In home daycare or daycare center?

[DawnM]

We are trying to decide.

My son is 3. I will need daycare/preschool starting in the fall.

We met and talked for quite a while to a lady who runs a daycare in her home and really like her. She has room for my son.

There is also a huge new daycare center opening up about 3 miles away. The difference in cost is about 150 per month.

Dawn

 

[SnowWhite12]

A lot would depend on if she had enough people to cover if she were to be sick or take a vacation. The main reason I like a daycare center is that there is always someone to work.

 

[KirstenB]

We did in home daycare till dd was 3. The lady who ran it (who was wonderful!) told me she only took kids til they were 3, then she thought they needed more of a preschool environment, like learning how to line up, counting, writing the letters, etc. It depends if your in home provider would do that. We were all really sad when dd moved to a center, away from Mrs. Kathy, even though we knew dd needed the learning.

 

[BlondeAlligator]

I am a mom studying to be an early childhood teacher and I can only say this...if you chose the in home daycare situation, please make sure that the person is fully licensed & insured! A lot of people do in home "daycare" but it is little more than all day babysitting...not good.

My sister ran a daycare form her home for many years...she was licensed, had regular inspections by DCFS, had to follow srict guidelines for child care & nutrition, safety, etc.

All this being said, folloow your gut instincts...don't go with the in home just to save money. An in home daycare here in my own community was just on the news because the husband of the daycare provider would come home from work during lunch to "help out" and was sexually abusing the kids. That's something else to remember...there are more people in & out of that house than just the person "in charge"...husbands, ex-husbands, teenagers & their friends...at least a center would have tight security.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[mnasmom3]

A lot would depend on if she had enough people to cover if she were to be sick or take a vacation. The main reason I like a daycare center is that there is always someone to work.

I second this. We've used 2 at home providers in the past. First one was ok. She was rarely sick. Then she retired and we found a new at home provider. It seems either her or one of her 2 kids was sick and I was always looking for a backup. We moved on to a center and that was the best place of the 3 we used. Always a care giver there much more structure/education then the at home ones ever even thought about.

 

[connie1042]

I am a home daycare provider. I have been for 33 years. If you think abuse can only happen at a private home daycare, you should do more reserch. I think both are good. It depends on what fits the childs and parents needs the best. There are some bad ones out there, I agree, but I think the people who do this for a living are special people, because the pay is not that great!

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

When we lived in Australia, my children were in a group daycare attached to the university I was attending at the time. It was ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, and I would have strongly recommended it to anyone (unfortunately, their waitlist was incredible...obviously ).

Since we moved back to Canada, I've found a wonderful at-home daycare - the mom is trained in early-childhood education, has worked in preschools as an autism specialist, and loves my children almost like her own (she's been watching them for three years now). However, when she was sick last winter for a couple of months, I had them going part-time to the daycare/afterschool care attached to my DDs' school...I was NOT impressed at all with the care they had there. No flexibility in routines (they insisted my 5 year old had to nap, which she hasn't done since she turned 2, because that's what all the kids did, no exceptions...), and the interaction with the caregivers seemed minimal and unenthusiastic. Needless to say, I would not bring my kids back there (my kids are also very vocal about this!).

Therefore, I guess my advice would be to go with your gut. There are some great at-home daycares, but some wonderful group daycares as well. Get some feedback from other moms, and don't hesitate to switch if you feel your child is not getting the best care.

Good luck!
Heather

 

[BlondeAlligator]

I am a home daycare provider. I have been for 33 years. If you think abuse can only happen at a private home daycare, you should do more reserch. I think both are good. It depends on what fits the childs and parents needs the best. There are some bad ones out there, I agree, but I think the people who do this for a living are special people, because the pay is not that great!

Whoa...simmer down! Your tone was a little defensive...

I was only reporting what I had recently heard...I was not saying that all home day care providers are evil child abusers...obviously I don't think that because my sister was one for many years as I mentioned before. I was simply saying that the OP should check licensing, ask a lot of questions and trust her gut. I would not use any day care provider I did not have a good feeling about, home or center based. Both can be good, and both can be bad.

It is just my opinion that there is a bit more control in a center based program over issues like security...although I'm sure it has happened, it's a lot harder for a child to be abused when there are so many other adults and children, not to mention a director, around, as opposed to a private home where everything that happens is controlled by one adult who works alone. What about background checks? I am sure that a good center program would run one, but what about home providers? I would have to REALLY trust that one adult, and I personally could not trust a complete stranger in that situation. Most people I know who have had success with home providers have found them through friends or family...

It's sad, but there are a lot of sickos in the world and my child only gets once chance at innocence...not something I would gamble with.

 

[mom2my3kids]

We chose a church daycare for my son who was 3 and I needed a daycare for 2 days a week. It worked out great its daycare/preschool and he only goes twice a week. He loves it and has already learned so much..

