Daycare decision malaise

Re: Daycare decision malaise

• amaite member

  July 2013

  If socialization is what's stopping you from getting a nanny, could you get a nanny that will regularly take her places like the park, library, children's museum, etc.? And then play dates with other babies and caretakers or moms they meet? That way she gets the one on one attention and the socialization.

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• cedenton member

  July 2013

  I've done both. We had a nanny for 4 months and about an equal time in DC.

  Similar things going on with DC, i.e. in the next room he has to be off bottles, take one nap on a mat (bwahahahaha...GL with that - he naps fine for me at home but NOT at DC and without a crib...can't imagine it), etc.

  Nanny was nice not having to pick-up and drop off and you don't have to worry about your LO getting sick, but you DO have to worry about the nanny getting sick. Lots of hassle with taxes and whatnot with a nanny so make sure you're factoring in that extra cost.

  I like DC and I think some of their "rules" can force us as moms to push our LOs a little more than we might, in a good way.

  I will say if you don't LOVE where you are leaving your child it will suck. I know DS is cared for, but I am not as happy with their "curriculum" or lack thereof.  He's waitlisted at another place that I love. Not much I can do, but wait it out and it will likely be 6 months or more.

  Basically, I don't think there's a wrong answer. Whatever you choose will be fine.
  

  
  

  

  
  

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• bigbootyjudi member

  July 2013

  I went through the same thing.

  I called around to home daycares, posted a job on Care, and did a "Who wants a job?" post amongst my FB friends.  We had a few people that would have worked, but wanted us to pay them as much as I would pay a DC. I had a few interviews set up with people from Care and then they either didn't show, had a schedule change, or wanted to bring their kids with them.

  I'm pretty nervous about G in DC, which is why I wanted to go with a sitter. He's never slept anywhere but his crib; no PNP, mat, other crib. He needs white noise, his seahorse, a warm environment, etc. He's a particular kid and he's never shared attention with any other kid, let alone been around one that isn't 9+ years old.

  But, when I told my mom all of this, this is what she told me: It's better for him to get used to a "school-like" environment now, so that when he starts preschool, it's not a huge shock to the both of us (like apparently it was with me).  Being out of our home will help him adjust to doing so. A DC isn't going to call me an hour before I have to leave to say they're sick/running late. I won't have to worry about what a sitter is doing in my home/what she isn't doing in my home. DC doesn't close (- holidays). He needs to get used to other kids, other adults that aren't me or SO, and being elsewhere.

  So, he starts DC 08/28.
  

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• thepretzelchick member

  July 2013

  amaite:

  If socialization is what's stopping you from getting a nanny, could you get a nanny that will regularly take her places like the park, library, children's museum, etc.? And then play dates with other babies and caretakers or moms they meet? That way she gets the one on one attention and the socialization.

  This. When I nannied, I only had one during the day since the older one was in school. We went out almost everyday. There was a really nice park just up the hill from the house, there was the library, there was this awesome toy store that also had story and craft time, we went to museums, we went to free movies in the park (plus Regal Cinemas had...still has? free kids movies every Tuesday morning during the summer), and we had playdates. He got his interaction with other children his age, plus interaction with his sister when she got home from school, but we also had one-on-one time, structured playtime, and age-appropriate learning activities. There's a difference between being a nanny and being a babysitter. 

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• Mrs. Rohde member

  July 2013

  It's a tough decision. I had a nanny for DD for a few months while I worked and it was great not having to pack a bag for her or anything. I could just leave and then come back home. She also took dd to my gym classes, the park, etc. it was great. I liked having that individual attention for her. I never worried about her being not socialized enough because DD was always a very friendly and curious kid. So even though she had been nannied and then I SAH, when it was time for preschool at 2.5 she walked right in and never looked back. If was NBD for her. It just depends on each kids personality.
  I think DC is also great for kids who may not otherwise have the opportunity to socialize.
  Also a friend of mine loved her DCP because she set such a structured routine for her DD that it was so easy for her to continue that at home in the evenings and weekends.
  Could you hire a nanny on a temporary basis and see if you like it? But still stay on a wait list for DC?

  

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• sdlaura member

  July 2013

  We really like our in-home daycare, so I would pick that over a nanny.  I second what cedenton said about pushing LO/me out of our comfort zone a bit, and I like that.  We like the socialization aspect enough that even though if we have 2 in daycare a nanny may be cheaper, we are planning to stick with our daycare situation.  I also just don't want to have to manage someone - I have enough to think about already

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