I’m so unhappy with my baby in daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone can create profile on care.com, with a nice picture, as long as they pay the membership. It does not mean they are qualified to work as a nanny. Also, most nannies get jobs via word of mouth. They do not need Care.com. I mean, it is an OK website to find a babysitter for your older, school age kid, but I would never use it to look for nanny for a 3 month old. I do not think you can run more than a basic background check at Care.com.

You check references and run a fingerprint background check. Done. We met our nanny on Sunday and she started ten days later.

You’re a drama queen, PP.

[Anonymous]

PP, what if you cannot verify the references? They pick up and talk to you, but you do not know who they really are? About fingerprints - you must be kidding. I would never have audacity to ask the prospective nanny to get fingerprinted. Even the agencies don't!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, what if you cannot verify the references? They pick up and talk to you, but you do not know who they really are? About fingerprints - you must be kidding. I would never have audacity to ask the prospective nanny to get fingerprinted. Even the agencies don't!

It’s far from audacious to ask for a fingerprint check! Our nanny already was fingerprinted and was on file at a company here in California that does foster parents and teachers. Most daycare teachers are fingerprinted.

And why would the references lie? You’re talking to other mothers who know your nanny. You can meet them if you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, what if you cannot verify the references? They pick up and talk to you, but you do not know who they really are? About fingerprints - you must be kidding. I would never have audacity to ask the prospective nanny to get fingerprinted. Even the agencies don't!

It’s far from audacious to ask for a fingerprint check! Our nanny already was fingerprinted and was on file at a company here in California that does foster parents and teachers. Most daycare teachers are fingerprinted.

And why would the references lie? You’re talking to other mothers who know your nanny. You can meet them if you want.

+1. Everyone in DC is fingerprinted. No one, nanny included, would have an issue with it.

[Anonymous]

This thread is insane and so unhelpful to every mother.

Finding a truly great member of the family nanny is HARD - but it is possible
Finding and getting into a truly great, loving and supportive daycare center is HARD but it’s possible and they really do exist!
There are middle ground options - nanny shares, in-homes - also great if found!
Being a SAHM is also an awesome path for some!

The mom OP and all of you need to realize what can be great and perfect for one family has no reflection on what was best for your own family.

Trust your gut, is there something off or not perfect? Change. There’s no saying you can’t! Get a nanny, look for other care options, ask for more photos/videos, ….

[Anonymous]

OP I felt the exact same way. My daughter just sat happily in her carseat while other babies cried and got held all day. I had imagined I would go for a run before picking her up, but I always felt this anxiety to pick her up the first moment I could.

I was a teacher so I wasn't making enough money to pay for daycare for two kids, so we knew I was going to stay home when we had a second anyway. I finished the school year and never went back.

I remember the daycare director said, "I hope you change your mind" when I told her I was taking my baby out to stay at home. She was an odd bird, haha. Thankfully my job just wished me well and offered to hold my position for a year if I wanted.

Anyway, I don't judge anyone who puts their baby in daycare . . . it can be the best option for sure. But I just didn't feel right about it when my baby was there.

[Anonymous]

I chose to stay at home for a variety of reasons but one of the big ones was I didn’t like the way in which every moment of the day in day care is regulated - when you eat, when you sleep, how long you sleep, when you play etc.. I wanted my kids to sleep when their bodies needed it. I wanted them to sleep as long or as short as they needed to. I wanted to be able to have fun or learn when they were ready and open to that but also to have the time and the ability to have quiet and be quiet with themselves when they needed it as well. When they went to daycare they were just exhausted at the end of the day and I know a lot of people think that’s a good thing, I don’t. I think it is… exhausting and not something that was good for my kids. There is such a thing as too much stimulation. I worry that a lot of these kids don’t have the time and space they need to learn to settle themselves and process all the stimuli they are taking in. Obviously others feel differently but it was important for us.

[Anonymous]

Find the best of both worlds with an in-home daycare. Ours had 8 kids (no more than 4 kids under 2) and two extremely loving and caring providers. I was never sent home with dirty bottles and my kid was always clean, relaxed, and well fed. Plus it was the least expensive option (this was 2015, but it was only $1000/month)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I chose to stay at home for a variety of reasons but one of the big ones was I didn’t like the way in which every moment of the day in day care is regulated - when you eat, when you sleep, how long you sleep, when you play etc.. I wanted my kids to sleep when their bodies needed it. I wanted them to sleep as long or as short as they needed to. I wanted to be able to have fun or learn when they were ready and open to that but also to have the time and the ability to have quiet and be quiet with themselves when they needed it as well. When they went to daycare they were just exhausted at the end of the day and I know a lot of people think that’s a good thing, I don’t. I think it is… exhausting and not something that was good for my kids. There is such a thing as too much stimulation. I worry that a lot of these kids don’t have the time and space they need to learn to settle themselves and process all the stimuli they are taking in. Obviously others feel differently but it was important for us.

