Better daycare. But you could look for option C.

We were at a nonprofit daycare center operated by a religious institution. It was mission-driven. Religion was grace before meals and a Christmas and Easter play.

My kids still talk about that daycare. Ratio was officially 3:1 but they also had volunteers from the local department of aging, so often lower for infants.

Anonymous wrote:Definitely put that money towards college. What does an infant need -- milk and diaper changes all day? I'm pretty sure at 4:1 they are providing that. Any "learning" or "stimulation" offered by the pricey option won't mean a thing to your child or his development -- college money will matter a whole lot more.

Love. Attachment.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly for me, if it's the difference between a home daycare and a center (particularly one that is accredited and has other independent measures of its quality), I'd spend the extra money on daycare in a heartbeat. I know there are lots of people who love their home daycares, but the Wash Post investigation from a few years ago showed that a larger proportion of tragic incidents happens in home-based daycare.

It really depends on the specifics. If your home daycare is down the block, and you've known it forever, that makes a huge difference.

Also, is Bright Horizons going to love *your* baby? Because THAT makes a huge difference.

Honestly for me, if it's the difference between a home daycare and a center (particularly one that is accredited and has other independent measures of its quality), I'd spend the extra money on daycare in a heartbeat. I know there are lots of people who love their home daycares, but the Wash Post investigation from a few years ago showed that a larger proportion of tragic incidents happens in home-based daycare.

Better daycare for sure. 4 to 1 is really high for babies. Yes j realize it is legal and so places do it. Thay does not mean it is a good idea if you have other options though.

Anonymous wrote:
Little children require:

1. Stability
2. Competence
3. Love

Please do not rob them of these basic requirements.

...This is critical. This is THE primary job of parents. Good thing children start out with two parents. One to do the actual work of "hands-on" parenting, while the other earns the money. Of course everything can be equally split, but does that make hard work harder? I don't know. The devil is in the details and is different for every family.

Better infant care. The 0-3 years are so important developmentally.

Another vote for day care.

I vote for better daycare. You don't know what the future holds but right now you know the daycare could be improved. Babies need lots more than the basics. They should have a loving, stable caregiver. This matters long term.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found an in-home with a 2:1 ratio for $1200 / month in Arlington. No TV. Loving caregivers. I feel like we won the lottery; we put $800 / month into the 529 that we would've paid a commercial daycare.

There are unicorns out there, you just have to look.

Name? contact info?

So you can throw off my ratios!?

Sadly, she doesn't have availability for the foreseeable future (through at least July); we just asked yesterday for our neighbors.

What does that come to hourly?

A whopping $7.50 per hour...probably a tad more since we take every opportunity to keep the kid home and still pay daycare the same $1200 / month. Daycare lady keeps the number of children she cares for pretty far below her licensed threshold (licensed for 9 and never has more than 7 between 3 caregivers...but usually just 5 or 6), and you get the feeling that she's a grandma who does it for the love of the children. The people she works with are her sisters.

Good in-home daycares feel like pocket real estate listings to me. Ask around and network to find a gem; as a PP mentioned, I don't think quality care is defined by money spent after a certain minimum is met.

Put it into your retirement if you are not maxing that out. You need to have retirement more than paying for college. I'm sure your kid would rather have to take out loans than financially care for you.

Anonymous wrote:Better daycare. 4:1 is too high a ratio for an infant, and your primary responsibility now is to your infant, not a future college student.

Also rethink your budget if you can't afford basic quality care. We were able to afford a mortgage and a nanny share on a 180 HHI.

Agree. Plus, an 'inadequate' early childhood can make college that much more difficult.

A solid foundation is everything.

Better daycare. 4:1 is too high a ratio for an infant, and your primary responsibility now is to your infant, not a future college student.

Also rethink your budget if you can't afford basic quality care. We were able to afford a mortgage and a nanny share on a 180 HHI.

Little children require:

1. Stability
2. Competence
3. Love

Please do not rob them of these basic requirements.

Find a compromise daycare option--what about a good in home day care? In home was good for my infant, we had someone we trusted and I felt the care was really personal. If you can't do that, go with the more expensive option. At a 4:1 ratio, your kid may be crying and sitting in a bouncer way more than you think. Cut-rate day care is NOT the place to save.

Prioritize the immediate need first. Cut cable, organic food, expensive haircuts, entertainment etc. to save for college.