This is why I chose CC over FDC:

More children at CC: DS is a lot more social than I am.

More activities at CC: I know some FDC ladies and tbh I'm not keen on DS going to coffee mornings and left in a creche while I'm paying someone to have coffee away from him. I know I did it occasionally but I'm not paying me to do it!

CC is a VERY "gentle" centre with loads of hugs and kisses. Most of the workers have no children so a full night's sleep and just LOVE it when DS hasn't slept so they can cuddle him all day! I've seen breaking point once: the kids were all playing up and the main carer said in a loud (not shouty) naughty voice to all sit down, there would be no TV late afternoon (the only time it's on, you don't know that about a FDC place!)... that's the punishment! No shouting or screaming. The naughty chair is used too, that's the worst punishment.

CC has a webcam you need a password to view, so you can watch your child all day.

CC has a bigger range of things to do: indoor climbing frame, balance bars, chalkboard, water bath, train set, duplo, sticklebricks... I don't have all of that! I don't know any FDC with a climbing frame in the front room.

My sister has worked in a CC where the care was poor. She was told off by other workers for spending time with babies and not letting them cry! Which is why I was picky choosing the second centre for DS: the first one I sent him to was awful (I saw it while I was pg, it was the work nursery). I think the other children there are a good indication of what the centre is like. Also if you can stay for a half-hour at drop off/pick up and just see what the carers normally do. If you're in and out and not allowed to stay with your child, it's probably to hide bad practice.

Also, I'm ill and paranoid about "what if I am suddenly paralysed for two hours..." I just need more than one carer around DS because you never know when someone's going to get ill. School holidays (I have off, the centre doesn't, nor does it have compulsary time off for holidays because there's more than one member of staff) I will now spend at my parents' so if I am ill then there's my mum there to look after DS.

This is slightly an odd one. I want DS to have my accent. Some of his carers are South African. And lovely, nothing wrong with them, before anyone gets bad ideas! But a balloon burst the other day, DH and I said "the balloon went bang!" and DS nodded, then said "Pop! Beng!" He says "bang!" with a South African accent! Just imagine if that was his full-time carer. I want DS with a Yorkshire accent, so will have to work harder on that one LOL. So you have to consider the accent, enunciation and things like that of the carer too. More carers means less chance of errant pronounciation slipping in. PMSL, I sound like a snob here! I'm really not! I'd be just the same if it were a English, Australian, French, Scottish... whatever accent. I just want him to have a "nice voice" and to me that means a Yorkshire accent.