Keep Daycare/Nanny split, or go full-time daycare?

kja2011

LO is 5 months, has been in daycare 3 days/week (due to no space for full-time) and a nanny the other days.  

Overall, this has worked out well.  We love our daycare, but also love LO getting individualized attention at home a couple of days per week (other than with us on the weekends)

Our nanny is going to be leaving us in a few months, and there is the possibility of full-time opening up at daycare. 

If a spot for the extra days does open up, we can't decide if we want to go with full-time at daycare, or hire another nanny.  

The daycare route is less expensive, but as LO gets older, it might be nice to have him get to do music class, zoo, etc. with a nanny that he doesn't get in daycare.

Any thoughts?  Is the individualized attention worth the extra money for 2 days a week?

Thanks!

SunAndRain

I vote full time daycare. Then use baby sitters in the evening and weekends as needed. Personally I think your current set up is over-complicating matters, though it seems to be working great for you at the moment. It is just one more thing to coordinate and IMO it isnt' really advantageous.

djm31012

We are a DC family but if you can swing the nanny a few days I think it's nice . It's 2 days u don't have to do drop off/ pickup , make lunches , take LO out in the cold , worry about back up care if he's sick etc etc

traveltheworld

djm31012 said:

We are a DC family but if you can swing the nanny a few days I think it's nice . It's 2 days u don't have to do drop off/ pickup , make lunches , take LO out in the cold , worry about back up care if he's sick etc etc

This. DS goes to DC 2 days a week and stays with my parents the other 3 days and go do different activities. I like the arrangement. But having a nanny would be more expensive.

jf198400

I wouldn't be able to justify the extra cost of a nanny. Your child is still in DC getting exposed to all the germs, so I see no advantage to being home PT.

peanut701

djm31012 said:

We are a DC family but if you can swing the nanny a few days I think it's nice . It's 2 days u don't have to do drop off/ pickup , make lunches , take LO out in the cold , worry about back up care if he's sick etc etc

This. DD is 2 and she does full day nursery school 3 days, nanny 2 days. On the nanny days I only have myself to worry about in the morning. I can also start my workday super early and get home earlier. Plus she can nap uninterrupted, on her own schedule. It's worked out great for all of us. We're TTC and will have to have a 5 day/week nanny when the baby comes, so getting DD out of the house 3 days with kids her age will work out great at that time too.

kja2011

Thank you all for your input!  It was really helpful.