U.K 18th July 2013: Having a baby is a special time in the lives of young couples – it’s a very joyful time, but it’s also a time when parents start to think very seriously about the future. There are so many decisions to be made about baby’s upbringing and one big decision seems to come far too quickly – the decision about whether to go back to work or stay home to raise the new baby. Most parents these days don’t have much of a choice when it comes to going back to work – it’s probably essential, especially now that there’s another member of the family who came into this world with nothing and needs kitting out in style. This means major decisions need to be made on childcare options – how to find a nanny or child minder who will look after your dear baby while you’re out at work.

Many young couples in the City and surrounding counties of Surrey, Reading and Hampshire use an agency to help them find suitable childcare. This makes perfect sense as an agency have nannies and child minders on their books and provide comprehensive parental guidelines. Moreover, an agency would have performed the necessary CRB checks that are required by child care professionals these days. An agency will also ensure that the nannies/child minders that are registered with them will have all the necessary qualifications needed to look after your child.

Child minders who look after babies and children in their own homes nowadays need to be registered with Social Services who undertake home visits and checks on a regular basis to ensure that the premises are safe and suitable for childcare purposes. This means that the whole house is checked for safety and all toys and equipment are checked to ensure that they comply with safety regulations and are age appropriate.

Of course, if you choose to employ a nanny who will look after your baby in your own home, then safety and compliance with legislation will be your responsibility.

Day Care Centres are also an option and there are plenty to choose from. It’s worth visiting several of these establishments to look at the facilities and get a good idea of the services offered.
If you’re really not sure which option to choose, why not discuss this with family or other young parents to find out what they think and what their experiences are? This really is an important decision so it’s vital that you’re well informed about all the options available to you and the pros and cons of each. Discussion with others who are already using childcare services can be invaluable – you’ll be able to learn from their experiences and choose the right childcare option for your family.

If you’re thinking of finding a good local agency for nanny or child minder, Surrey area, then going through a proper check can take a lot of the stress out of this. There will be administrative paperwork involved that the agency can take care of, taking a huge load off your shoulders. Hiring the services of a nanny means that you have responsibilities as an employer and using a professional service to hire your nanny is the easiest way of complying with current legislation in the UK.