I'm curious. Other than saving money what was your reason for using them over a center?
I'm not bashing here. I'm curious..... We use a center and my good friend said she uses the in home daycare because she'd never spend as much as I do on daycare! I thought it was supposed to be about being comfortable with you you're leaving your kid with. Lol!
I figure there's just got to be another reason that money?
Re: If your LO is in a home daycare.......
BFP #2 7/13/2011 ~ EDD 3/16/2012 ~Aubree Olivia (9lbs 1oz, 21 inches) 3/15/2012 VBAC (39w6d)
BFP #3 5/15/2014 ~ EDD 1/16/2015~Addison Isabelle (9lbs, 0oz, 21 inches) 1/25/2015 2VBAC (41w2d)
BFP #4 7/20/2016 ~ EDD 3/25/2017 ~ Malachi Mathew (10lbs 0oz, 22 inches) 4/4/2017 emergency csection (41w3d)
I have nothing against centers and could see us using one in the future. My biggest reason for sending DD to a liscensed in-home DC was that I wanted her to get a home atmosphere, with the same DCP, be able to build a close and comfortable relationship with one adult (vs the possibility of several at a center) who I trusted. For us it had to be the RIGHT DCP if we were doing in-home. I wouldn't just send her to anybody. But as a baby I wanted her to get one-on-one attention from a DCP and then when she's older I'm okay with centerbased DC b/c she'll be more independent.
I guess more specifically for me, too, I wanted to build a close relationship with ONE adult(DCP) and know her views, rules, and how her kids acted (since I believe the DCP is essentially "raising" DD while I'm not there). With changing staff at a center I worried about not having time to get to know each of the adults. It was a comfort level for me. But having said this, i should also say that I have ZERO experience with centers, so everything I'm saying is a guess of what I would expect from a center.
Another reason is b/c at DD's age I didn't see an advantage to a center over an in-home. If there is one, I just don't know it yet.
I love the stuff our in-home DCP does for/with DD. She really works with the kids, teaches them things, and LOVES doing DC. If she didn't have such a passion for the kids and teaching then I wouldn't see her as much of an asset as I do.
But honestly price was an issue, too. If I saw a big difference in centers vs in-home and wanted a center over an in-home provider then I'd make sacrifices to afford the center. But at this point, like I said before, I didn't see an advantage to a center so it wouldn't be necessary for us to make financial sacrifices for something we didn't think we needed.
But I think every mom/family needs to find the best fit for their family and their needs. So what's good for my family is not necesarily what works for everyone else and vice versa.
For us it had nothing to do with money (if it's cheaper it's not by much), it had to to with our comfort level with who was watching DS. I feel that he is getting much more personalized attention with an in home care provider than he would at a center. I am in no way whatsoever ever concerned about his well being or whether or not he's being played with or given the attention he needs. Plus, for us it was a no brainer b/c 6 our our nieces have gone to her with 2 still attending full time and one part time so for DS to be with his cousins is an added bonus. I think it all has to do with your situation and what you are most comfortable with.
I do have to add that a co-worker of mine uses a center and while that works best for her she does regret that her DD doesn't feel attached to any of the care providers the way that she would if she were in an in home situation. I like the fact that there is consistency with an in home provider but again, that's what works for me.
purely financial reasons, we simply CANNOT afford what a center charges.
also, i like the fact that if i wanted to, i can call anytime or stop by anytime to see how dd is doing. most of the centers i contacted did NOT do that as 1- it disrupts THEIR schedule and 2- it upsets other kids. i'm sorry but my desire to check in on my kid unannounced trumps your schedule.
I have done both. I started at a private (expensive) school b/c I thought that's what would be "the best" for her.
I now have her in a home daycare b/c I work part time and with the type of schedule I have no center's would work with me. I found not only a home daycare that I LOVE but I feel that she is getting more 1 on 1 care than the center. There are only 5 kids there, she has not been sick as much and it's more of a Nanny feel than the big schools where they often have a sub or someone leaving here and there. Then they change classrooms and there is always a transition period that is tough.
THIS THIS THIS!
I was totally against in-home until all of this same stuff happened to us. Max will probably go back to a center for preschool but I will never send an infant to a center again. I have nothing against them in general and certainly don't judge but I had such a sour experience myself that I know they don't work for me and the way I am.
Money played a factor but my DH knew the lady through a man he works with. She generally has a waiting list but bumped us up b/c she knew my DH. She acme highly reccommended. I thank god everyday he led us to her b/c she is so wonderful and I just could not imagine returning to work and leaving LO in the care of anyone else.
