Alrighty, I am currently in the search for daycare when I go back to teaching in the fall. I am feeling a little overwhelmed with all the choices, daycare center, home daycare, nanny, babysitter.... Anyway, for those of you using daycare, how did you make your decision, and how much are you paying a week.
Any information would be greatly appreciated!!!
Re: Daycare Question
I figure it is a good sign when I see the older kids wanting to stop by to say hi or bye to their old babyroom teachers as they arrive or leave for the day.
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We are doing a nanny, but only because we only need it for 2 days per week (my mom and MIL are covering the other days). If we had to do full-time, he would probably go to a day care because hiring a nanny ain't cheap (especially a good experienced one). Then next year, we will most likely put him in day care so he can get the social interaction that it provides.
ETA Sorry, forgot to include cost. We are paying our nanny $12 an hour, but that is a good bit less than she usually gets, so we will probably up that to $15 or $16 an hour sooner or later if all goes well with her.
I searched for reviews/complaints and took tours to get a "vibe" off the places and staffs. Ultimately, the decision was made for me when a spot opened at one of them. We pay $150.week.
Good luck with your decision!
ETA that we also looked up the violations of all of the child care facilities that we were interested in. Not sure if you can do this in every state, but it was crucial in our decision.
Just out of curiosity, what is behind your aversion to "contraptions?" I'm not criticizing or arguing that aversion. I'm just wondering what objects you have to devices like swings and exersaucers that it played such a big role in your decision?
I am not using daycare for this LO, but I sent my DS to daycare when he was a year old. We used a center for about three months, and switched to a home daycare. The only advice I can give is to go with your gut. I went to all the interviews fully armed with a list of questions. The reality is that most of the questions are already dictated by law or licensing for daycares. You might find a few slight variations, but most of the answers are the same.
At first, my DH was very opposed to an in-home daycare. I visited probably about 10 centers. I went with the one that answered my questions and felt the best to me, but I never felt truly comfortable. I cried nearly every day. After a few incidents with the center, I convinced my DH to let me try an in-home daycare. I spoke to several providers, but knew who the person was going to be after my first conversation with her on the phone. After all my research and information gathering, it came down to that gut feeling of who would be best for my family. The only time I cried with her was the day I pulled my DS out to SAH.
My reasons for liking the in-home daycare:
1. The person you pick your child up from is the same person you dropped him off with. At the center, I usually picked him up from floaters and they had to rely on the basic notes left by the providers.
2. You always know who is watching your child When problems arise, you can work on a plan together and know it will be implemented.
3. Smaller groups of children = less illness
4. You get to know the other families in the daycare. At the center, there were biters and DS was constantly being bit. There were never details and I never knew if it was the same kid biting. At the in home daycare, there were issues like that, but I knew if one kid bit my DS, I also knew (based on personalities) that he probably did something to her the day before. It was more like sibling tiffs, rather than strangers attacking my "innocent" baby.
5. There are also a variety of age ranges in one group. DS learned from the older kids, and learned how to care for younger kids. He already knew how to treat a baby when DD arrived. At a center, they are generally grouped by age.
6. Mine provided flexibility in days and times, some do not
7. Flexibility in the day based on the group. At a center, they followed a schedule every day. That is great for predictability. However, at the home daycare some days they might spend the whole day outside, some days they might do crafts, some days it was a walking trip to the park or McDonalds playland. There was variety.
8. Special needs were taken care of. There were several extreme food allergies, and she was able to cater specifically to those children.
9. I just plain liked the home atmosphere