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need more daycare advice (i suck at making decisions)

lovemydoglovemydog
in Austin Babies

we're looking at two centers. here are the pros and cons of each.

 center 1

pros: really close so no traffic, serves breakfast so I don't have to factor that into the morning routine, J can wake up at 7:15am, webcam for parents

cons: can't bring in own food, more expensive (extra $150/month and our budget is pretty tight)

center 2

pros: bigger facility so more options, less expensive, can bring in own food if we don't like what's on the lunch menu

cons:  further away (10 minutes away with no traffic but potentially have to fight morning traffic on 183), J would have to wake up around 6:30am

I got a good feeling from both so my gut instinct isn't telling me anything.   I liked the facility at center 2 a bit more, but J can sleep 45 extra minutes each morning if we go with Center 1.  Argh. I suck at making decisions. 

If you've made it this far - thank you.  And WWYD?

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Re: need more daycare advice (i suck at making decisions)

  • emabendemabend

    I would go with center 2.  The biggest con with center 2 is distance.  However, you liked the center a bit better, you have more flexibility with food, more options, and its cheaper.  In that situation, I would make the drive.

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  • ali-1411ali-1411 member

    I like option 1 because they provide the food.  I didn't have to think about Jakob's breakfast, lunch or snacks for 5 years and it was awesome.  They had a decent menu and gave him more variety than I could have done packing him a lunch every day. 

    Option 2 is nice because its cheaper. 

    Time is money.  I would really consider the location, and how about the pickup time?  Some places are 6:15 and some are 6:30.  15 minutes doesn't seem to matter until you get held up at work for something.  Say you get stuck at work 10 minutes late...which place can you get to by 6:30? 

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  • genniemggenniemg member

    I would go with center #2. I like the option of bringing your own food if you don't like theirs. 

    Plus if your getting a good feeling about #2 then that is probably the one that you will feel more comfortable with in the long run. 

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  • balihaigirlbalihaigirl member
    imageemabend:

    I would go with center 2.  The biggest con with center 2 is distance.  However, you liked the center a bit better, you have more flexibility with food, more options, and its cheaper.  In that situation, I would make the drive.

    I agree with this.  Also, as far as waking up early...children are little alarm clocks...more than likely your DC will be waking up by 6 anyway so I wouldn't make that a factor.  DS wakes up on the dot at 6am every morning (whether we like it or not)!

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  • NessiaNessia
    I would probably go with #1. I'm not super picky about food as long as they don't give them cupcakes for breakfast or something like that. They still have to meet certain guidelines. Also not having to worry about breakfast in the morning is also a big plus. It's hard to wake up DS in the morning and he isn't ready for breakfast at 6:45 am.
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  • brideonjuly8brideonjuly8 member
    If I had to put my kiddo in daycare the webcam is one thing I would really want.  But then again, I would probably sit there and watch it all day.  And the closer facility would be better too.  Overall I would say just based on that info I would go with 1.
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  • jml5qjml5q

    imageNessia:
    I would probably go with #1. I'm not super picky about food as long as they don't give them cupcakes for breakfast or something like that. They still have to meet certain guidelines. Also not having to worry about breakfast in the morning is also a big plus. It's hard to wake up DS in the morning and he isn't ready for breakfast at 6:45 am.

    This. and i agree with mrsrosie about ds then getting up at 6:30 on the weekends.

    Did you meet his teachers at both places?

    DD's daycare is literally across the street and it is so nice, especially for those few times i've worked at home. although is the traffic really that bad at 7am?

    tough decision is right! i'd maybe go back to each one and talk with his teachers in his current room and the next and see if that swings you either direction.

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  • lovemydoglovemydog

    imageMrsRosie:

    One last thought: have you compared the inspection results from both facilites?

    I did find the inspection results from Center 2 but not Center 1.  Odd, right?

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  • bobcatstephbobcatsteph member
    imagegenniemg:

    I would go with center #2. I like the option of bringing your own food if you don't like theirs. 

    Plus if your getting a good feeling about #2 then that is probably the one that you will feel more comfortable with in the long run. 



    This. What if you don't want your child eating what they're feeding?
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  • ali-1411ali-1411 member
    imagebobcatsteph:
    imagegenniemg:

    I would go with center #2. I like the option of bringing your own food if you don't like theirs. 

    Plus if your getting a good feeling about #2 then that is probably the one that you will feel more comfortable with in the long run. 



    This. What if you don't want your child eating what they're feeding?

    What could they possibly be giving that you wouldn't want them to eat?  Seriously, I can't think of a single thing.  If you can keep up a full-time job AND provide a healthy breakfast, lunch and snack to send along with your kid every day, without posting on here in a month, "Help I need ideas for lunch!"  then my hat is off to you.

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  • lovemydoglovemydog
    imageali-1411:
    imagebobcatsteph:
    imagegenniemg:

    I would go with center #2. I like the option of bringing your own food if you don't like theirs. 

    Plus if your getting a good feeling about #2 then that is probably the one that you will feel more comfortable with in the long run. 



    This. What if you don't want your child eating what they're feeding?

    What could they possibly be giving that you wouldn't want them to eat?  Seriously, I can't think of a single thing.  If you can keep up a full-time job AND provide a healthy breakfast, lunch and snack to send along with your kid every day, without posting on here in a month, "Help I need ideas for lunch!"  then my hat is off to you.

    Most of the stuff on the menu was fine with me, except for Chicken Fried Steak.  I am generally pretty relaxed about what he eats, I just can't imagine my 1 year old eating Chicken Fried Steak.

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