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Babies: 3 - 6 Months
Working Mama's- tell me about your childcare?
I think I am in the market for new childcare. My current childcare is- My mom has her one day a week, SIL has her 2 days, then DH has her the last 2 days. Having some issues so I am thinking about putting her in a daycare. So here are my questions;
Where does LO go? In home, or Daycare center?
How did you find it?
How did you know it was the right place?
How much do you pay (if you don't mind)? And how often does your LO go there?
How do you know they are getting good care? Did you stay and observe one day or...?
TIA!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Working Mama's- tell me about your childcare?
We did a center after a lot of research on them.
We knew it was right because they genuinely love the kids and have very good protocols with toys, cleaning, etc. There's a 3:1 ratio and everyone is first aid and cpr certified. Their main teacher has been there for 8 years. They constantly read, sing, and hold them. They are only in cribs for napping.
We pay $570/wk for both (includes 10% discount for twins, they are there for 10hours/5days. The first day I went in with them and stayed for a half day.
The boys are always happy when its pick up time.
My current Mgr is letting me work shorter hours until the end of the year - because we have nothing to do so I work 8am - 2pm and DD is home with DH during this time.
I get home at 2:30pm and DH goes to work soon after and DD is home with me.
A lot of daycares have online access now so you can view your child during the day. Plus you can just drop in to see what is going on.
ds is at a center.
we visited about 7 centers in the area when we were pg. did the tour, interviewed the director and the teachers in the infant room.
we were easily able to narrow it down to two based on just gut feeling. from there we compared the curriculum, the rooms, the toys we saw, the tuition, etc.
ds goes 3 days a week but we pay for 5 since they keep his crib free for him. we pay $1144 a month.
i feel comfortable with the teachers in his room. when he started out i hung out for a half day, and then when he started on his own i would call once a day to check in. they give me a full low own on what he did and any issues (he was fussy, he kept waking from a nap, didn't want to finish a bottle, etc) if there are any. plus, he seems happy. he gets excited when we enter the school, doesn't seem phased when i kiss him goodbye and leave, and he's always happy when i pick him up.
My daughter is in a home daycare. We love our babysitter. We live in a very small town and there are only two sitters, so we felt thrilled when she agreed to take LO. Everyone raves about her, and I feel very comfortable with her. Granted, I'm only a few days into actually leaving LO, but I did several visits beforehand.
We pay $100/week, but as PP said, it really depends on where you are.
We knew we didn't want DD spending 40-50 hours a week at daycare so we made some adjustments with our jobs and our budget. DD goes to an in-home daycare on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30 - 4:30 pm. She stays home with DH (he switched to a part-time schedule) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I work four 10-hour days so I can stay home with her on Fridays. This schedule has worked out really great for us and for DD.
Her daycare provider has owned her licensed daycare for 20 years. I love the small home atmosphere and she only has two other children during the day. Occasionally she will have a couple school-aged children on days when school is closed. DD is the only baby so she gets a lot of attention.
We interviewed at a lot of centers and in-home daycares. We ultimately chose our current DCP because we just clicked with her. She had the experience in childcare and a background in education. We pay $35 per day (we live Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN).
We did like a lot of the daycare centers but they weren't very flexible with part-time childcare and DD would have been one of several babies. We also would have had to pay $125 per day.
You should be able to go on your county website and search for licensed daycare providers. Childcare centers can usually be found in the phone book.
I have my son in the Goddard School, which is (I believe) a national franchise daycare center. They are fantastic. Far and away the most expensive in our area, but it was the only place I toured that I felt 100% comfortable with.
The baby room is clean and bright, the teachers are all degreed and super-friendly, they focus on learning and make it really a "school environment" (they call it "school" and "tuition", rather than "daycare", etc.). The ratio is 3:1, sometimes 4:1, which I loved.
I know he's getting good care because they encourage parents to drop in unannounced whenever they want (there is a fingerprint scanner), and I do it frequently since I work so close - every single time, Leo has been engaged in play or being cuddled or rocked by one of his teachers. They also have facilities for me to nurse his during the day if I want to.
He is there every day, most days from 12-5 but about one or two days a week he'll go from 9-5. We pay $955 per month, but once he turns one and we can do part-time, it should be less, since we only use it for about 5 hours per day. It's totally worth it.
