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Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Daycare - pros and cons
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Anonymous
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We lucked out and found a fabulous in-home daycare situation for our daughter. She loves it there and they love her. I can't relate every thing that I like about this place, but let's just say that this husband-wife team are loving yet firm, the children respond well to them, and our daughter is so happy there. We feel very fortunate to have found this place.
The pro of in-home daycare for us has been the social interaction. I like the fact that our daughter is around 7 other children and this caring couple during the day. I see how at ease she is with meeting new people, and playing with the neighborhood children when she's at home. She's also just a happy child. The con of this daycare: If I had grueling work hours, we'd need back-up care in order for our daughter to attend this daycare (which would make no sense). The husband-wife team takes all holidays (and I mean *every* holiday), goes on an annual two-week vacation (during which the daycare is closed), and has a strict 5:30PM pick-up time. So this place would not work if my schedule were not flexible. |
Anonymous
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I think a nanny share is a very good option for under 2s. It ensures plenty of individual attention while gradually introducing them to others outside the family. I know you said nothing has worked out, but I would try again - advertise in the right places (e.g. the various "current" newspapers, DC Urban Moms etc) and something close by will turn up. There are always new shares opening up.
The administrative hassles are a bit greater, but are usually worth it. By 2 - 2 1/2 children are much more ready to benefit from the greater interaction that comes with daycare. |
Anonymous
That is why we kept with our nanny. I was given the same information from several different sources regarding a nanny vs. early preschools. What newspapers would one advertise a nanny share? |
Anonymous
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Not sure why in-home daycare is considered preferable--just because it would be smaller? Our 11-mo.-old son is in a daycare where he thrives (Family Academy of Bethesda), and he's certainly been loved, and well-cared for. He loves the interaction with other kids. I think the bottom line, pointed out many times on these boards, is that quality daycare is better than a not-so-good nanny (and vice versa), and a great nanny is worth her weight in gold (and may cost accordingly). It's really hard to give pros and cons broadly of daycare vs. nanny or in-home in general terms. What you want to weigh is a specific daycare vs. a specific in-home option vs. a specific choice of nanny.
However, given all those caveats, I'll give you some pros from our perspective as happy daycare parents-- Daycare is cheaper than a nanny. There is daily accountability, in that more than one caregiver is in the room at all times, other parents stop by, etc. I have no worries that my son is being plopped in front of a TV for hours a day, since there is no TV. Daycare is rarely closed and doesn't go on vacation or call in sick, necessitating backup daycare. In contrast to a nanny, we don't have to worry about employment issues generally, including taxes, insurance, etc. Also, of course, all kids are different. Some would probably not be happy in such a stimulating environment. My son smiles as soon as I get him out of the car and he sees where we are, and when I walk into the room with the other kids and his primary caregiver, he lights up and wants to get down and start playing. A quieter child might really need one-on-one attention and no other children around. Good luck! |
Anonymous
I don't necesarily agree with you. Our son is outgoing, social, lovable, enjoys all kinds of stimulation, and loves other children-yet he's thriving with our nanny. I don't think children can be so generalized into who would benefit from either situation. From our percptive-we wanted him to enjoy being a baby, being strolled to the park everyday-when he wants to, eat home cooked meals, have a book read to him when he wants it, nap when he's ready, and be around his dog and things. I don't have anything against daycare-but I have read that children don't really benefit from interaction with other children until the age of 2.5 or even 3-and that is what I based my decision on when a spot opened at a private preschool for our son. My child would have benefited from either situation-I did what I felt was best for my son given his age. I would think whatever one decides for childcare would depend on finances, quality of the daycare/preschool, quality of nanny, one's work hours (full time vs. part time)-children are pretty adaptable little creatures. I think a nanny share is a good choice for a child under 2.5-if it's available. |
Anonymous
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11:08 poster here. Our daycare is the Iman Learning Center. Unfortunately for you (and me too) it is in Germantown (I wish I still lived in DC! But thats another story....)
