Should I send my 15 month old to daycare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:pp, we are talking about babies and very young toddlers, so not sure how you know they learnt new song. They only have about 20 words at age 18 months on average. And no, in daycare centers you unfortunately do not get what you pay for. The centers, or most of them, are very expensive but the teachers still get paid under $20 an hr no matter what you are paying. The teachers are resenting low wages and enormous physical load working with young children, and as a result, they either do just the required minimum or burn out after 2-3 months. I would never want an unhappy person who hides their resentment (and has every right to resent) to be caring for my child. Many parents are deceived by the shining appearance of expensive centers but it is an empty shell where no love lives, and love is what babies need most.

My kid is now 22 months and definitely was singing songs on our car rides home by 18 months so I don’t know what to tell you. Skills she learned at 15-18 months: how to eat with a spoon, how to scribble in lines and circles, taking turns on the slide, circle-time and routines. You’re of course right and childcare is hard work that is often undervalued and does not pay well - most of the tuition goes to insurance, licensing, and facility maintenance (and profit for the center). The center we landed on retains teachers for long periods of time, and that to me says a lot. I’m sorry that you’ve had such a negative experience though, and I’m sure that’s equally common.

[Anonymous]

licensing is free. Food is covered by food program. They make LOTS of money out of childcare, and got a LOT of grant money during pandemic. Insurance is not that expensive. So, most money goes to the owners. Some infants are late walkers, like they only take first steps at 14-15 months, and even with a confident walker I am not comfortable if 15 month old goes on the slide where he can be pushed easily by accident and have a big fall. A lots of parents are in denial of what their child's experience is in daycare in favour of so called '"socialization".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:licensing is free. Food is covered by food program. They make LOTS of money out of childcare, and got a LOT of grant money during pandemic. Insurance is not that expensive. So, most money goes to the owners. Some infants are late walkers, like they only take first steps at 14-15 months, and even with a confident walker I am not comfortable if 15 month old goes on the slide where he can be pushed easily by accident and have a big fall. A lots of parents are in denial of what their child's experience is in daycare in favour of so called '"socialization".

has your child ever been in daycare?

[Anonymous]

No, but years ago I subbed in a few daycare centers, and I remember vividly what a mess a typical room was, all kids exhausted by lunchtime, a baby falling asleep in a highchair with her face practically in a plate with unfinished food. Toddlers with snot all over them, eating out of each other's plates. 7 toddlers eating at the same table, neither of them of course is old enough to know which plate is his. I mean, pre covid it was kind of OK, everybody survived, but don't try telling me it is all great. Well, not for my baby anyway.

[Anonymous]

There is nothing wrong with sending your 15 month old to daycare, OP, but if you prefer a nanny share you can definitely find a partner if you try hard enough. We had to find nanny share partners twice around this age and once at an older age, and we had success with posting on multiple neighborhood FB groups, listservs, and in the nanny forum on here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, but years ago I subbed in a few daycare centers, and I remember vividly what a mess a typical room was, all kids exhausted by lunchtime, a baby falling asleep in a highchair with her face practically in a plate with unfinished food. Toddlers with snot all over them, eating out of each other's plates. 7 toddlers eating at the same table, neither of them of course is old enough to know which plate is his. I mean, pre covid it was kind of OK, everybody survived, but don't try telling me it is all great. Well, not for my baby anyway.

NP here. We’ve never done daycare, but I can’t help but think you are projecting based on your work experience at a few bad daycares. My close friend sends her kids to daycare and it is a good one.

[Anonymous]

Haha, it was not one but 3 different centers, very expensive university affiliated corporate type, the ones that faculty and hospital employees utilize a lot.