5 important questions to ask when choosing a nursery or childminder

Qualifications in childcare are deeply reassuring. ‘It proves that a childminder or nursery worker has a good understanding of your baby’s needs and how she’ll develop,’ says Kate Groucutt, deputy chief executive of national childcare charity The Daycare Trust. ‘Ideally, staff should have at least a level three in a recognised childcare qualification, such as CACHE, NVQ or NNEB.’

A childminder or nanny is less likely to have qualifications, but it’s a good idea to check she holds a first-aid certificate and good references.

‘Find the nursery or childminder’s Ofsted report,’ says Kate. ‘This will highlight any problems with safety and welfare.’ You can also glean a lot from seeing childcare in action. ‘Look out for children being left with runny noses, crying without being comforted or drifting about unsupervised – you want to feel that a carer’s on the ball,’ says Kate.

One of the advantages of a childminder is that your baby’s existing routine can stay the same. At a nursery, she may be encouraged to fit in with the other children, taking one big nap after lunch, for example, but staff should be flexible while your baby adapts.

Nurseries and childminders should keep a developmental record of your baby. ‘This may be sent home every so often so you can read it. You should also be able to add details, too,’ says Kate. ‘Your baby will also have a key worker at nursery, who you should go to with any concerns.’ With a childminder, it’s helpful to have a notebook so she can write down what your child’s done each day, including what she’s eaten and when she’s napped.

Boundaries are essential to keep your baby safe and happy, but differ from parent to parent and nursery to nursery. ‘Some nurseries are stricter than others, but the exact approach should be set out in its policy documents, which you can ask to see,’ says Lindsey Doe, director of nanny agency Tinies. ‘Don’t be afraid to bring up how they deal with misbehaved children, too.’