Decide my life, please and thanks

boogerbearoriginal

We are switching up our childcare situation, for many reasons. Currently LO1 is in daycare p/t (3days) and family 2x a week, LO2 is with family every day. We are considering either daycare for both kids, or a nanny with morning preschool for LO1.

We have two ladies we've liked and have in mind for nanny, and two daycare centers we're considering looking at - all the options cost around the same amount. Which would you pick? Feel free to elaborate more on your choice if desired.

Thanks!

boogerbearoriginal

OH I should note that if we go the nanny/preschool route LO1 will stay in the same place whereas daycare would require us to switch him to a new facility. 

TessyMessy

boogerbearoriginal said:

OH I should note that if we go the nanny/preschool route LO1 will stay in the same place whereas daycare would require us to switch him to a new facility. 

I voted DC but now that I'm reading this I'm changing my mind.. I'm not sure I would want to switch DC's. Unless you are unhappy with your current provider.

shellbell3845

I voted dc. I like that LO is with kids his own age, and I like that I don't have to manage a person/worry about her sick or vacation time/have someone in my house all the time.

boogerbearoriginal

TessyMessy said:

boogerbearoriginal said:

OH I should note that if we go the nanny/preschool route LO1 will stay in the same place whereas daycare would require us to switch him to a new facility. 

I voted DC but now that I'm reading this I'm changing my mind.. I'm not sure I would want to switch DC's. Unless you are unhappy with your current provider.

We like them just fine, but they don't take infants so they aren't an option for LO2 until she's 18m.  And we don't want to deal with two dropoffs if we don't' have to.

nebraska84

We do an in-home babysitter but it is more like a nanny b/c it is our 2 boys and her daughter and I LOVE IT. My kids don't get as sick, and she is able to do great things with them and take them places like the museum and story time at the library. This works for our family

Codypup

boogerbearoriginal said:

OH I should note that if we go the nanny/preschool route LO1 will stay in the same place whereas daycare would require us to switch him to a new facility. 

This sort of changes my vote, which was for daycare. I picked daycare because I like the idea of multiple people having eyes on my child/the room. I also like that W has socialization with other kids every day. AND, daycare centers have extra staff on hand if a teacher is sick or out, whereas a nanny doesn't.

But switching to a new DCP might be hard for your LO1. So my decision would be based on how well you think he'd handle the change.

sdlaura

shellbell3845 said:

I voted dc. I like that LO is with kids his own age, and I like that I don't have to manage a person/worry about her sick or vacation time/have someone in my house all the time.

This exactly.  For me, I figure the pros of a nanny would be that my kids get all attention, nanny presumably does things exactly how I'd like, it would actually be cheaper than our current daycare situation, and my kids get sick less.  Oh, and I don't have to get kids out of the house in the morning.

But for us, I prefer daycare (ours is an in-home but we'll likely look at centers too as DD gets older and we'd like her to be in something more structured).  The kids are at one place all day and have consistency, they get interaction with other kids, and I don't have to manage a person who is in my home all day.  With daycare, I like the fact that other parents are coming in and out with their kids and also observing the providers in different situations.  Plus I don't really want someone driving my kids around.  And a selfish bonus is that if I need an hour to myself to get something done, I can leave work a little early and be in my house without the kids.