You could have gotten a nanny, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I chose to stay at home for a variety of reasons but one of the big ones was I didn’t like the way in which every moment of the day in day care is regulated - when you eat, when you sleep, how long you sleep, when you play etc.. I wanted my kids to sleep when their bodies needed it. I wanted them to sleep as long or as short as they needed to. I wanted to be able to have fun or learn when they were ready and open to that but also to have the time and the ability to have quiet and be quiet with themselves when they needed it as well. When they went to daycare they were just exhausted at the end of the day and I know a lot of people think that’s a good thing, I don’t. I think it is… exhausting and not something that was good for my kids. There is such a thing as too much stimulation. I worry that a lot of these kids don’t have the time and space they need to learn to settle themselves and process all the stimuli they are taking in. Obviously others feel differently but it was important for us.

You could have gotten a nanny, PP.

I could have but I didn’t want to. Is there something wrong with that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I chose to stay at home for a variety of reasons but one of the big ones was I didn’t like the way in which every moment of the day in day care is regulated - when you eat, when you sleep, how long you sleep, when you play etc.. I wanted my kids to sleep when their bodies needed it. I wanted them to sleep as long or as short as they needed to. I wanted to be able to have fun or learn when they were ready and open to that but also to have the time and the ability to have quiet and be quiet with themselves when they needed it as well. When they went to daycare they were just exhausted at the end of the day and I know a lot of people think that’s a good thing, I don’t. I think it is… exhausting and not something that was good for my kids. There is such a thing as too much stimulation. I worry that a lot of these kids don’t have the time and space they need to learn to settle themselves and process all the stimuli they are taking in. Obviously others feel differently but it was important for us.

You could have gotten a nanny, PP.

I could have but I didn’t want to. Is there something wrong with that?

No, not at all! But you made it sound like your only option was daycare or stay home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I chose to stay at home for a variety of reasons but one of the big ones was I didn’t like the way in which every moment of the day in day care is regulated - when you eat, when you sleep, how long you sleep, when you play etc.. I wanted my kids to sleep when their bodies needed it. I wanted them to sleep as long or as short as they needed to. I wanted to be able to have fun or learn when they were ready and open to that but also to have the time and the ability to have quiet and be quiet with themselves when they needed it as well. When they went to daycare they were just exhausted at the end of the day and I know a lot of people think that’s a good thing, I don’t. I think it is… exhausting and not something that was good for my kids. There is such a thing as too much stimulation. I worry that a lot of these kids don’t have the time and space they need to learn to settle themselves and process all the stimuli they are taking in. Obviously others feel differently but it was important for us.

You could have gotten a nanny, PP.

I could have but I didn’t want to. Is there something wrong with that?

No, not at all! But you made it sound like your only option was daycare or stay home.

For some people, it is. Nannies are expensive!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I chose to stay at home for a variety of reasons but one of the big ones was I didn’t like the way in which every moment of the day in day care is regulated - when you eat, when you sleep, how long you sleep, when you play etc.. I wanted my kids to sleep when their bodies needed it. I wanted them to sleep as long or as short as they needed to. I wanted to be able to have fun or learn when they were ready and open to that but also to have the time and the ability to have quiet and be quiet with themselves when they needed it as well. When they went to daycare they were just exhausted at the end of the day and I know a lot of people think that’s a good thing, I don’t. I think it is… exhausting and not something that was good for my kids. There is such a thing as too much stimulation. I worry that a lot of these kids don’t have the time and space they need to learn to settle themselves and process all the stimuli they are taking in. Obviously others feel differently but it was important for us.

You could have gotten a nanny, PP.

I could have but I didn’t want to. Is there something wrong with that?

No, not at all! But you made it sound like your only option was daycare or stay home.

No, you chose to read it as such. I said that I chose to stay at home for a variety of reasons and this was one of them.

[Anonymous]

Hello,
Anyone has any honest feedback on “Discovery Time Learning Center” in Hume street please? Need to make a decision soon whether to enroll in their toddler program or not! Thanks a million!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some babies can get diaper rash in like 5 min after having a BM. Especially if the room is warm or they are outside in the stroller.
Or maybe they only check them once every hour or so, and if there is no smell, the daycare workers usually would not know. It is part of being in a daycare. The daycares are very rough on the babies, unfortunately. I will never understand those parents who are just too lazy to look for nanny or nanny share. It is more expensive but for goodness sake, you only need to have it for a year or 2, at least until your baby is not a tiny little thing who needs feeding and nurturing all day long. And nanny share costs basically the same as a daycare, and it is so much better. And if you feel overwhelmed with all the search, you could find nanny share through the agency, it will still save you money in the long run. Daycares are miserable place for babies under 12 months. They even nap all in the same room, that is, if there is a separate room at all.

People don't do daycare because they are too lazy to look for nannies or can't afford nanny care. They do daycare because it works for their family and they like the daycare and that is the option they want. It takes more effort to find a daycare than it does to find a nanny, at least in DC- need to tour, get on waitlists, etc. Nannies you just interview and they come to you for the interview (I have done both nanny and daycare)

which did you prefer?