XP - part time childcare - nanny or daycare/preschool?

racampbell1 · January 2011

I work outside the house and DH works at home and can cover DD's care most of the time. He's getting busier (which is a good thing!) and we're going to get help 2 days a week. Please share w/me your likes/dislikes about nanny vs. pre-school. DD is almost 16 months old and there is a Montessori school which has an opening that will take kids this early. I like the education and other kids part of school, but it would be about 30% less expensive in this case to have a nanny come 5-6 hours per day for 2 days per week and we wouldn't have to deal with pickup and dropoff. Thanks in advance for your opinions!

YaraC · January 2011

DD goes to daycare and even if I had a choice I think, for her, I would still do daycare over a nanny. She just LOVES being around other kids and gets board being at home all day. On the weekends when we've been in the house to long she starts getting whiney and clingy and all I have to do to fix it is take her somewhere where there are other kids. So all though I might like the idea of her getting the one-on-one care, I know she would be happiest in a group.

That may not be the case for other kids who thrive in a different kind of setting.

livvielo · January 2011

Everything Laura said! (though if the cost difference of going with a nanny is that substantial, I would have to seriously consider it)

dkays · January 2011

I love the Montessori program. All of my olders girls have attended and they had a great experience. So I would lean toward that choice. With that being said not to have to deal with pickup and drop off would be great and the nanny option is less expensive. Would your DH be OK with the nanny and LO being at home with him these 2 days?

vanverth · January 2011

Michael loves daycare. He gets so excited when we walk in the door. He is in a small daycare (no more than 40 kids on the books at any time) so all ages are in the same room and the bigger kids come running up to talk to him and pat him (and he in turn pulls their hair.) He appears to be bored with us on the weekend. I think that it helps that he is the owner's favorite, even my physical therapist who goes there twice a month says so.

YaraC · January 2011

livvielo:
Everything Laura said! (though if the cost difference of going with a nanny is that substantial, I would have to seriously consider it)

I actually meant to add something like that.

mtnrider · January 2011

YaraC:

DD goes to daycare and even if I had a choice I think, for her, I would still do daycare over a nanny. She just LOVES being around other kids and gets board being at home all day.

This.

SFAug07 · January 2011

We have an Au Pair which is basically a live-in nanny and love it. It's so flexible and Sarah loves her. She gets her undivided attention. She goes out with Sarah twice a day to the playground, to the zoo, museum etc where she meets other children her age, but she gets to sleep in her own bed and eat at home. She also doesn't get sick as much as kids who are in daycare. We will start her in preschool when she is 3 years old.

peeper72 · January 2011

We couldn't find a day care that stayed open late enough for us (I start rounds at 6:30).She has plenty of exposure to other kids with, like Kathi pointed out, less sickness and a stable routine. A wee bit of housework comes with it, thankfully - I can't see how we would survive without the help.

Edit to add that the price difference between daycare and nanny is not so much different in San Francisco.

ateytelb · January 2011

My personal choice is nanny until they are 3 y.o. even though it is roughly twice as expensive as daycare in our neck of the woods. We have a real great nanny (with Masters degree) though. Montessori sounds good to me also, so either choice would be fine.

busybea · January 2011

I'm somewhat in the same boat as you and have been asking around as well. I'll need care for the 3 when I go back to work and I know that it will cost us a pretty penny. I also believe the Montessori program is excellent and if it were me, I would choose that over a nanny. N also seems to be bored with us at home, even though we take him out everywhere, park, fairs, gym, etc. Also, IMO, it's better for them to get sick now at daycare (even tho you hate to see ur LO sick) and build up their immune system/get it out of their system, than later in school missing important lessons.

I think you need to weigh the good vs the bad. Of course the savings with the nanny is big, but what about attention and learning? If your DH is getting busier, will he have enough time to "play" with your DD? to take her out for walks to the park/playground?

Whatever you choose, know it will be the right choice for your family ... good luck. )

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XP - part time childcare - nanny or daycare/preschool?

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