If you have 2 close in age under 3, how did you decide nanny or daycare?

[Anonymous]

I have a one year old and a 2.5 year old. I can't decide what to do re childcare and cost is the same for nanny v. daycare. How did you decide? Help.

[Anonymous]

I've been pouring over the math for the last few months. Here's what I've come up with:

Center full time for 2: $27k - 32k a year
In-home for infant + preschool with before & aftercare for older kid + 1-2 summer programs: $30k
Au pair ($18k in official costs, $24k if you include all extras) + part time preschool: $27-30k
Live-in nanny + part-time preschool: at least $32k, assuming you can make due with 40 hrs/wk (add another $8.5k if you need 50 hrs/week)

So we're leaning towards au pair or live-in nanny with part-time preschool. It's about the same as two in a center but we'd gain the convenience of not having to do all the pick ups and drop offs, making lunches, washing bottles, and the kids' laundry. That would definitely improve our quality of life and be worth having a "room mate" of sorts.

[Anonymous]

We went with nanny because for us it is more naturalistic - in their own home, on their own schedule etc. they can have busy days and quiet days. Also no commute, less stress and a lot more down time for the kids. It is easy to include lots of socializing and group activities into their day with a nanny but you can't include down time, quiet days, flexible activities and no commute with daycare.

The flexibility for parents is also better with a nanny and we don't have to do drop offs or pick ups and spend more time in the car or on the roads.

[Anonymous]

I grew up with a nanny. DH grew up with a nanny. To us, daycare is for people who can't afford a nanny. Hiring a nanny was a no-brainer for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went with nanny because for us it is more naturalistic - in their own home, on their own schedule etc. they can have busy days and quiet days. Also no commute, less stress and a lot more down time for the kids. It is easy to include lots of socializing and group activities into their day with a nanny but you can't include down time, quiet days, flexible activities and no commute with daycare.

The flexibility for parents is also better with a nanny and we don't have to do drop offs or pick ups and spend more time in the car or on the roads.

We did this as well, but set it up as a nanny share, with the share-child the same age as our younger child. It worked well as they were company for each other and it helped keep costs down.

[Anonymous]

We have 3 kids under 4, and when we really ran all the numbers, the nanny was not cheaper than daycare. The oldest child would still need to be in preschool at least part time, and that's not free. If you're really cost-sensitive, the au pair is definitely the best option. Having someone at home also provides the greatest flexibility. We decided to stay with center-based daycare because it provided the best fit for our kids and our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with a nanny. DH grew up with a nanny. To us, daycare is for people who can't afford a nanny. Hiring a nanny was a no-brainer for us.

Oh, DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with a nanny. DH grew up with a nanny. To us, daycare is for people who can't afford a nanny. Hiring a nanny was a no-brainer for us.

But that's not true. It is cheaper to have a nanny for 2, unless we also do preschool and then it is:

Daycare for 2 -- $3200/month
Nanny for 2 -- $3000/month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with a nanny. DH grew up with a nanny. To us, daycare is for people who can't afford a nanny. Hiring a nanny was a no-brainer for us.

We went with a center for almost the same reason. People in our area who were poor had baby sitters. People whose parents had money could afford a fancier daycare center with a more structured curriculum. I went with a daycare because I had baby sitters as a child, and I was always bored. I wished I could've had the classes and other activities other kids had who went to centers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went with nanny because for us it is more naturalistic - in their own home, on their own schedule etc. they can have busy days and quiet days. Also no commute, less stress and a lot more down time for the kids. It is easy to include lots of socializing and group activities into their day with a nanny but you can't include down time, quiet days, flexible activities and no commute with daycare.

The flexibility for parents is also better with a nanny and we don't have to do drop offs or pick ups and spend more time in the car or on the roads.

We did this as well, but set it up as a nanny share, with the share-child the same age as our younger child. It worked well as they were company for each other and it helped keep costs down.

Did your older child do preschool? Do you think if we did preschool 5 days a week for our older child we could do a share for the other part? But then the nanny would be driving three kids around for pick up and drop off.

[Anonymous]

We pay $225 p/week in Daycare, nanny cost a lot more,that's depend of you wallet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We pay $225 p/week in Daycare, nanny cost a lot more,that's depend of you wallet

Not the case for the centers we are looking at and we have two kids. So, about $3200/month.

[Anonymous]

Nanny for us. It was just easier and more flexible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went with nanny because for us it is more naturalistic - in their own home, on their own schedule etc. they can have busy days and quiet days. Also no commute, less stress and a lot more down time for the kids. It is easy to include lots of socializing and group activities into their day with a nanny but you can't include down time, quiet days, flexible activities and no commute with daycare.

The flexibility for parents is also better with a nanny and we don't have to do drop offs or pick ups and spend more time in the car or on the roads.

Let me give some more information to see if it alters your thoughts -- because I am coming at this from the same place as you -- we live two blocks from the center, they would be there 4 days a week from 9:30-6, so no commute involved -- we would drop them on the way to the metro -- and the 2.5 year old is pretty crazy and gets frustrated just being at home; the baby is a baby. We have been doing preschool and love it, but its $3000/semester, so that plus nanny would be tight. We would probably switch to a preschool with after care when he is 4. Does this change your recommendation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with a nanny. DH grew up with a nanny. To us, daycare is for people who can't afford a nanny. Hiring a nanny was a no-brainer for us.

We went with a center for almost the same reason. People in our area who were poor had baby sitters. People whose parents had money could afford a fancier daycare center with a more structured curriculum. I went with a daycare because I had baby sitters as a child, and I was always bored. I wished I could've had the classes and other activities other kids had who went to centers.

Wow, that's so interesting. Can I ask where you grew up that things were like that? DH and I both grew up in NYC. Our girls have a nanny who takes them to the playground daily and classes multiple times each week, and story time, etc. They're not sitting at home all day. If that were the case, then yes, it would seem boring and daycare would seem like the better choice.