Finding the right child care solution is a bit like searching for the perfect balance between trust, personal growth, comfort, and budget! In France, the two most popular child care options for parents are childminders (assistantes maternelles) and early childhood care facilities (such as crèches, daycares, micro-crèches, family crèches, etc.). But which of the two is the better option for you and your child? Crèche or nanny—how do you choose? To help you compare with a clear mind, Élhée offers a few points to consider.
SUMMARY:
- Crèche, daycare, or home care: a choice that depends on your family's needs
- Cozy nest or big adventure? Your baby's future environment
- Child care: the little treasures of emotional relationships
- Baby's well-being: multi-activity crèche or personalized nanny?
- What child care solution if your child is sick?
- Nanny or crèche: safety first
Crèche, daycare, or home care: a choice that depends on your family's needs
The proportion of children under 3 cared for by a nanny or in a crèche almost doubled between 2002 and 2021, reaching 20% with childminders and 18% in crèches and daycares. If you’re wondering which is better for your child: it depends.☺️
You need flexible hours
Whether you work irregular hours, travel frequently, or often end up working overtime, flexibility in child care hours is likely a top priority for you.
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Crèche: fixed hours (usually between 8am and 7pm), with strict rules and commitments regarding your child's attendance days and number of hours present.
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Nanny: more flexible, she adapts to your work schedule (with at least some prior organization) and, if stipulated in her contract, can accept occasional overtime. Some nannies are even available for night shifts.
The cost of childcare is your main concern
Childcare benefit (CMG), Early Childhood Allowance (PAJE), or tax credit for employing a home-based child carer—are you lost?
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Crèche: care costs are usually calculated based on family income, with possible financial assistance. Check with the management of the facility, your local family allowance office, or your city hall.
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Nanny: variable cost depending on where you live and the nanny's experience. However, you can choose an approved childminder and share her services with other families.
You only swear by simplicity
If you haven’t planned to take on the private employer status, hiring a childminder (at home or not) can be more time-consuming than registering with a crèche.
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Crèche: to enroll your child in a crèche, you simply fill out a form and submit it. The hardest part is finding an available spot, especially in the city.
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Nanny: first, check that the person has approval from the Early Childhood Service in your area. Then create a work contract specifying duties, hours, pay, leave, etc. If you receive financial assistance from the CAF (like the CMG), declare your nanny employment on the Pajemploi website.
Cozy nest or big adventure? Your baby's future environment
Let’s be honest: the first days in a crèche or with a nanny are sometimes difficult emotionally. Even if the worry doesn’t last, crying is to be expected during the first separations. All the more reason to find the gentlest and most pleasant environment for your child.
Socialization and its benefits
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Crèche: group settings offer many opportunities for interaction with children from various backgrounds, teaching group rules and fostering rapid social development. For example, parents of only children often prefer crèches for the varied contacts they offer before starting school.
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Nanny: a more intimate and personalized relationship, a better understanding of the child and their needs, but fewer opportunities for interaction and independence, and less diversity.
Tailored care for your baby
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Crèche: all the benefits of care provided by professionals like early childhood assistants and certified staff, but care, time, and attention are shared among all the children present.
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Nanny: almost one-on-one interaction, a routine tailored to your child's naps, outings, and meals, and customized activities for more detailed developmental follow-up and more thorough daily reports.
Child care: the little treasures of emotional relationships
Sometimes, your child will spend more time with their carer than with you. Naturally, a bond will form. The best reason—if you needed one—to carefully choose your child care provider.
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Crèche: the team may be large and can change regularly. This staff turnover can be unsettling. However, aware of this potential issue, certified early childhood professionals strive to build similar relationships with each child while maintaining professional boundaries.
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Nanny: by contrast, home care fosters a special bond between your child and their carer, which can provide emotional stability, but this deep attachment can also be difficult to break.
Baby's well-being: multi-activity crèche or personalized nanny?
You want the best for your baby, including when it comes to learning, stimulation, and activities. So between the dynamism of group care and the gentleness of individual attention, which will you choose?
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Crèche: group care facilities offer a variety of activities, regularly updated and adapted to each age group, all in an engaging environment with plenty of educational games and experiences.
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Nanny: activities tailored to your child's interests and abilities and more freedom for outings, but possibly less stimulation and diversity.
What child care solution if your child is sick?
No problem with a small cold, but if chickenpox appears and brings its spots, things get much more complicated when it comes to arranging care for your child.
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Crèche: in case of fever or if your baby is not feeling well, most crèches will call you to pick up your child and take them to see a doctor the same day. However, for childhood or contagious illnesses, your child will not be accepted in the group setting. Also, the facility is not allowed to administer any medication without a prescription.
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Nanny: similarly, you must provide a medical prescription for her to give medicine to your child, but generally, the nanny is more flexible about accepting a sick child in her care. Depending on your child's health and other children present, she may adjust the day's activities.
Nanny or crèche: safety first
This is probably the main fear of new parents entrusting their child: that something might happen or that their child won’t feel well during their absence. While the level of safety is more strictly regulated in crèches, there are still ways to check the reliability of a childminder.
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Crèche: staff consists of certified and qualified professionals, and each facility operates under state regulations and is regularly inspected, which reduces the risk of incidents or mistreatment.
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Nanny: there are fewer opportunities for oversight, but nannies are generally highly qualified. Still, it's important to verify the references and qualifications of the person you choose. Word of mouth remains an excellent way to find recommendations.
Bonus: 3 practical tips to get off to a good start!
To find the ideal crèche or nanny, start by visiting several crèches and meeting different child care professionals near your home or workplace.
During these visits, observe the environment, its cleanliness, the equipment, and the quality of interactions between children and their caregivers. The feeling you and your child get is also essential.
For nannies, take the time to discuss their experience, request recommendations, and ask about their educational approach during interviews. If available, check reviews online—on Google or Facebook, for instance—to assess your compatibility.
To avoid forgetting anything and reduce unnecessary stress, pack your baby's bag in advance: diapers, wipes, changes of clothes, a blanket, and a comfort object should be packed each day, in addition to their favorite bottle with either your expressed milk or the correct amount of formula. If your child is a bit older, don’t forget their spill-proof bottle!
If meals aren’t provided by the facility or the nanny, add them in a dedicated lunchbox. Also, make sure not to forget any medication and prescription if necessary.
It is generally recommended to start care several weeks before returning to work, usually between 2 and 6 months in advance. To ease the transition, introduce this big change gradually, starting with short visits, then increasing the duration over time.
And even if your baby cries, make sure to stay calm and reassuring at the moment of separation. Take all the time you need and let your child know you’ll be back, that you love them, and that everything will be fine.🩷
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