Day Care- In Home or Center?

detroitblondie · August 2011

What's your vote and why? I was a SAHM up until now and never thought about the difference before. My LO's are 1 & 2. Thanks!

vmm0016 · August 2011

In home, it is cheaper and at this age they really don't need to much structure. At least that is what I think.

jenns123 · August 2011

I have had to do both with DD and this is my opinion...

Center-
Pros: Divided by age so they age approriate activities, very organized and structured activities, longer hours, lots of eyes to see everything going on.
Cons: More kids (more germs), more money

Home-
Pros: Older children in same room helps development, flexible with activities, cheaper, provides all food (ours does, center did not)
Cons: Not a lot of kids her age, DS will be in same room as older kids and I worry about him being safe as in not getting stepped on.

My only other issue that has nothing to do with your question is DD went to out center since she was 5 months old and when it closed and we went to the in home she cried at just about every drop off. We start there again in 3 weeks and I am only giving it 3 weeks if she still cries at drop off I am going to start to look for an alternative. She is happy when I pick her up but I don't like that she cries every day at drop off she never did at the center.

madladybride · August 2011

We went with a center for the following reasons:

- more convenient hours (open longer during the day

- fewer 'closed' days (I only have to take 2-3 additional days off. I don't need to find other care/take off for dcp vacations, sick days, holidays, etc. In home places, I would have needed to take between 10 -14 additional days from work or find alternate care and pay for it while paying the provider.)

- more hands and eyes -I feel like there is more accountability. Also, the ratio of infants to teachers at the center is 3 infants to 1 teacher. At a home daycare, it is 8 kids to 1 teacher. I'm not sure how a home daycare would be able to watch 2 infants and 6 toddlers...

As pp have said - kids closer in age are grouped together, so I don't have to worry about dd getting trampled.

ai&Jas · August 2011

When visiting both we chose the center because:

1) More accountability and teachers to adhere to the teacher:child ratios. Also loved the structured cirriculum and many activities they do with the kids.

2) Better hrs, flexibility. The in home providers were not as flexible. One took the entire summer off, the other worked 4 days only.

3) I knew that my kids will not leave the center unless I was informed ahead of time. Some providers take the kids out on errands. I didn't want anyone to drive around with my child.

4) Did not have to worry about pets, smoking teenage kids of owners, other visits to the home who I had no information on. One lady I visited was great, until her teenage son came home with his friend and they both smelt like smoke and dope.

I'm not against in home because my mother was actually one, we just could not find one we liked and was happy with!

SouthFloridaMommy · August 2011

We decided to go with a center. The hours worked best for us and I felt more comfortable with the kids being separated by age. I also felt that the daycare center was cleaner and had more of a routine than the home daycares I looked at. Price worked out better too - strangely enough, centers are cheaper in my area then home daycares are.

Maybride2 · August 2011

We prefer centers, for all of the reasons already listed.

DTNZ4Ever · August 2011

Center. I like the accountability of having director and assistant director. Support staff that can give the teachers breaks. I like that there are other eyes on what is going on in the rooms.

Emilia0101 · August 2011

We are in a an in home center, but I think it really depends. The in-home center is close by our house, is very small only 4 kids, and we love our provider. I would say don't focus on the center vs. inhome debate just find a good fit for you and your family.