Home Daycare vs. Centers

salc21 · January 2011

Ok, so I am beginning to get a little stressed about the whole "finding a daycare" aspect! We have looked at a center in Annapolis and also talked to a couple women who run home daycares.

While talking to friends/relatives with kids, I have gotten totally mixed feelings about both options. I have a couple friends who told me not to consider home daycares, while some advise that as a newborn, they may not need a center.

Ahhh.... help! Anyone have any advice/suggestions/feelings/experiences that would help direct me on this???

Cooper81 · January 2011

For us personally, we like a center for a few reasons. We like the oversight it provides, there are several workers and a center director and we feel like they keep each other in check. I like the routine that they have established. Everyday we get a sheet with when they changed him, when he ate, when he napped, and a little synopsis of what they did that day, and each worker initials every action. Also when there is an injury (which we've had 2, just little bumps) they do an incident report. We also like the socialization, and that DS is around kids his own age. He isn't around bigger kids that can run by and push him over, he is socalizing with other kids that are developmentally at the same stage he is. We also like the structure, they do storytime, some kind of craft, and outside time (weather permitting) everyday. It does cost more, but for us we have such peace of mind everyday. We love his center and the teachers, they are all very sweet, they really know DS and his personality (2 of his favorites even sent him home with birthday presents) and I really think it's helped him grow.

mrs. remy · January 2011

Ditto what Cooper said. Of course there are good centers and bad centers, just like with anything. Go with your gut and make sure you are totally comfortable with everything when checking it out.

For us personally, I just liked the additional oversight associated with a center. There are always teachers in and out of the room, director is there making sure they are always in compliance re: # of kids per provider, etc. I'm not saying in-home is bad.....one of my friends does it and she is wonderful and really loves children. I would send my DS to her in a heartbeat if she didn't live out of the way. But I don't think I could do it with someone I didn't know unless I had really good recs. Most of the times it's just one person there with the kids all day with no one 'watching' them. One of the women I interviewed with just basically had the kids all plopped on the living room floor while she watched The View. And I have read enough horror stories on the bump about day care providers (many who are unlicensed-please don't go that route!)

salc21 · January 2011

Thanks for your input. Has he been there since he was a newborn? I'm looking to go back to work after 12 weeks, so he will be an infant going. Unfortunately the nursery school we would love to take him to starts at 2 years old! So, it's just finding something for him from infant to 2!

mrs. remy · January 2011

my center takes them as early as 6 weeks, DS was about 9-10 weeks when he started. It was good because he was in the small infant room with other babies, he couldn't get mowed down by older kids running around and he got lots of cuddles and attention there.

salc21 · January 2011

Ok next question ~ anyone have a recommendation for a Center in Annapolis?!

madladybride · January 2011

Cooper81:
For us personally, we like a center for a few reasons. We like the oversight it provides, there are several workers and a center director and we feel like they keep each other in check. I like the routine that they have established. Everyday we get a sheet with when they changed him, when he ate, when he napped, and a little synopsis of what they did that day, and each worker initials every action. We also like the socialization, and that DS is around kids his own age. He isn't around bigger kids that can run by and push him over, he is socalizing with other kids that are developmentally at the same stage he is. We also like the structure, they do storytime, some kind of craft, and outside time (weather permitting) everyday. It does cost more, but for us we have such peace of mind everyday.

We haven't started yet, but these are some of the reasons why we are going with a center. Also, the hours and days open for the center are WAY MORE convenient than the in-home places. DH does not have flexible or fixed hours. Plus, the in-home places that I spoke with (understandably) wanted more time off around the holidays and in the summer. DH and I did not want to have to use all of our vacation days for days that daycare was closed or have to find ANOTHER person to watch dc.

Also, and this is probably my very prejudiced opinion, I know at a center that the provider will not favor her own kids over mine. I understand that favoritism occurs, I just don't want my child to be in that situation. (I was in that situation when I was a kid. My sitter made me sit at the table and watch her feed her daughter breakfast/pancakes/lunch and would never offer me any, but I still had to sit at the table. My sitter watched me for a few hours between lunch and dinner, so she wasn't required to feed me. Anyway, I suppose I digress.)

Cooper81 · January 2011

I went back at 12 weeks, so DS did go as a NB. He is still in the infant room, but is *snif snif* starting the move to the toddlers room this week. We have friends that had their daughter in August, they live in Annapolis and use a center. I remember there were 2 they really liked, I'll find out what they are and post later.

salc21 · January 2011

Cooper81:
I went back at 12 weeks, so DS did go as a NB. He is still in the infant room, but is *snif snif* starting the move to the toddlers room this week. We have friends that had their daughter in August, they live in Annapolis and use a center. I remember there were 2 they really liked, I'll find out what they are and post later.

That would be great ~ thanks a lot!!! Big Smile I want to make sure that we get a spot and don't put it off long enough that things book up!

carasriley · January 2011

My DSS has been in a home daycare since birth and personally I don't think it has done him any favors. Now at age 4 he can not hold a pencil correctly nor can he write his name or color a picture in the lines. When he started pre-school this year my husband and my DSS mother were told he was behind the rest of the students because of this. The daycare provider runs errands with the kids on a daily basis and sometimes this means all the kids miss nap time. As a SAHM I go to pick him up early sometimes and she will be out taking her son to work or shopping with the kids and I have to wait or call her and go find them to get my SS. I personally think that her errands need to be done on her time not on my husbands dime. She is super kind and sweet but has taught him nothing, and as the oldest kid at daycare my SS is now her "little helper", he gets diapers, bottles ect for her when she needs it. My husband only has partial custody so he can not change the situation or he would have him in a center.

FieryIrishAngel · January 2011

My daughter has been in two in-homes and one center and I am so, so much happier with the center that she's in now.

Her in-home providers loved her, oh, they did, but that just wasn't enough. She wasn't getting enough stimulation. She wasn't getting enough interaction with children her own age, and one provider had trouble even keeping other kids in her home - parents moved, lost jobs, etc. - so my daughter was often the only one there. They weren't as reliable, I didn't know as much about went into her day, and I didn't feel that they were as regulated. One in particular used to take my daughter with her to run errands like getting her dog groomed or taking her elderly parents to the doctor. It was so unhappy.

At the center she has a classroom, she has children her own age, she has multiple teachers and now, because of her age, she's getting the foundation laid for going to school. My friend's daughter is in the same class and her 1-year old is in the baby room, and has been since she went back to work, and she couldn't be happier with his care. It's obviously a little less educational, but everything else I said above applies to the quality of his care.

As a bonus, the hours are MUCH better and when my husband and I were both stuck with very long commutes and constant traffic issues, the more flexible hours were such a weight off of our shoulders.

I don't live in Annapolis, so I can't make a recommendation, but good luck in your quest! I hope you find something you love, be it a center or an in-home. As a PP said, the biggest thing is to go with your gut and find a place you feel absolutely confident in.

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