childminders vs day nursery ?

Hi,

I will need to have my baby daughter cared for at least 3 mornings a
week next year when she will be 9 months old. My dilema is whether to
have her cared for by a childminder or a day nursery. I dont care how
much it costs, but I am really concerned about which of these choices
would offer her the best and safest care. I am sure most childminders
are caring and sensible, but I would still be worried all the time
that I might pick one who wouldn't look after her properly. I would
feel that I would need to have cctv installed in their homes or
something! I just am suspicious that anything could happen behind
closed doors - especially as babies are too young to tell you if
anything has gone wrong. If anything happened to her when in someone
else's care, I would never forgive myself either. Likewise, with
nursery schools - how can one be sure that staff look after their
charges properly - degrees and certificates in childcare dont always
mean that their charges are cared for properly.
If anyone has any good recommendations for the Bath/Mendip/Somerset
area in the UK that would be great!
thanks, Abi

"Abi" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I will need to have my baby daughter cared for at least 3 mornings a
week next year when she will be 9 months old. My dilema is whether to
have her cared for by a childminder or a day nursery. I dont care how
much it costs, but I am really concerned about which of these choices
would offer her the best and safest care. I am sure most childminders
are caring and sensible, but I would still be worried all the time
that I might pick one who wouldn't look after her properly. I would
feel that I would need to have cctv installed in their homes or
something! I just am suspicious that anything could happen behind
closed doors - especially as babies are too young to tell you if
anything has gone wrong. If anything happened to her when in someone
else's care, I would never forgive myself either. Likewise, with
nursery schools - how can one be sure that staff look after their
charges properly - degrees and certificates in childcare dont always
mean that their charges are cared for properly.
If anyone has any good recommendations for the Bath/Mendip/Somerset
area in the UK that would be great!
thanks, Abi
Best advice on a center-visit, often, before making a decision. I don't know
what UK laws are, but in the USA, inspections are done on a drop-in basis,
and in the states I'm familiar with, parents MUST have the ability to drop
in at any time. Some of the centers have web cams and monitors built in so
parents can check on their child. But, in general, visit, ask questions, and
if you feel uncertain, RUN!

I suspect the same applies with a private caregiver, too.