
According to research by the Institute of Education, children looked after by grandparents at the age of nine months were also considered to be less sociable with other children at age three than those who had been in the care of a nursery, creche, childminder, nanny or another relative.
The study of 4,800 UK children born in 2000 and 2001 who had mothers who worked when they were babies compares formal care in a group setting with informal care by grandparents.
The findings suggest that formal care given by qualified staff following a more structured curriculum, such as that provided by nurseries and creches, will help a child’s cognitive development more than less formal care provided by relatives, friends and neighbours.