since the 18th of December 2015. I had my first keep in touch day this month and it was actually okay. I thought I had forgotten how to be a pharmacist but it all came back. 

When I return to work, there are various child care options available for Ally. She could go to nursery, a child minder or I could get a nanny or an au pair to come to the house. They've all got their pros and cons. You can read more on each child care option here at the baby centre website.  I have weighed the options and nursery seems to be the most suitable for us as a family at the moment. 

I have searched for nurseries online, read reviews, visited a couple and spoken to people that work in child care and other parents just to get a feel of what I am looking for. So here are a few things that are top on my list.  

1. Cleanliness

How clean does the nursery look and feel? Look closely at the carpet, are the key workers walking on the carpet with the same shoes they use outside? One nursery told me to either take my shoes off as I entered the rooms or wear some shoe shield? I was like 'i love you guys already'. How fresh does the air smell? is it stuffy? How spacious are the rooms?

2. Price 

They are all generally expensive. Don't make a decision solely based on price. However make sure that you feel like the nursery will be giving you your moneys worth. One of the nurseries we visited was offering £3 less than another per day but the services that they offered were no where near the other. I felt like they should have been maybe £10 to £15 less expensive for the services they offered.

3. Reviews

What are other parents saying? Read reviews online and also speak to parents with children in that nursery. Sometimes when you read a review you don't always know what exactly the person is complaining about or commending cause some people can be very general but if you speak to an actual parent you can know for sure. Also, just check that you and that parent have the same priorities when it comes to child care. you get? 

4. Staff

Do the staff have the relevant qualifications for the service they provide? are their skills reviewed and updated regularly? How do the staff make you feel when you speak to them. I mean you can never know for sure but at least this will be a pointer to how they will treat your child. Do they appear warm, caring and truly committed to their job or do they seem rehearsed, over worked, stretched, unenthusiastic? Also, do the staff look clean, how are their hair and uniforms, nails even? *covers face* these people are potentially going to cuddle your child, feed her and change her nappy so...

5. Record keeping & Activities

Does the nursery have a way of recording your Childs development and giving you feedback? Also do they follow any particular learning plan thats accredited by the government? One of the nurseries we visited have a diary for each child and they write in it daily, you get this book everyday when you pick up your child, they also have a tablet in each room where they record videos and take photos of stuff your child does. Also, observe the children in the rooms as you go on the visit. Do they look happy and content? Are you happy with the activities for your child? Is there an out door playing space?

These are my top five!  What are yours?

Will let you guys know when we find a nursery.

xo.