 

[Navywife508]

I do in home daycare through the Navy and it all depends on the child. What they like the best and where the parents feel they would get the most from. With in home care, the children get more one on one than in a center.

 

[connie1042]

Where I live we have to have a backround check done on everyone who lives in our house. We also have to give them a list of people who would sub for us in my home, they also have to have a backround check. We also need to attend a certain number of training hours a year. We also are on a state food program, and get checked, announced and unannounced checks about 4 times a year, and also have mandatory trainning for that. We muct be certified in CPR and First Aid. Our license fee is $250.00 every two years. I am doing daycare for the second generation. I did care for all their parents when they were little. I have several teeens that will come by that I did care for , stop by at least once a week just to talk or raid the refridge. These kids are like my own. I have 3 grandsons. Two attend a center, (they don't live close by), and one is in my care. I think they are all doing great. IMO, the best care if possible is for mom to stay home, but that is not possible much these days with the cost of everything. I alway tell my parents, if you really want to stay home with you kids, they need you more when they get to school then they do as infants, and toddlers. Parents would never think of leaving a little one home alone, but alot of 7year olds and up are on their own, and that is NOT good. Sorry this is so long, just had to vent. I still think it is totally up to the parents what is best for their children.

 

[powellrj]

we have used every kind of child care there is over the years since I have had a child in some kind of child care for the past 24 years!

When my oldest was in child care, it was common to have somebody come to your home. I had a neighbor come 2 mornings a week for 15 dollars!

When my middle DS went, we used centers and there were some really good ones and some really bad ones. All were church based and it seemed that when it was run by an outside group or had an outsider in charge, things went much better. When they were run by the church board, you were at the mercy of people who didn't use the service and really didn't know what was needed, so decisions were based on their whims. The worst was when one center decided that no child could be there more than 8 hours a day. Thats fine if you only work part time, but its impossible if you HAVE to take a lunch and you have to drive any distance. We had to leave that one and find another one only to have the board decide they didn't want to pay for a director and just depended on volunteers. We finally found a great one that was run by a christian school and used it for many years.

With my DD we started with taking her to in-home. The only problem we had with that was using moms who didn't take it as a serious job. They would call off for things like going to flea markets and out to lunch with friends. They didn't realize that I couldn't call off work because their high school friend wanted to have lunch or a group of ladies were going shopping and they didn't want to miss out. We went through 3 like this. Once we found someone who treated it as a business, it worked out much better. She had a contract with stated vacation times and had back-up care for when she was sick. We knew what was expected of us and it was a much more professional experience. She had regular menus and a daily schedule.

Once she was old enough, she went to the christian school my middle DS had used.

Good luck!!

 

[sara74]

All three of our little ones are cared for in a center. We love the center, love the teachers. They are enthusiastic, creative and go above and beyond what I think they just have to do. Even the baby has art projects, finger paints, they sing songs etc. I think some of that would be hard to do at a young age if you had a mixed age group because I think the older kids might require more attention then.

My strong recommendation if you use a center is to see if they are NAEYC accredited. This is an optional thing, above and beyond state regulations, that centers can apply for. It covers things from how healthy the snacks are to the educational levels of the teachers, to the curriculum and safety features of the center.

 

[tammy1210]

I think your answer is going to completely depend on the center itself verses the home daycare itself - not just "in general". When ds was an infant we did daycare because I didn't know any sitters well enough that I felt confident leaving him there - and I'll admit, I was thinking in a daycare there's always people in and out so at least you know they're safe there. Well - we had a terrible time - the first year was fine, the second went way downhill - without getting into details I was ready to quit my job and sell our house not to have him there - at that point it just so happened that a co-worker's daughter was leaving their babysitter for kindergarten - I knew two other people who had their kids with this sitter - she let me have the spot because the other parents asked - I couldn't have a better situation - I only wish that I had found her earlier - but, on the other hand - you'll get totally different stories where people have had terrible sitter problems, and love their daycare.

I don't envy your situation at all - in the seven years of being a mom daycare decisions have been my worst problem - it's so tough to find just the right person to care for your child when you can't - go with your gut - do a lot of interviewing and ask for references. Here in NC we have a website of all the state licensed daycares and in home sitters - if you don't have something like that you may be able to contact social services in your county for a similar list. Good luck!

 

[DawnM]

I have done both too....but the in-home was only until about age 2.

My oldest son was abused at a Center in CA. It was horrible. What she did IN FRONT of me was horrible. I can't imagine what she was like when I wasn't there. I called all kind of state reporting agencies and she was fired, but I left there the next day. I never did get my money back.

Anyway, the next center was awesome.

I think we have decided on the center. DH was a bit concerned that he smelled smoke and that she was better with younger ones and wouldn't provide the learning environment we would like. Also, I worry about her getting ill, etc....and I need reliable care.