http://germantowndaycare.com/index.html I also agree with things the 12:51 PP wrote and am not sure why an in-home daycare would be better. Smaller? The classes/groups are very small at our daycare. I just cant say enough good things about our daycare center. Maybe it's different from some of the other daycares because it is family run. I feel sooooo lucky though. And I am not sure I agree with the PP who wrote about the one-on-one attention being so important before the age of two. I'm not saying its not important, just that the classes are so small, of course a child gets one on one attention in daycare. But he also gets to play with other kids and get socialized and I think this has really helped him because he started to go though a bad stranger anxiety stage and it's not so bad now. So anyway, I dont know how one can make a leap that if your kid goes to daycare, he gets no personal attention. Personally, I like the best of both worlds. He certainly gets more attention at daycare on the days he goes then the days he stays home with me and I am trying to get work done. You know what I mean? |
Anonymous
| Our son is pretty shy, and he loves his daycare. Not all daycares are alike, you need to find someplace good. But our son has learned so much (he's 2.5), I could never have taught him that much. He follows rules asks permissions. And he has lots of space to run around all day long. There are more toys in daycare than at home. He does have a great bond with his teachers. He still runs to the teacher from his infant room when she comes to babysit. He asks for his teachers to come home to visit. A good daycare is wonderful. |
Anonymous
| I would have prefered an in-home daycare because there are quieter times/places for the babies to get in a good nap. |
Anonymous
The in-home centers I have seen were tiny and depressing! Way too many kids for one person (can't believe this is legal!). I gave up, esp. when they charge crazy prices to cram your kid into a tiny room with 6 other kids!. |
Anonymous
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Other advantages of a home daycare (vs. a center):
Often considerably cheaper than a center. More likely to offer part-time hours. |
Anonymous
But... on the other hand, it trains kids to sleep well without silence. We could run a freight train through our daughters room and she would probably remain asleep, thanks in part to the daycare training. |
Anonymous
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11:08 here again....yeah, I gotta say the in-home situation makes me nervous. Is anyone really checking on them? Again, I guess I am lucky because our center is family run and feels very homey, yet I like that it is a center with rules and structure and lots of accountability (and no TV's, etc) I don't what the Kindercares are like (though I am sure some are just fine)
And I thought this comment was kind of funny: "being strolled to the park everyday-when he wants to, eat home cooked meals, have a book read to him when he wants it, nap when he's ready," What? Does he say "please read me my book now? Then I would like to take a stroll in the park" 
At daycare, you still get to be the boss and the teachers follow instructions. Ie, "put him down to nap when he is acting tired. This is usually around X time". Its not until he is older, I think, that he has to follow their schedule. Right now, at 11 mos, it's still my schedule. I tell them when he eats, what he eats, when he naps, etc. And they take the kids out whenever it is nice out. As many have said, daycare versus a nanny is a very personal choice. It is good you are asking because otherwise how would you know what it is really like? I did not understand at first, going in to daycare, that I still had as much control as I do. I was very worried about napping because I like his nap schedule the way it is (he naturally gravitated to two naps a a day at certain times) and I did not want daycare to change his schedule. They respect the schedule I set for him. |
Anonymous
No-he doesn't say "Please read me my book"-he brings us his books to read to him! And when he does-we read to him. And play with the toys he wants to play with. Personally-I'm glad he's at home. He's doing exactly what he'd be doing if I were home with him. You don't read to your child when they bring you book? You find that funny? Maybe it's because we read to him a lot. He picks up his crocs and stands by the door when he's ready to go outside. What's wrong with doing what your children want to do? He signs to us when he's ready to sleep, when he wants to play, when he wants his milk-so I really don't see your point or why you find this funny. |
Anonymous
| Oh chill out PP. My kid is only 11 months. I was looking at your post from that perspective. |
Anonymous
| You might want to read Gordon Neufeld's "Hold On To Your Kids" before you opt for daycare over a nanny or shared nanny. There may be some drawbacks to encouraging peer orientation at such an early age. |