Daycare question for parents of infants/toddlers?

Question

I am due in October and will be putting my infant in to daycare when she is around 8 weeks old. I am researching daycare centers, group home daycare, and family-style home daycares. Which type do you use for your child and why?

Answer 1

We use a daycare center. The center we use has a small infant room and dedicated staff. The dedicated staff is nice because you do not have to worry as much about the school age communicable diseases (i.e. chicken pox, lice, etc). But no matter which you choose is right for you, check with your state licensing board to look up any complaints, etc. I did a full check on our center along with all the staff. I felt better knowing they all had a very high rating. There are 15 teachers at the school and all the rooms have large windows around the changing/play/sleep areas. Pretty much everything they do is on display, which make me feel more comfortable than having her in someone's home...possibly alone.

You must do what is right for you and your child. Don't let anyone tell you that you are horrible for putting her in childcare. Not everyone can or is willing to stop working. Some of us HAVE to work to put a roof over our heads and food on the table. I was in daycare from the time I was 3 (my parent's were very poor and it cost more for me to be in child care than my Mom would make utnil that time), I can honestly say I never had social issues or was afraid of school. If anything I was terribly excited for school to start. I was the "weird" kid at the end of the summer that secretly delighted at the idea of seeing teachers and friends again.

Answer 2

I use a center because I've had bad experiences with the family style/at home ones. The centers in my state are certified, the state comes in and they are assigned stars according to what level they are on. Some of the home daycares also participate in this but they aren't as closely watched.
My daughter attended ahome daycare that was way over the teacher to child ratio, there were people watching her that I wasn't aware of, when there was an accident no one could tell me what happened, when I called to check in on her no one answered the phone, kids would ride in the van with no car seats or even seat belts. She got weekly diaper rashes that would go away on the weekend and reappear by Tuesday of the next week because they weren't changing her when she was soiled. I didn't feel safe enough leaving her in an that environment.
My experience with the centers have been great! I got a daily report when she was little, I am able to call whenever I want to, they've helped with potty training, she comes home CLEAN!

I would visit different daycares that you are considering. If you can walk right into the front door I would turn around and get back in the car! The front doors should be secured so that just anyone cannot walk in. The best time to visit is between 9-11 and 2-4 as these are usually the active, interactive times and this way you can see what your child will be doing during the day.

The best of luck!

Answer 3

Originally family home but then it got to be too much of a worry . Once you are out the door you can not really be sure what is going on there whereas with a daycare center...the workers are background checked , watched carefully , trained , and you can drop in anytime unannounced and watch through a 2 way mirror to see how things are going. The chances of something happening are much slimmer because there are other adults around to prevent one bad adult from doing something. When it is just one person and possibly another member of her family running the show the kids are two young to tell you if the person is being mean to them or worse. Better safe than sorry.

Answer 4

My first son was in an actual center run by a local college in my area. After his brother was born, we switched them to a local home center about a block from my house. The lady ran it out of her home, but it was an actual licensed center...the center where the kids were was in her home, but completely separate from her living space. We were much happier with the home center. The caregiver/child ratio was much lower, she really emphasised handwashing, they got outside to play more often, the place was incredibly clean, etc. The only problem we had there was that shortly before my younger son started there (at 3 months old) she took on another infant. She had only one baby swing, so they'd take turns. The little girl she had had a cold, and the week my son started, he caught this cold and it turned into viral meningitis in him. :( About two weeks after that, he caught a nasty bronchial infection there and had to be put on steroids and use a nebulizer. Not trying to scare you, but it CAN happen...even in places like this that are very, very clean. If this hadn't happened, my kids would probably have been enrolled there much longer than they were. We ended up moving out of state a few months later, so we un-enrolled them and now my mom watches them during the day.

To get back to your question though, my husband and I were much happier with the home daycare over all. At the first center, where our older son was enrolled, there were so many different kids there and one of them ALWAYS had a runny nose, cough, etc. This place was more concerned with $$ than the health of the kids, so they accepted them sick anyway...even though their sick policy said they couldn't come if their phlegm was green or had a fever above 101.5.

Answer 5

well, i don't have a kid, but my mom owns a daycare. so, you could say that she has a, "family-style home daycare," and it's great! she can control how many kids are there. probably the best daycare are the smaller ones, the adult can pay more attention to your child instead of being busy all the time. they can learn, a lot!! and it's a lot more fun!

Answer 6

I have never put my child in day care, but I can sympathize with your dilemma of trying to decide which is best. I did provide child care in my home when my children were young so that I could stay home with them. Not that I thought that was ideal...I just really wanted to be the one to care for my own children. I think if I were to be in your shoes, and I could not do what I did...keep others kids, I would really try to find an in home child care provider that I fully trusted. It is not going to be an easy task. You may have to interview and observe several providers to find one that you feel comfortable with. And make sure that the references they give you are of people that they currently and in the past have provided child care for. I really do not think personal refferences are the most reliable source. Decide in advance what you expect, ask all the right questions, remember this is a person who is going to be alone with your child more than you.
I would really ask around...the people you know will be glad to tell you all about their providers. And please...child care is not something you should bargain hunt for! You may get what you pay for. I have always thought that the person taking care of my child should get paid well for a job well done.
I wish you the best, if you absolutely have to work, then that is my advice...but is you can swing it....you would do best for your child to stay home, I really believe you are the best child care provider for your child. But I know how it is...I was a single parent when My first child was a baby till she was 4, and I did what I had to do. I was fortunate that I had extended family that was willing to help out, when I had to work. Now I have 2 more kids that I have stayed home with and I love it! They are awesome kids and I know our family wouldn't be the same if they were not raised by me. It has been the most rewarding job I ever had. Sure, there have been many sacrifices...but they all have been worth it. What ever you do I wish the best to you! Congratulations on the new baby...enjoy!

Answer 7

I kept my son in a home daycare until the age of 2 years old then I switched him to a daycare facility that was more of a preschool curriculum.

Answer 8

I would definitely prefer a home based daycare. They get more one on one care and often are treated like the owners children or grandchildren with the same love and care as they would show their own family.

Answer 9

I put my daughter in a center! I loved it I figured the more eyes and the more people comming and going the better. She very quickle adjusted to being there and so did I. My daughter was born in Oct. I put her on the a waiting list about 3 months before she was due, I did not get a sopt until she was 5 months old.

Answer 10

I think that's a terrible idea. She is an infant and letting a stranger raise her (no matter how trained they are) is weird to me. I think you should ask her grandparents, aunts, etc. to switch doing it. I think that at 8 weeks it's not a very healthy thing to do either because by the time she is 8 weeks it will be November/December and there will be tons of flu/cold stuff going around and at daycare she will be extremely vulnerable..not to mention "bird flu" which is supposed to hit soon.