We found it because there are only two centers in our town, the rest are in-home and church-affiliated, which we didn't want. It was either a large center or a nanny, and we loved Goddard so much that we went with that (we like having him close to our work rather than at home during the day, so we can go visit him).
I know I am a SAHM but I used to be a preschool teacher and my BF is a in home care provider so I can shed a little light form the other side of things....
There are pros and cons to both.
In home care privides a somewhat healthier setting germ wise that is. They will have the same care provider daily that will offer mo stability. Also as long as the care provider keeps low ratio your child will get more one on one attention. In my area the prices range from 125 to 250 (lower the cost the higher the ratio)
In a daycare setting you have tons of germs to contend with so you need to find a place that has a strict sick policy. The up side of a school setting is your child with be around other children from a young age...it make a preschool/school setting a easier transition. Your child will also most likey have more structured time periods which will help with their attrention span as they get older. On the flip side they will have to deal with others getting attention beofre them at times, differant people tp listen to through out the day (for infants the ratio is 4 to 1 so at any time 4 differant people will be caring for your LO at any time).
So in all reality they are both great options you just need to find the right in home sitter or daycare to fit your needs. IF you do go with a daycare before taking your child make a bunch of suprise visits...youll be shocked at what you may find...good or bad (most rooms even have a observation window).
I will say that it has been 9ish years since i have done this and I still have contact with some of my families...I loved them all and formed a tight bond. It was my dream job but my immune system could nto take it. We were trying to get pregnant and I kept getting sick over and over so I had to step away in hopes of bettering my chances at becoming a mother...little did i know I still had a 5 year wait. lol
Wow....that became really long....I hope it at least helps a little.
We have a nanny that comes to our home and we used a Nanny Placement Service and reached out to friends and family to see if they knew anyone looking. With the current economy I would highly advise to putting out some "feelers" to see if you know anyone interested. We pay $560 a week (which is comparable to some daycares in the Cincinnati region) and it is worth every penny.
We found our nanny through friends of the family, which I preffered over the Nanny Service. We know people who know her very well and she came highly reffered. We called several of her references as well.
We know LO is being loved because of the affection she shows toward the Nanny and because of her attitude, clothing, sleep habits, etc. We also did several half days where the nanny watched us and then we watched her.
I must note that having a nanny is a very personal thing -so if you get one just be prepared to be partially co-parenting with someone, especially if you and your DH both work full time, like we do.
You are letting this person into your home, your world and your privacy, so they know everyone - I highly suggest a work agreement contract. But, this is also a blessing because your child gets one-on-one attention, a familiar environment, you don't have to transit them in bad weather, everything of theirs is right there and you can rest easy. I have had a nanny with both of my children and it has been the best for us. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Sorry so long...
First of all I ADORE our daycare. (we call it school at our house.)
Where does LO go? In home, or Daycare center? It's a Daycare center (they call it an "academy" which is adorable. goes from 6 weeks old to kindergarten.
How did you find it?
It was first recommended by 2 different couples to us. We researched its background after that.
How did you know it was the right place?
It's affiliated with a church and they take the toddlers to church every week and teach them bible stories.
I also love this place because everyday I get a report of when/how much she ate, napped, and diapers (including contents of diapers)
How much do you pay (if you don't mind)? And how often does your LO go there?
She goes Tuesday-Friday 8-530.. we pay 155 a week
How do you know they are getting good care? Did you stay and observe one day or...?
We are allowed to call/drop in at anytime. I never stayed and observed. I know she's getting good care because she is 100% smiles to her teachers at pick up and drop off. She has also made a few baby friends and have seen them interact. Its too adorable.
I truely love our daycare center. They made going back to work much easier for me.
Where does LO go? In home.
How did you find it? She's my MIL.
How did you know it was the right place? She's been doing it since DH was born (26 years) and I've seen her with the kids during the day. She isn't a stranger and I have complete trust in her and my FIL.
How much do you pay (if you don't mind)? And how often does your LO go there? $145 per week. That includes formula/food. She goes whenever we're working. Our schedules can differ (mine and DH) so sometimes it may be 5 days a week, 2, or 3. Ex: This week is 2 days.
How do you know they are getting good care? Did you stay and observe one day or...? I've been over there before when she had kids (prior to DD) and have seen her interact with them and the activities they do. She gets unannounced monitors from both the licensing board and the food lady (she does a food program and they come to insure that meals are planned and the provider has the food the meals say in the home). Plus she is my MIL and I again like before I completely trust her.