PLEASE-share the "pros" of in-home daycare

Re: PLEASE-share the "pros" of in-home daycare

• bruincouple member

  May 2009

  Our in-home daycare is wonderful.  We like that DS has one primary care provider; we don't have to worry about staff turnover (the lady who runs the daycare has been doing it for 21 years and her assistant, who takes care of the babies, has been there for 3 years).  It's mostly older kids, so DS gets held and babied a lot more than he would in the infant room at a daycare center.  We also like the flexibility it provides- they let him follow his own schedule instead of trying to put him on theirs.  We're also able to bring out own foods, toys, etc (they provide both, but we have a playmat he likes over there and bring organic food). Also, we like that there are fewer kids than in a center, so he doesn't get sick that often.  Our daycare provider also has a couple other people on her license to fill in in case of illness or vacation, so we never have to worry about backup care.
  

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• flyer23 member

  May 2009

  DD has only ever been in in-home care -- first a nanny share, now a SAHM who watches her out of her home (DD is the only baby). We love it for all the reasons that the pp mentioned.

  There are good in-homes and bad in-homes, just like there are good centers and bad centers. You just have to do your due diligence and make sure you find a good care situation for your child, no matter what type of care that is.

  Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)

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• JssBB6

  May 2009

  I think at home daycare there is a better child to caregiver ratio and babies get much more personal attention, they have the same caregiver, and get sick less.

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• luvmagoldn

  May 2009

  I love my in-home DC b/c it's small and my LO's get individual attention.   The provider has two assistants so if one provider is sick or on vacation things still run smoothly.  She provides breakfast, lunch and snacks and is committed to serving healthy foods. 

  I think it really depends on whether you end up using someone who sees themselves as a baby sitter or if the place is set up more like a day care center but on a smaller scale.  My older boys get plenty of structure as well as free play time.  And my newborn gets LOTS of hugs and snuggle time as well.  It works perfectly for us right now.

  

  My twins are 5! My baby is 3!

  DS#2 - Allergic to Cashew, Pistachio, Kiwi

  DS#3 - Allergic to Milk, Egg, Peanut, Tree Nuts and Sesame

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• mrs.george2be04

  May 2009

  The biggest pro for us is flexibility.  She charges us by the day--I work PT, DH is a teacher.  She does not charge us for Christmas, Spring, or Summer break and if I need to switch a day she's very good about that.

  I also like that she loves DS like one of her own and that I don't have to worry about turnover and she only watches 3 other kids.

  
  

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• Linds&Chris777

  May 2009

  DS has only been in inhome childcare.  I think you just have to be cautious and find the right person.  His first provider was great at first but then started taking on more and more kids and DS wasn't getting the attention he needed and deserved.  I know he can't monopolize her attention, but I still don't think he was getting enough at all.  Towards the end she would tell me every day that it was a bad day and he cried and cried and blah blah.  Well when we had to find a new provider DS stayed with his grandparents (at our house though) for a few days-he did great, even started taking a bottle again, which he hadn't done in a couple months, then stayed with a family friend for a few days, did great, now we have found a good one and he has been great with her and is always in a good mood when I pick him up, and she tells me every day that he did great.  Ratio is a big factor so if your DC is with someone with a low ratio that you have a good instinct about it will work out great and you will have peace of mind about it, like I do.  GL.

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• dpdw member

  May 2009

  There is a wide range of types of "in-home" care, so like everyone else said, you just have to find the right one for you & your child. 

  My kids have only been in one "in-home" daycare.  DS has been there for 3 years, DD for 1.  We couldn't be happier.  What I like best, compared to the daycare centers that we looked at, is the mixing of the ages.  The 3 year olds love interacting with the babies and the babies learn to talk and walk sooner because of the big kids.  I love that my two are there together & not in separate rooms. 

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• CMDR513 member

  May 2009

  - I don't pay for days DS is not there.

  - I don't have to pay to hold spot during summer

  - Provider is Mom of BILs GF- so I know he's taken care of

  - Consistency among children- all are boys

  - Convenient
  

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• shouldbeworkin

  May 2009

  I really liked it when my kids were little, especially babies.  The place they were at only had a few kids, so they got lots of one on one attention.  She ended up moving and I sent my kids to a great daycare that cost the same and offered FT preschool, so there are definitely multiple options in multiple price ranges out there.  But, my older DC has trouble napping there and can get cranky in the afternoon, which I know would not be a problem if he was still at the in home daycare b/c she could be much more flexible with each child's schedule. 
  

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• Feb3

  May 2009

  I toured several daycare centers and one in-home daycare.  The place I liked the best happened to be the in-home daycare.  I like this daycare has been operating in the same location in our neighborhood for over 20 years.  She runs it with her son and the kids adore him.  She also recently hired another assistant that DD loves.  Teacher turnover is not a concern.  When DD started she was the youngest so she got special attention.  At the same time I think she benefited a lot from being around older toddlers and kids.  They're flexible.  When she started she was too little to nap with the other kids so she slept in a PNP in their office rather than in a huge room full of cribs.  They cloth diapered.  At her age I prefer the feel of being in a home rather than a school or business, which is just personal preference.
  

  

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