Please tell me what you would do in my situation.

[Anonymous]

I really need help weighing childcare options. I WFH full time and my husband is gone 6 months of the year. I have zero support for sick days. I do not have any family nearby who can help. I am trying to keep the number of illnesses that come into our house to a minimum because I have zero help. After having gone through daycare closures and unreliable nanny’s during COVID I have weighed down my two options.

My son has been offered a FT spot in a daycare with a maximum count of 8 kids. I would need to pack his lunch, send him with diapers and wipes and pay extra for potty training.

I also have the option of having a nanny come with her child. I have the option of her taking him to the zoo, park, play groups and library reading circle. I have a car for her and would offer her FT pay and benefits. She is more expensive than the daycare option, but is also more flexible and would do sick days. She can help with potty training.

I can’t send my son to daycare at all if he’s sick. In total he missed 3 months of daycare during COVID due to closures. I exhausted all of my paid leave and tried to WFH while caring for him while my husband is gone but it impacted my job performance and mental health.

WWYD? We’ve trialed the nanny now for two weeks. My home is clean at the end of the day and his laundry is done. My son can also go to preschool 1-2 days/week in September in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Nanny, hands down.

[Anonymous]

Definitely the nanny.

[Anonymous]

Nanny, no brainer in your situation.

[Anonymous]

How old is the Nancy's kid that she's going to be towing along everyday?

[Anonymous]

My first thought was au pair

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old is the Nancy's kid that she's going to be towing along everyday?

8M old baby, naps 2x/day and is not crawling yet. My son adores him and calls him his little brother.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely nanny. Your child could still go to a local preschool (like a church school) for a few hours per week in the fall if you want him with other kids his age.

[Anonymous]

Nanny. No question.

[Anonymous]

Nanny

[Anonymous]

Nanny.

[Anonymous]

Nanny

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My first thought was au pair

+1 if you've got the room.

[Anonymous]

Nanny. How is this even a question?

[Anonymous]

Nanny but find one without a kid. Your nanny won’t come with her kid if your kid is sick.