Family Day Care Provider or Day Care Center?

Question

And why?

I have a daughter at a center and need care for a 5 mo boy but the center is too expensive.

Right now my husband works midnights and watches the baby boy. My teen daughter watches him a couple hours in the afternoon but we need a better solution. I don't have any extended family to watch them.

Answer 1

Both are decent choices - just depends on what you want. If you can find a good family home daycare that is a safe and loving environment and that has people who you trust - AND a valid daycare license - then home daycare might not be bad. Home daycares can have up to 14 kids as long as there are 2 people present at all times (this might vary state to state). There are a lot of shady home daycares where your child isn't getting the care you are paying for, and theres no real way for you to find out.
A day care center might be less personal, but they have more of a system. They have more kids, but they also have more resources and people who's job is to watch the kids (at home daycares it's easy for the ppl to neglect the kids to talk on the phone, watch tv, etc - because they are at home).
Honestly, if you have the option to have your child watched by a family member or grandparent I'd go that route. Either way with a daycare center or home daycare you are taking a risk - I'm not saying they are bad, because there are good ones out there, you just have to find one.

Answer 2

I have been a licensed family day care provider for almost 20 years. Each family has individual needs and preferences and must choose which daycare situation is best for them. Each has their own set of pros and cons. Family Day Care provides a smaller, more informal environment, but is limited in the number of social contacts it can provide and you many end up with your child being the only boy or the only 3 year old in a home. Daycare centers often have extended hours, but daycare homes are often more flexible when it comes to schedule changes. Typically centers are more expensive, but the equipment and staffing are often expensive to maintain. Licensing rules for centers are more strict than homes, requiring more frequent inspections and more extensive training for staff. Homes are typically more play-based in their curriculum which is preferred by some parents over a more structured environment. Daycare centers often have a high rate of turnover for their employees while a family daycare home typically has only one provider unless it is a group daycare home where at least 2 are required. Daycare homes are sometimes in out of the way places (like me, my home is 8 miles from the nearest town) while centers are generally more centrally located. Regardless of which daycare a family chooses, it is best to visit, ask questions, and get references. Finding affordable, safe, and reliable daycare can be very stressful.

Answer 3

try an Aupair nanny service

Answer 4

You need to elaborate.