Of course with the center he could get more colds, etc....but we will have to see.


Dawn

 

[solfan68]

We have been so blessed to have an AWESOME in home daycare solution. The gal who watches DS5 has worled on shapes, colors, letters, and keeps her groups small. I feel that our son is so ready for Kindergarten in the fall because of this individualized attention. Arguments can likely be made for each, but this is one choice I am so glad that we made when my wife had to go back to work.

 

[crisi]

You have to find the place that you are comfortable.

The biggest advantage to a center is that they will almost always be open (rare occations they may have to close - like a nearby gas leak or something - my center would close on two "optional holidays" (Veterns Day or something) for training. Some home daycares are great this way, other's you'll be scrambling for fill in daycare everytime the daycare mom is sick or takes vacation.

Secondly, understand what the philosophy of the daycare is. A friend (who isn't Christian) had her son in a wonderful church daycare for the first three years, then the church decided that the daycare was a good missionary opportunity - and she pulled her child. Are you a "this should have a big educational component, I'd be disappointed if they started kindergarten not reading" parent or are you a "kids need a chance to be kids - if they know their ABCs before kindergarten, I'm good" mom? Are you a "two adults should be present at all times" mom (my center had this rule - while it isn't a guarentee that there won't be abuse, its much harder to do if there is always someone watching) or are you a "I have interviewed the daycare provider and have a high level of trust" sort of mom? Kids in home daycare are likely to be a wide variety of ages - centers will break them out by age. Some people like one, some the other.

Finally, there is cost. Centers are generally much more expensive than home daycare. Its nice to say "I'll give my kids the experiences that match my priorities," but the reality is that not everyone can afford an expensive educational center with a low staff to child ratio and French and violin lessons that is considered "the path to Ivy League" (nor does everyone want to).

 

[mrsltg]

We've always used a center. We won't consider an in-home setting simply for the fact that it's one person vs. many around the children. If a caretaker is close to "loosing it", I want her to be able to say to the other teacher in the room, "I am stepping out to get my cool," as opposed to having no option but to stay where she is. I also like the caretakers getting regular breaks - if I were dealing with 10 2-year-olds all day, I'd definitely need a break! I also want to know care is available for my child regardless of who is ill on which day. I wouldn't want a caretaker to feel they needed to work when they are ill simply because of obligation - I'd prefer someone stay home until they feel better all the while having care available to my child.

All in all, there is safety in numbers. More adults walking around makes it less likely something will go wrong. This is not to say that any place is perfect, and I am sure most home care providers are good people. However, I am not comfortable with an in-home setting.

 

[two-foxes]

A lot would depend on if she had enough people to cover if she were to be sick or take a vacation. The main reason I like a daycare center is that there is always someone to work.

I am in a tough spot right now deciding on this. Our neighbor, a SAHM who used to be a full time nanny, has offered to watch our baby, which I would love for the ease and flexibililty. However, her two kids (age 3 and 20 mo) are sick A LOT (IMO), and due to my husbands work overseas, I will be a single working mom from Sept to Dec and quite simply won't have the leave time after 12 weeks off for maternity leave to call in sick to work when she can't watch the baby due to her kids. I have found a great facility that I am leaning towards quite simply for dependability. But the $300+ price difference a month, in addition to the fact that I love my neighbor and know she will do a wonderful job overall has me torn!

 

[macmahony]

I watch a friends daughter, and she has gotten sick from my kids, and my kids have gotten sick from her daughter, but I don't happen to care if she is here, sick or not. Most of the times, my kids, and her daughter have already shared the germs, and are sick at the same time (the last stomach bug, my daughter, and her daughter woke up in the middle of the night within a half hour of each other throwing up). So, for my friend, she has missed MUCH less work, because I let her daughter come sick, where as in a daycare, they will not. Plus, kids in there first year or two of daycare are CONSTANTLY sick, it is the nature of the beast. I treat her daughter no different than mine, we are always out doing things, parks, zoos, we have gone pumpkin, and apple picking, movies, indoor playplaces, a small amusement park, library story time, ballet class, her speech teacher came to our house, and my friend pays a fraction of the cost. I think, it is up to who you find, and what you are comfy with. Next year, I will have my daughter in kindy, one in prek 3 days, another one in another preschool progam 3 days, my friends daughter in preschool three days, and two newborns (she is due anyday, I am due in august). I also worked in a center for a few years. I think, it is what best fits your schedule, what you are comfy with, if you trust the person, if you trust the center, how many sick days can you take, will a inhome take them sick, millions of variables.
I would write a list of both that way you can keep track of pros and cons. Good luck, and the best advice is go with your gut, and see how happy your kids seems there, that is the best way to tell!
Good luck!