I was actually dead-set on a center but looked at in homes through a similar network and we actually found an amazing in home we loved (amazing staff and facilities, huge yard with lots of outdoor play, curriculum for toddlers, etc.). We had to visit and call several, however.

Look for the same things you would look for in a center. For us, we wanted an in home with a provider and one assistant in case of emergencies, etc. The same assistant has been with our in home for over 10 years. We also looked for a place that was state licensed with the provider and assistant caring about training, certifications, etc. The menu at our daycare is very healthy and they have a system for sanitizing and cleaning toys, minimizing illness, and alerting parents whenever anything more serious than a cold is going around (for what it's worth, our son has had colds but nothing more serious than that and we haven't had any cases of Hand Food Mouth or RSV this year).

I used IFTDC with both of my kids and was very pleased. We had to meet with a few providers before we found one we loved, but we did find someone great. Pretty much all of the kids in her care over the years we were with her were the younger siblings of older kids who had previously been in her care.

Is a great idea.

Hello everyone,

My spouse and I currently have a 15 month old that is in full-time daycare at a daycare center in Northern Virginia. Our child has been there since turning four months old. Everything about our experience with this center has been top notch, including the enrichment, communication, safety, cleanliness, love, you name it.

We are currently expecting our second child, and plan to put the child in daycare as well when he or she turns four months old. The problem is, we cannot afford to send both children to our current daycare center, which breaks our hearts. While the experience has been second to none, it's just not within our budget to do for two children.

I wanted to ask whether anyone has had experience with using in-home daycare, specifically through the ITFDC (Infant Toddler Family Day Care) program in Northern Virginia. Their oversight looks solid and we plan on going to some informational sessions to explore, but any first hand testimonials or experience with transitioning their child from a daycare center to an in-home daycare would be most appreciated. For the record, we are not considering nannies or au pairs.

Thank you in advance!!