Where do you live? I'm in Silver Spring with an 18 month old, and am considering a nanny share because my daughter is getting more interested in other kids. I hadn't realized it was harder to find a share for toddlers. I would have assumed there'd be more people like us, who have a nanny for infancy and then as the toddlers are better at playing, move on to a share.

As a SAHM of 3 (twins plus 3 years younger), I started 'mommy & me' classes around 12 months. Just little music classes or My Gym type classes. There were plenty of nannies with babies at these classes. Around age 2 y.o. I registered the kids for half-day preschool 2-3 times per week. (Goddard School had a great flex schedule for this.) That way the kids could get some socialization and language skills they needed. At age 4, they were in half-day pre-k every day and came home in the afternoon.

Haha, that is the only time nannies can use their phone, when getting a baby to the park. Nothing wrong with that. In a typical daycare, teachers "checked out" most of the time but I was mostly concerned that the caregivers change way too often which creates the environment of instability. Also, the evening teacher never knows what was happening during the day. And, they use bleach all the time, for toys, for changing table, etc which is very harmful. It may seem not a big deal for some, but for me , it is one of the reasons I would not put my baby into a daycare until she is potty trained and does not need to have even slightest contact with bleached surfaces.

15 months isn't too early, but it's a tricky time developmentally. Ideally, I think you should start before they turn 1, or after they turn 2.

I sent mine at 3. Before we had a nanny. Kids adjusted well, loved playing with kids by that age and git a lot out of it fir 2 years before kindergarten. Their immune systems were also more mature so while the first winter was always bas with new colds, more meds we could give them and they got over them quicker. And we thankfully missed the daycare illnesses of HFM and others.

My 16 month old has been in daycare since 6 months (I had a lucky mat leave), and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sometimes I don’t know how folks with nanny’s do it!! I feel like she gets such a great amount of attention, stimulation, new activities, art projects, songs, etc etc that it’s really benefitted her. Literally just today she started singing a song that I eventually figured out was one I knew and the look on her face when I started singing it too was priceless! She’s on top of all her milestones, she and I have a great relationship, she’s a good sleeper and eater…. Idk! Kids are different and you should listen to your gut, but in my view there’s nothing to worry about with daycare and it might actually be a really positive thing. Not something you’re “sacrificing” for or that you “have” to do because it better fits your finances. <3

Ahh I almost regret saying this because I don’t want to be a negative Nelly but look I jog around at lunch and I see Nannie’s walking with kids who I’m sure are perfectly good professionals but they’re also human! So like yep they’ve got your kid outside but they’re on the phone or whatever. In a daycare setting you have more than one adult to pick up the slack when one of them needs to check out for their own sanity for a moment. I just really do think it’s a good model. Daycare will be okay and it might just be great!!

of course 7 month old adjusts better since they are young but this is not the reason to put your child in a daycare at such a young age, unless you really have no choice. Also, just because your baby does not cry on drop off, does not mean she "adjusted". You have no idea what is happening once you close the daycare door behind you. I can tell you that "teachers" are very seldom competent, there is a very high turn over, babies hardly nap, and if your child is breast fed be prepared for him to refuse bottles for weeks. Babies are on dirty floor where people walk in outside shoes, often there is no outings for babies, no schedule, they cry themselves to sleep, and are constantly in restraining equipment, like bouncy seats, baby swings, even carseats. And I have not even started on rsv, covid, flu, and non stop colds that would keep you home with your baby for weeks. Nope. Preschool half day for over 2s.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We never sent our kids to daycare. Full time nanny here.

Kindergarten teacher here, we know which ones are the SAHM/Nanny kids. They have a really hard time adjusting to school.

This is a really weird and rude comment.

Oh you're one of those people/parents who cannot handle hard truths and who probably never tells your child 3.

Anyway teach--that's why we want our child to have at least 1-2 years before kindergarten. At home, they do what they want and they need to learn to play in a group and follow instructions.

Anonymous wrote:I think 3 is when the benefits tip toward group care and away from a single caregiver (nanny/SAHP) BUT - that’s only looking purely at what is best for the child in a vacuum. Happy parents, a happy home, financial stability, future career prospects for parents, these all factor in. In a lot of cases, that means daycare as an infant and that’s great, too.

FWIW we’re going to be looking for a toddler for our nanny share in August/September if you’re in the Columbia Heights area!

We plan on starting at 3 and by that time it's moreso just a little playgroup/preschool.

Our kid started at a year and a half at a lovely in-home and it was the perfect mix of daycare and personal attention.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We never sent our kids to daycare. Full time nanny here.

Kindergarten teacher here, we know which ones are the SAHM/Nanny kids. They have a really hard time adjusting to school.

This is a really weird and rude comment.

What? It’s the truth.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We never sent our kids to daycare. Full time nanny here.

Kindergarten teacher here, we know which ones are the SAHM/Nanny kids. They have a really hard time adjusting to school.

This is a really weird and rude comment.

Anonymous wrote:Want to second the separation anxiety poster. DD1 went at 15 months after having a nanny at she cried for weeks. WEEKS.

DD2 we started at 7 months and after a few days it just became routine and she is great.

So something to consider.

+1 the daycare provider we had said they had to let go a child who just could not handle being at daycare. Child was at home with a nanny until like 18mo or so? I can't remember exact age, but it was older than 1. She said she can always tell when a child has been home with a nanny too long.

I had a nanny when DC#2 came along, and this DC is super attached to me. Could be just DC's personality, but DC #1 went to daycare at 8mo PT to start out. DC#2 went to PT preschool (half day, 2x/week) starting 2.5, and DC still had attachment issues up until 5. Purely anecdotal to be sure, but I think there is something about toddlers who sah with parent or nanny vs those who go to daycare and having a difficult time adjusting to prek.

Anonymous wrote:We never sent our kids to daycare. Full time nanny here.

OK?

Want to second the separation anxiety poster. DD1 went at 15 months after having a nanny at she cried for weeks. WEEKS.

DD2 we started at 7 months and after a few days it just became routine and she is great.

So something to consider.