I think there are pros and cons to both. Everyone says germs and getting sick is a con of daycare but my LO still gets germs form the kids at her sitter and still gets sick.
Your friend probably did not solely leave her LO in the care of someone because they were cheap. I am sure if she felt it was not a good place for her LO than she would nto have chosen the place. She was probably just making the comment that she could not imagine paying as much as you.
We started out with an In home provider because we were very nervous about the germ exposure because of ds's diagnosis. We are switching to a center next week because he is really bored there and they watch TV all day.
I like that he is going to a 'school' where he will learn and have a lot of new activities to stimulate him instead of being bored and watching tv all day. I'm sure that our in home provider was the exception, but there aren't a lot of options around so we are going with a center.
Hey I'm originally from OP! Wow part time must be more expensive.
My DD is attached to her teacher. Interesting....... I guess we're REALLY lucky.
True. Sorry that they were like that out there. What jerks!
Initially the main reason we went with in home vs. center is we only needed daycare 3 days/week and none of the centers around us offered part time care for infants. Our friend/neighbor is a SAHM and her kids are in school most of the day so she was thrilled when we asked her if she wanted to watch DD. Leaving DD and going back to work was still incredibly hard but I felt more comfortable leaving her with someone I knew and trusted. Plus since she is the only child there, I know she gets as much one-on-one attention as she would if I were home with her.
Had our neighbor situation not worked out, I still would have looked for other in-home providers for the same reasons others mentioned. I think centers are great for older kids but I prefer the nurturing environment of a home over a school-like setting for an infant.
Married 9-25-2004; Momma 12-14-2009
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My in home daycare is as expensive as a center. Money is not the reason we opted for an in home. Both our boys were with the same ladies (2) from the time I went back to work until 15 months. The ladies we use are mother and daughter the mother has been keeping babies for 27 years. They only keep babies to 15 months. DS2 will be moving to a center next month.
I feel like the small home enviorment is quiter more intimate than a center enviorment. DS is with the same ladies all day everyday. It is not as caotic as a center is, less staff turn over, they KNOW my baby and me and it is just different. Both my boys went to a center next so I am not anti center just for those infant months it was my choice.
I went with where I felt most comfortable and it was an inhome daycare. Now as she gets older though I'm considering a center to get more of a preschool setting.
Growing Up Olson
Convenience in location ( right down street from work) and also that my cousins son goes there. He also only goes 3 days a week.
Well my friend of mine is the one with the daycare in her home. Our DD's are 3 days apart and are totally BFF's- so I trust her. It is more affordable and she can only have a limited number of kids she watches. This means she can interact better 1:1 with each child through out the day too.
Germs are also another big deal. I have friends whose kids are larger centers/churches and their kids are always sick. This girl is nuts about keeping things clean and sterilized and making sure the kids are doing the same- esp since it's her own home and her own DD is in the mix.
We have an in-home provider (who watches 4 kids ages 5 months to 3 years). I love knowing who exactly is watching DD every day. A lot of centers have big turn over rates and they don't notify you if a teacher leaves. Also, I like the fact that if DD is tired or not feeling great, she can laze around on the couch and have some quiet time if she needs to. DH or I drop Julia off in the morning in her pj's and she hangs out that way until after breakfast when the sitter dresses her.
Our DCP loves my daughter and I feel she is in great care when we're at work. I feel she has the best interest of my child and the others there in mind. Just last week, I picked up DD and a few of the kids she usually watches weren't there. She had said she asked them to find a new sitter since she had many discipline problems with them and it wasn't good for the other kids (or her). I also like there isn't much of a "schedule". I mean DD goes down for nap right after lunch, but there's mostly free play (which I think is totally appropriate for my 21 month old). On days where there are only 2 kids, DCP takes the kids to the mall or park or McDonalds. I just feel she gets a lot of individualized attention and love, but she's still getting interaction with other kids.
It's so cute when DD wakes up in the morning super excited to go to "Gigi's house".
I don't have a kid in DC so take this with a grain of salt but...assuming they are choosing a licensed home daycare where the kids are being well taken care of I don't see why it matters that the deciding factor was price.
I highly doubt anyone walks into a home daycare that is sub-par and sends their kids there anyway just because it's cheaper.
I think we were supposed to be impressed that she laid out the big bucks while her friend didn't love her child enough.
Where I live in home daycares are more expensive so it's a moot point.