If you've been feeling guilty about going back to work after a period of maternity leave, the latest results from a study of 20,000 children could make you feel a little better this morning.
According to the latest Growing Up in Ireland study report, it makes no difference to a child's cognitive abilities whether they are cared for at home until they reach pre-school age or whether they attend a creche or a childminder.
The study found that half of the children were being cared for outside the home by the age of three, but this had no impact on their abilities when they started school, even if they started going to the creche before they were nine-months-old.
"It’s reassuring there isn’t a negative outcome," said study author Dr Helen Russell of the ESRI, "... a lot of parents might be worried about that,"
Home learning environment and consistent parenting style were found to be the most important factors in improving a child's learning and development before the age of five.
