Childcare center vs. home daycare vs. private nanny???

Question

I need help with childcare in January. I will be starting a job, after staying home with my children , their whole lives. We are trying to get financial assistance for children care, so for the sake of this question, let's pretend that we are able to afford any of these options. I pretty much know the pro's and con's of each, but I am still unable to decide. If you have tried more than one option for your family, could you let me know which type of childcare suited your family best, and the up's and downs in getting to that decision? (Example: started with daycare, but exposed to too many kids, then tried smaller home daycare, and it is great!)
Thank you for any advice you can give me on choosing the appropriate option for my children.
Ages- 18 mos,3 yrs,5 yrs and 8 years- after school care.
mamaofthesweetest4

Answer 1

I worked at a daycare for three years with all ages and now I am a nanny. This is really only a question for you to answer. If you really know the pros and cons then also look at what you expectations are and go by that. write it all down and the one that meets your needs more is the one you should go for. Don't think that just because your child is in a classroom with alot of other kids that they are gonna be left out because this is not true. that will help them socially. i never realized what a difference being in school with so many other kids made until i became a nanny and have seen first hand what happens when they cant socialize. just keep an open mind and think about what you and your family are not willing to sacrifice in a caregiver.

Answer 2

Personally I would go with a daycare center for several reasons. 1. there are more people to monitor care, 2. more heavily regulated, 3. predictable schedule, 4. age groups are together. Only down side is that they often cost more and they would have more than one providor and turn around might be high so bonding with there care giver might not happen. With home daycare there is no one else there all day to see what really goes on, if the daycare provider is sick or has children that are sick you have to have a backup sitter. Most will have children of different ages so education may not be an option. The up side to in home child care is that they will only have one provider to bond with which is nice, they also often cost about half of what a facility costs. When you look at in home daycare they should be interviewing you as much as you are interviewing them. Since there is only one person there to do care they really need to make sure your child and your parenting styles are a good match. They should also have a contract the same as a center. Either way you go I would make sure they are certified and licensed. The regulation of child to adult ratio is national and is the same for a facility and in home child care.

Answer 3

I work in an excellent childcare facility as a teacher of two year olds. I also have a 10 month old daughter in a childcare facility. I feel that children gain a lot from being in group care. They learn how to socialize with other children as well as learn how to solve social conflict, which are essential skills that children and adults must have in life. In my center, the children learn through play. We don't sit them down and teach them ABC's and 123's. We set the classroom environment up so that the children become engaged in an enriching activity or project. This is the best way for a child to learn!! I highly, highly recommend that if you do decide that group care is for your family, that you fully research many different centers. I happen to work in a center that is fabulous, but not all centers are. Really do your research on this. Talk to parents at the center and research the center through child care services. You want a 5 star licensed and NAEYC accredited center. NAEYC is the National Associaion for the Education of Young Children. Also, I know someone whose child was at an in-home center and the "teacher" dropped the child on his head and lied and said that another child fell on the him. This child ended up with severe brain damage that could only be caused from a severe blow to the head or a fall from 5 feet or higher. This is just one instance of something happening. I do feel that you have a better chance of not being told the truth at someone's home, unless you really know the person.

Answer 4

i am pregnant with my first child right now, so I dont have any kids yet, but I worked in a public daycare, which was awful. There were too many kids and the children were hearded around like animals. But I worked for 4 years as a private nanny for 2 different families and that was wonderful. When the children couldnt be with their mommy, they got to be cared for by the second best. It still felt like home to them and they felt loved and comforatable. I would say, although much more pricier, this would be the best bet for your children. Good luck!! :)

Answer 5

i take my child to a in home licensed provider that is the best for my kids because the provider is limited to the amount of children i think it is like 7 kids per one adult as a daycare center there are 30-50 kids in one room with maybe 3 adults pluss germs and is your child really getting the attention they need and the daiper getting changed when it is wet? and daycare center charge alot if you are 1 min late picking tthem up where my provider if i call and let her know will not charge extra if money is a factor this was the cheapest for me compared to some daycare centers which run at about 105 a week for one child i pay that for two at the in home and if the child is sick or mildly ill she allows them to go still i do not have to miss work and she has 24 hour care if needed what center does that?

Answer 6

If you can afford it - have a private nanny - they will be in their home environment and much happier without too much interruption to their daily routine (as it will be changing without you there) If not chose a small home daycare centre

Answer 7

Honestly, I would say private nanny. Because they are going to have to get used to you being gone, if you took them some where else other than their home, it would be one more thing to get adjusted to. So, if it is financially doable--the nanny.

Answer 8

i like small in house daycares, becuz its more paying attn. to ur children.then big daycares.

Answer 9

son had private nanny - she was sons Grandmom