LewsTherin:
I am definitely not a working mum, but my Lady works. Besides, I was the one that searched out a creche for our baby.

First off, looking for a creche when your child is ready to attend a creach is in my opinion, too late.
secondly, let no one deceive you that creches are dangerous places to be. Like everything in life, there are good creches and there are bad ones. Then there are the ones that made 1 mistake. Just 1.

So this was what I did. My Lady and I decided to start trying for children in the 3rd year of our marriage. Once we moved to Lagos, I started keeping an eye out for creches and daycare centers around our home. Once I located one, I went there to know their prices and modes of operation.

Now here is the important part. I continued visiting the creche at random times just to see how the babies there looked, how things were done. I believe I went there 3 times that year.

When my Lady got pregnant, we went there together twice Until we were convinced that it was a good place.

Look at how the kids react to the care givers. Note how many adults there are and how many children. Note the security in place. Temperature, flooring, availability of clean water etc. Try talk to some of the parents that already have kids there. If you notice a kid is no longer there, ask them why and note their reaction.

Finally, after identifying a creche and taking your child there, make it a habit as much as is within you, to drop in unannounced every once in a while so as to keep them on their toes. They know you can come in at anytime and will definitely not leave your child in a state they wouldn't want you to see.

Above all, pray.

Onegai:

Our location is filled with overpriced day centres, I'm not sure I trust them (imagine daycare of upto N1.2mil). It's a tricky topic for me as I really fought my hubby on the matter, but I will be going into a business venture soon that will require me to travel occasionally.

Onegai:
@LewsTherin those are really good points, particularly as to checking for creches way before the baby is ready. I haven't started (sadly) as my initial plan was to be a SAHM.

Our location is filled with overpriced day centres, I'm not sure I trust them (imagine daycare of upto N1.2mil). It's a tricky topic for me as I really fought my hubby on the matter, but I will be going into a business venture soon that will require me to travel occasionally.

Phema:


Per annum?

Onegai:


Yup. I blinked when I started hearing how much daycare cost. For one daycare, they organised a trip to France for the kids to learn French and were asking parents interested to pay in Euro. For toddlers to 5 years old. you can see pricier ones sef.

Some of those daycares are run by people with accents or foreigners (trot out any sort of oyinbo accent and a Naija person will begin to see "your value" ) But at the end of the day, the teachers get peanuts and it's the teachers that stay with the child, not the proprietor.

kidzdom:
I recently put up a post on "Creches in the Workplace" on this platform. And interestingly, discovered this post afterwards. The challenge of quality childcare for working mums is a huge challenge and has become a burning issue. A ready solution is an EMPLOYER-SPONSORED creche.A well-run childcare facility within the office block for nursing mothers & mothers of toddlers. (Childcare for professionals, by professionals). Even fathers benefit immensely from this initiative (the significant savings made from the exorbitant fèes commercial creches charge). This employee welfare package is a low-hanging fruit any thoughtful and forward-thinking organization should reach out and grab. Employee satisfaction levels, staff retention rates, work productivity levels and company bottom lines would DEFINITELY experience a BOOST. It's a win-win situation. Organizations spend millions on projects that are not half as valuable.
I know these for a fact because I have been a nursing mother that has worked in a high-pressure banking environment. And today, I am an Early Years professional. I design, setup and/or manage Employer-sponsored creches. Totally passionate about this drive. Not every woman can take the choice of leaving paid employment and it does not make them any "less responsible" than those who have. These courageous, conscientious and dedicated women should be able to draw the much needed support from WORK (their employers) and LIFE (family & friends), as they grapple with the dual, and often daunting role of being an effective mother and a top-performing professional.

Onegai:
For those who can afford it and are deciding to go the Nanny route, abeg don't be cheap, hire a Filipino nanny.

I'll never forget my mum and I observing the behaviour of one. She kept smoothing the baby's hair and planted a kiss on his temple absent-mindedly, whilst the little boy jejely rested his head on her shoulders. My mum (flabbergasted) kept repeating "that must be her child" because she and I have never seen an affectionate Nigerian nanny (even the ones you pay well and give them regular working hours and days off like office staff, one slapped my pre-school nephew recently). I've spoken to some people who hire them and those women keep getting top marks for professionalism and care. Compare that to the sullen-faced or bored Naija nanny, ready to dish out a slap or a pinch to your child.

It takes a lot of patience to stay with a child and Nigerians are not patient people.

Chidoks:

Abeg abeg where and how can I get a Filipino nanny.

Onegai:


You'd have to contact am agency. Are you on the island?

Chidoks:

I don't live in Lagos.can you give me a link though I've heard it's not safe to source for nannies publicly...

Onegai:


Ah that may be a problem. The person I know of only services Lagos. I'll ask her if any is available. But there should be an agency close to you with trained nannies, I know people who are investing in training qualifies nannies and maids and cooks in the major cities.

Onegai:

Ah that may be a problem. The person I know of only services Lagos. I'll ask her if any is available. But there should be an agency close to you with trained nannies, I know people who are investing in training qualifies nannies and maids and cooks in the major cities.

LewsTherin:
I am definitely not a working mum, but my Lady works. Besides, I was the one that searched out a creche for our baby.

First off, looking for a creche when your child is ready to attend a creach is in my opinion, too late.
secondly, let no one deceive you that creches are dangerous places to be. Like everything in life, there are good creches and there are bad ones. Then there are the ones that made 1 mistake. Just 1.

So this was what I did. My Lady and I decided to start trying for children in the 3rd year of our marriage. Once we moved to Lagos, I started keeping an eye out for creches and daycare centers around our home. Once I located one, I went there to know their prices and modes of operation.

Now here is the important part. I continued visiting the creche at random times just to see how the babies there looked, how things were done. I believe I went there 3 times that year.

When my Lady got pregnant, we went there together twice Until we were convinced that it was a good place.

Look at how the kids react to the care givers. Note how many adults there are and how many children. Note the security in place. Temperature, flooring, availability of clean water etc. Try talk to some of the parents that already have kids there. If you notice a kid is no longer there, ask them why and note their reaction.

Finally, after identifying a creche and taking your child there, make it a habit as much as is within you, to drop in unannounced every once in a while so as to keep them on their toes. They know you can come in at anytime and will definitely not leave your child in a state they wouldn't want you to see.

Above all, pray.