Honestly option 2 sounds like a hard acclimation period. Especially if the 3 days a week are M-W-F (instead of 3 days in a row which makes more sense for kids). If your baby has any separation anxiety or is slow to warm up to new people or new situations he might just spend the whole year adjusting rather than benefiting from the experience.

I don't think the baby needs outings to be stimulated. At that age my kid could play with the hose and a bucket for hours. Add some food coloring and a few toys, get a few more hours. Playdoh, painting, blocks, books, singing, dancing, digging for worms, looking at bugs and other stuff, waving as cars drive by...the list goes on. If she is an experienced nanny she should be able how to figure how to rock a one year old's world without too much effort.

Do you have a yard he can run around in safely? That would be a plus too.

I think the baby would be fine until around 2 with your Nanny with some guidance from you.
The problem is time goes quickly and in less than a year you will want a change.
So I would go with option 2 if you are looking to make a change now that will hopefully go through until K

Does your Nanny have friends that can come to your house once a week with their kids?

Why would

Why pups you hire someone who hasn't finished high school?

It sounds like even if you get a nanny for the baby, she will be gone before the baby is 2? Judging by last line of your post. In that case, I would ask what is your plan for when baby turns 2 (or before). But based solely on your post, I would say #1 is better if plans will change once baby turns 2. 1:5 is NOT a good ratio for a one year old, I remember reading that you do not want more than 1:2 or 1:3 for children that young. You cannot change a bad ratio, but you might be able to work with the nanny situation. Like do you have any neighbors within walking distance? I do think a one year old should get socialization outside nanny and parents, but it doesn't have to be with other babies, it can be with toddlers or little kids so long as you trust your nanny to keep a good eye on your baby and keep him safe. Could you or the nanny find someone in the neighborhood who would be willing to drive nanny and baby to somewhere close by, like a library, 1-2x a week, perhaps for a small fee ($10)? If your baby gets one activity, like the library, during the week with nanny, daily walks around the neighborhood (hopefully, it's nice and lovely to look around), and social activity with the parents over the weekend, I think that is plenty for a 1-2 year old.

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
The baby is a 14 month old very active & curious boy

The nanny is uneducated as in she did not finish high school

If you have lots of money you can hire a well educated nanny. Is so easy right?

OP here.
The baby is a 14 month old very active & curious boy

The nanny is uneducated as in she did not finish high school

#1, a baby does not need school or day care.

Why would playdates be out of the question? If they take walks around the neighborhood, I would think that they would be able to meet other kids who are doing likewise and could set up playdates that way.

Are there NO parks, stores, etc. within walking distance? That seems very odd. Walking distance defined as 30 minutes each way, I would think there would be some sort of place they could visit. Is the home they'd be atuck in a single family home with a dedicated playroom and a lawn or a tiny apartment?

In any case, I would say that it depends on the nanny, the school and the kid. Is the Montessori school teacher warm, loving and efficient or is she overwhelmed and tightly wound? Is the nanny "uneducated" in the sense that she lacks a childhood development degree or in the sense that she is barely literate? Is the child a 13 mo who tends to be sensitive and shy or 23 mo and gregarious?

I am an "uneducated" nanny in a not-particularly walkable area, but my 12mo charge has playdates with kids his age and older/younger, does different crafts, activities and sensory exploration and is read to and talked to and sung to all day, as well as getting lots of exercise walking in our neighborhood and playing outside on the lawn.

Mom here. I'd go with 1.

An uneducated but loving, experienced nanny can provide plenty of stimulation for a baby. A school environmnet is not needed. And the nanny can make your life a great deal easier also - which matters.

I would say Situation #2 would be the better of the two options.

I don't like the 1:5 ratio however.
It will mean your baby will be doing a lot of waiting. Waiting to be fed, changed + held/rocked.
He will be crying it out often which wouldn't sit too well w/me as a mother.

Ideally Option #3:
Baby has a loving, experienced & engaged nanny who drives.
She takes him on one daily outing per day. Babies need fresh air and a change of scenery while the nanny needs to get out of the house and not stay so cooped up.

This way your child will get the best of both worlds: One-on-One individualized personal attention as well as access to daily outings w/a little diversion.

What is better between these two situations for a 1 year old baby?

1. At home with a loving & experienced but uneducated nanny. No playdates, baby classes or outings except for walks around neighborhood. (Non-driving nanny & we are far from everything)

OR

2. Half day Montessori based daycare/preschool with a 1:5 ratio 3x a week up to midday then at home with nanny in afternoons and 2 full days.

I often hear that babies don't need any outings or interaction with other babies until about 2 to 2.5. However there is also something to be said for an unstimulating environment. Which of the above 2 options is better for the child?