How far do you drive for daycare?

Mustang Sally · June 2010

I think I'm waaaaaaaayyyyyy over-analyzing this, but I can't decide if it's worth it to take DS to a great daycare that's not on my way to work, or if I'd be better off taking him somewhere that is on the way.

Do any of you go out of the way for daycare? Why did you choose to do this? How does it work out for you?

omalley · June 2010

There are actually 2 daycare centers that are way more convenient for us (closer to my house and on my route to work) but we did not like them.

We ended up choosing a daycare center (that was by far better than our other choices) and that is about 10 minutes further from my house. I used to leave work at 4:30 and get home at 5:00 where my boys were with a nanny. But now I arrive at their daycare at about 5:10 and we are all home by about 5:30.

I tested out the drive before the boys started and I was pleased that it was not as bad as I thought. However, my DH does the morning drop-offs so that really helps.

bumpuser511563 · June 2010

There are three daycares on my way to work one closest to home, one half way there and one at my work.

We tried one that was recommended by another parent and we ended up not liking them because they were overcharging us when DS was not even there and refused to give us a detailed bill. Two of DS's teachers left from the same room, so we took that as a bad sign and we were glad we left them when we did. (Dh even picked this one over our current one. I guess I felt this wasn't the one all along.)

The one at work has a waiting list of a year or so. They do not provide transportation from public school to their daycare. Breastfeeding seemed to be the only reason for this choice. But this was not going to work for us in the long run.

The one closest to home was better for us. 10-15 minutes from work, 5 minutes from home. Staff and Teachers were very easy to communicate with and this has been a daycare for at least over 20 years or so from what I heard. DS is much happier here than the last daycare. DH and I are very happy with them even though they are on the expensive side.

GLynn2009 · June 2010

omalley:

We ended up choosing a daycare center (that was by far better than our other choices) and that is about 10 minutes further from my house.

This! The extra drive is not bad I just hate having toleave home 20 mins earlier than I use to.

Cakemom10 · June 2010

I still have two weeks before I go back to work.. but our day care is actually about 15 min in the opposite direction of work. My SIL runs a daycare so he will be going there. I dont know how its really gonna work out but we are going to give it a shot so that DS is with family. I have many other options and one that would be just as good just not family so if it doesnt work out then we will consider switching but we really want to give it a shot.

I actually have a daycare right at work but because I dont like the place I would drive an hour to get him somewhere I am comfortable with.

katie_cj · June 2010

About 3 minutes. His daycare is only 2km away..and it's on the way to work. I love it.

OCMom2be · June 2010

We have a great in-home daycare, it's definitely out of the way for me. It's about 10 minutes the complete opposite direction of home and an extra 15 from work, but DD loves her. For DH tho, it's on the way to work.

DanielleWrly · June 2010

I did for a couple years until my DS started Kindergarten. I had to drive 10-15 minutes in the opposite direction of my work, so it usually added 30 minutes to my commute. It was totally worth it for me, I loved the daycare, the staff, everything and my DS absolutely loved going there and was happy. It was a pain sometimes but it was temporary until her started school and I'm glad I did it until then.

azuremama · June 2010

I think it depends how far out of the way it is and how much difference there is between the daycares. 10 minutes or less, I'd consider it, but I prefer not to make the day any longer than it already is. I'm lucky that our daycare is literally right across the street from my office, so I didn't have to choose!

The_Jen626 · June 2010

My old daycare center was a 5 minute drive from my house. However, I hated it, and pulled DD out after only 6 weeks!

Our current daycare is only 15 minute drive from our house, but in the complete opposite direction for both DH and me to go to work. We are absoluetely THRILLED with our daycare, however, the drive is pretty awful. It's right off the "bad traffic" freeway, it's a pretty hellish drive. It takes me 20 minutes to get home from my office. However, to pick up DD and then go home, it takes me 1 hour and 15 minutes. DH usually does dropoff in the morning, but on the days that he can't do it, it adds a full hour onto my morning commute.

But we love our daycare, and plan to keep DD there at least until she is in pre-school, then we will look at things again.

mattsgal06 · June 2010

Our daycare is about 15 minutes from our house, and not on the way to work for either of us. DH usually does the drop off and I do the pick up. We each work about 20 minutes from home, but doing this daycare drop off and pick up means that our commute can take up to or even over an hour. I leave work around 4, and often don't get home with DD until 5:15. It is kind of a pain, but we LOVE our daycare. DD is so happy there and we have no intention of moving her until kindergarten

jessandmike23 · June 2010

We pass 3 or 4 other centers on our way to DD's DC. I wouldn't change it for the world. They are wonderful and the extra 20 minutes in the car help me unwind after work...

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