Nanny share vs. daycare for H1N1 or other illnesss

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know of how many children have become sick with H1N1 in daycare? I am on the waitlist for a number of daycares, but am still thinking of trying to arrange a nanny share (expecting in March 2010). It does seem to me based on my friends' experience that kids get sick more often in daycare. Does this accord with your experiences? (And I assume we'd hire a nanny who has no objection to getting regular and H1N1 flu shots.)

[Anonymous]

I don't know the statistics, but I'm pretty sure that kids in daycare get sick far more than those in nanny-shares (or at home w/a nanny). I posted in the "my kids is always sick thread" today about this - our first (daycare) child was sick all the time; our second (nanny care) child was rarely sick.

If I had a baby now I'd hire a nanny, no question.

[Anonymous]

PP here - that thread is in General Parenting (the "my kid is always sick" one).

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the kid. My child started daycare at 3.5 months and was hardly ever sick. A lot of sniffles and snot that first winter, but only one fever and one sick visit to the pediatrician (for her to take one look and say it was a cold and she was fine).

As for H1N1, if you get a vaccine your child will get the antibodies, and by summer 2010 (presumably when you are going back to work) the virus may have died down. It's hard but the fact is even with a nanny share, or a SAHM who leaves the house, your child will be coming into contact with lots of germs. Luckily most kids are pretty robust and can handle them.

[Anonymous]

Depending on your nanny share philosophy, you may miss less work due to a sick child with a nanny share. Day cares are more strict on keeping kids home with illnesses. I rarely missed work with my nanny share unless the kids were really sick. With milder illnesses, we just figured the kids had already infected each other (as would be the case with siblings) and didn't worry about it -- but that's a big thing you need to work our with your nanny share partner(s).

[Anonymous]

I definitely think kids get sick more often in day care. The odds are against you. More infants, more teachers, more parents walking through the door.

Having said that, my son's day care has only had 3 cases of swine flu so far.

I'm not sure it would influence my decision to get a nanny share or day care, but that also depends on what age the child would be when put in a care situation. If I could get my child to six months old first, I probably would choose day care (only because I personally like it better).

Tough decision either way though.

[Anonymous]

Children in daycare do get exposed to lots of viruses and yes, do tend to get sick. However, it would depend on the nannyshare and what the nanny will do with the children. The advantage of daycaer is that the good ones have good hygeine practices. If the nanny is going to be taking the children to playgrounds, indoor playspaces, grocery stores, etc, your child might have more exposure. Also, one downside of a nanny is that the nanny could feel a lot of pressure to come to work when she/he is sick. The vaccine will stop the nanny from getting too sick, but I couldn't they still be a carrier of the germs?

Now, of course, you could take care a lot of this through agreements with the nanny (get the vaccine, wash hands upon entering home, give her lots of sick days and encourage their use).

[Anonymous]

My infant DC has been in daycare since July and hasn't been sick. I mean, there have been some sniffles but nothing to keep him home. DC is in an infant room at the daycare, and I don't think I've noticed that any of the other kids were unusually absent either (and I get there late so every other kid has already been dropped off). They have good hygiene practices there.

If I were starting with either daycare or nanny right now, and the baby was under 5 or 6 months, I'd consider the nanny share. But I agree with PPs that the nanny may be taking the babies out in public where lots of sick children and adults are anyway. Obviously, your young infant isn't going to be playing on the playground but may be touching stuff.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all your useful answers.

[Anonymous]

one other point:

i think kids get sick more when they are first in a group setting whether it's day care at 6 months or preschool at 2. my son was rarely sick when in a nannyshare for 2 years but was then out of school constantly during his first year of preschool at age 2. so you choose when you want to deal with it. and some kids just get sick more often than others no matter what you do.