I don’t get a good feeling from daycare.

[Anonymous]

I’m only 20 weeks and have been visiting daycares with infant care both in-home and larger centers and just don’t feel it. They were all very nice but I can’t see leaving my baby there at 14 weeks old.

Is this a feeling that will change? Did you know that daycare was right for you before you had the baby?

I’m wondering if I should just start processing the need for a nanny or nanny-share. DH is fine with whatever I decide.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I felt the same way about, which are pretty common where I live. I don’t logically anything is wrong with nanny care but I *felt* awful and miserable every time I tried to envision it. I ended up going with daycare. If you can afford a nanny or nanny share and it makes you happier to think of leaving your baby with a nanny, OP, start looking for nannies!

[Anonymous]

I felt the same way about nannies, which are pretty common where I live. I don’t logically anything is wrong with nanny care but I *felt* awful and miserable every time I tried to envision it. I ended up going with daycare. If you can afford a nanny or nanny share and it makes you happier to think of leaving your baby with a nanny, OP, start looking for nannies!

[Anonymous]

We visited some daycares where I left in tears, ready to quit my job rather than leave the baby there. Then we found "the one." Go with your gut and keep looking (or start the nanny search).

If it's the age you're worried about, can you and your spouse stagger your leaves (or get some family help)? We did this to stretch our daycare start date and the baby seemed much sturdier to me at 5 months than at 3 months. Though it would have been fine at 3, I'm sure.

Good luck and congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I knew daycare wasn’t right for me and never changed my mind. I was always so sure that I’d use daycare before getting pregnant too. We put a deposit down on the best one but started to look for a nanny. We interviewed a few good Nannie’s and then hit on “the one”. I just knew in my gut she was the right nanny and nanny care was the right choice. Nanny has been with us for three years and is now loving two kids!

Follow your gut.

[Anonymous]

I have friends that quit because they couldn't imagine. I really didn't have financial choice to quit, but an income option came up and seemed better than other options to me. Other people will always question your choice.

[Anonymous]

I changed my mind two days before going back to work because a little part of me felt something was wrong. I went to a nanny and it worked out. Trust yourself and your gut and of course your budget.

[Anonymous]

You have to feel OK with it. My kids are day care kids, but I switched one after a month from an in home (which I had high hopes for!) to a center, which has been better. Would have loved a nanny share but can't afford it.

[Anonymous]

My mother works in a daycare and always has so I was sure I was going to go with a daycare. I even visited a very expensive one that refused to be called “daycare” and said they were a “school”!


I couldn’t do it. We found a wonderful nanny a month before we needed her and we held her by paying a retainer. I knew she was right for us and I was right! Six years and two kids, with another on the way, and she’s still the best decision I made!!

[Anonymous]

I ended up taking off 2 years to stay at home with my child. I couldn't imagine putting a baby in daycare.

[Anonymous]

Part of it is that your emotions are super heightened during pregnancy. The mere thought of leaving your little one behind can feel suffocating no matter how nice the daycare/nanny is...that is why your DH is nonchalant and impartial b/c it's not as "hard" and insurmountable as you may feel it is.

[Anonymous]

Daycare was never in the cards for me but I couldn’t even imagine handing my baby over to a nanny when I was pregnant and the first month of postpartum. My mother was here helping me and I was working hard trying to convince her to move here when we met our nanny. I just knew she was the right choice. I harped on DH to get an offer and contract to her that day (pending reference and background checks) and he did.

Nanny is truly family after three plus years and going through the Covid shutdowns together where she (who lives alone) saw no one but us and we saw no one but her.

When you know - you know!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daycare was never in the cards for me but I couldn’t even imagine handing my baby over to a nanny when I was pregnant and the first month of postpartum. My mother was here helping me and I was working hard trying to convince her to move here when we met our nanny. I just knew she was the right choice. I harped on DH to get an offer and contract to her that day (pending reference and background checks) and he did.

Nanny is truly family after three plus years and going through the Covid shutdowns together where she (who lives alone) saw no one but us and we saw no one but her.

When you know - you know!

Why not? Why wasn’t daycare ever a consideration?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daycare was never in the cards for me but I couldn’t even imagine handing my baby over to a nanny when I was pregnant and the first month of postpartum. My mother was here helping me and I was working hard trying to convince her to move here when we met our nanny. I just knew she was the right choice. I harped on DH to get an offer and contract to her that day (pending reference and background checks) and he did.

Nanny is truly family after three plus years and going through the Covid shutdowns together where she (who lives alone) saw no one but us and we saw no one but her.

When you know - you know!

Why not? Why wasn’t daycare ever a consideration?

I’ve always worked from home and knew I wanted the baby here to breastfeed and cuddle. I didn’t want to miss milestones either.

[Anonymous]

I also knew daycare wasn't for me after visiting a few centers. I actually cut my hours back to part-time and hired a part-time nanny.