Babies are better off at home than in nurseries, childcare guru claims

A childcare guru has claimed that babies under the age of one are better off being looked after at home rather than in nurseries.

Former Labour government advisor and Sure Start director Naomi Eisenstadt recommended that parents consider one-to-one care for the first year of their child's life.

She told the Times: 'For under-ones, in my view, care in the home is better than a nursery.'

Eisenstadt clarified that nurseries have social benefits for children over two and that one-on-one care for younger babies does not necessarily have to be carried out by a parent but could also be a grandparent, or 'a good childminder or nanny.'

As well as suggesting one-on-one care for a child's first year, Eisenstadt has urged the government, who are looking to expand the childcare sector, to consider giving one year's paid parental leave which can be shared between both parents.

Her advice comes shortly after the tragic death of a baby at a nursery in Stockport, Greater Manchester.

Genevieve Meehan was just nine months old when she was killed at the Tiny Toes nursery in Cheadle Hulme by its deputy manager Kate Roughley.

The baby girl suffocated as a result of being strapped face down to a beanbag in the playroom for one hour and 37 minutes.

Roughley was found guilty of manslaughter in May and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

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On the day of Genevieve's death, she was one of two childcare workers looking after 11 babies.

Under the government's ratios, a nursery staff member should only care for three babies under the age of one at any given time. 

As the government look to expand the childcare sector, Genevieve's grieving parents urged politicians to consider safety.

Katie Wheeler and John Meehan, who are both lawyers, said: 'It is imperative that nurseries are caring, nurturing and safe environments for children. The provision of safe childcare is vital for a functioning society.

'We urgently await the outcome of the health and safety investigation and the coronial process.

'Genevieve is loved and cherished and remains an integral part of our family. She is desperately missed.' 

Last week the government announced plans for 3,000 nurseries while more than 65 existing nurseries were rated inadequate or requiring improvement by Ofsted in 2023.

The inspectors also found that 45 nurseries were following government guidelines for staff-to-children ratios.

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Since September last year, the government allowed nurseries up and down the country to change childcare ratios from 1:4 to 1:5.

The ratio of one adult to three babies under the age of one has stayed the same.

Lewis and Zoe Steeper, the parents of Oliver Steeper who died after choking on pasta bolognese at the Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Ashford, Kent, said this change has allowed for nurseries to be dangerously under-staffed.

Lewis, 39, a drone surveyor said: 'This is so close to our hears because obviously ratios were a factor in Oliver's death.'

Oliver was being fed at nursery by a worker feeding three other children at the same time.

The nine-month-old went into cardiac arrest and died in hospital six days later.

Lewis continued: 'When he began choking the nursery worker was too busy with someone else and she didn't even realise he was choking.

'My concern is the government is not going to change staff ratios until it is too late, and there is another death and there is another family destroyed.' 

At present many parents cannot afford to take a full year off work to look after their child one-on-one - despite some companies offering generous parental leave options.