I'm trying to figure out what to do, I finally got in touch with Wee Watch and will hopefully go and see a private home daycare this week. Last week I registered the children at a Daycare facility.

So Pros and Cons:

Home Care

More specialized care, i.e. if child has an off day the provider would allow child to sit quietly or play on their own.

Flexibility - there may be more flexibility with additional days/hours.

May be able to more readily accomodate our every other Friday schedule.

We do not have to pay for holidays providing we give 2 weeks notice.

Alternate care provided by Wee Watch if care giver goes on holiday.

As we are vegetarian it would be much easier for me to bring lunches for the children.

Could have the care provider pick up child after school, this would give me more hours at work and after school care.

May not work out and I could be stuck with no one and lose my spot at the daycare facility.

Day care provider could decide to stop and thereby leaving me without care for the kids.

No accountability - my kids are in someone else's care and there is no one around to supervise the day care provider's actions.

Slightly less expensive.

~*~*

Daycare Center

Accountability - other providers and supervisors keep each other accountable.

Structured environment with weekly curriculum.

Two hours of outside play per day.

Prepares them for a school environment.

Close to work.

Field trips.

More expensive.

Possibly less flexible with alternate Fridays and extra days.

We may have to pay for every Friday to keep our alternate Friday schedule.

We have to pay for holiday time.

Center is closed on civic holidays - but we still have to pay for the day.

Our diet is a bit of an issue, I cannot bring my kids a complete lunch I have to replace the items on the menu that are not acceptable to me. For example I have to bring Soy milk or provide soy cheese, or provide a meat alternative, so it's a bit complicated but not impossible.


So for those of you who work what do you use private home care or a daycare center? What are your preferences and why? Can anyone add to my pros and cons list or think of anything I haven't thought of?

By Bemerry84 on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 02:46 pm:

I'm an advocate for Home Day Care. The centers that I looked at seemed so cold and impersonal and the personnel was always changing, making it hard to bond. I am very lucky in that I've had the same one for 16 years. My 10 year old still goes before and after school, he catches the school bus. My provider is like a second mom and her mom works with her so it came with a grandma too!!! She is state certified and believe me here in MI they have many demands. My provider does most of the things you stated that the center does, like a preschool program, lots of outside play, field trips along with the flexibility. How did you feel after meeting the home care provider? With us it just clicked and we knew it was the right place. It is a Christian home and they pray before meals, it's so cute, and have great morals. If the provider has been doing this for years you will not be stuck in lurch. Some people just have a knack for it (like Cat), they are in it for the kids welfare not the money.
Also being state certified you can claim the cost on your taxes just like a center. I hope you can have as wonderful experience with home care as I do.

By Vicki on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 03:11 pm:

I did work for dd's first year and she was in a home daycare. I too just liked the "feel" of the home based care vs typical day care. The only things on your list that I would be sure to check about/think about.... my lady didn't pick kids up from school, if your kids went to school in the district she lived it, the bus stopped at her home. But if your kids went to a different district, transportation was up to you. As the mother of a infant, I was glad for that. I didn't want dd taken out at least twice a day for school runs. You will also likely need a back up plan in case your provider or one of her own children (if she has small ones at home) gets sick.

I would just visit both places and ask LOTS of questions and what ifs and go with your gut! Take your kids with you so they can see what is going on there and ask them for their input also!

By Cat on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 03:38 pm:

Well, of course I'm going to be an advocate for family child care as well. (gee, wonder why ) Mary's right, there are lots of turnovers in centers. Inconsistency isn't good for kids. Your profile says your kids are 1 1/2 and 3. At that age I'd really go with a good family child care home. Check them out, check references (I can't tell you how many parents DON'T ask for references, or when I offer them they don't want them--CRAZY!!!), ask about things like open door policies, illness policies, preschool program (if you want one, although many aren't developmentally appropriate--in my home we learn through play and lots of literature based stuff) etc. If you'd like I can send you a copy of my handbook that goes over all those things to give you and idea of what you'll be looking for. Family care isn't for everyone. Sometimes a center better meets a family's needs. Make a list of your expectations, wants and needs. See which would better suit those for you. My email is cathy liz at com cast dot net (formatted correctly, of course ).

By Tayjar on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 03:43 pm:

I think a good quality home care situation is the way to go. BUT, if you can't find that, I'd look into the daycare.

My two were in daycare because I could never find an in-home provider I trusted. But, I had a really good daycare. DD and DS took foreign language, sign language, Kindermusik, Tumblebus, lots of fieldtrips, computer classes, and weekly trips to storytime at the library.

All I can say is, trust that little inner voice of yours. Trust your gut instinct.

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 08:28 pm:

No matter what you decide, you just have to be picky. I looked into daycare when Scott was deployed, just to give me a break, and found that some home daycares were too unstructured for me. Then, I found someone who was a SAHM who used to be a preschool teacher and LOVED her. She was so warm and very smart. She had more books than videos in her house and valued people in general. I found the other places (home daycare) to just show videos and have zero structure for 4 yr olds when clearly they needed it. So, you just have to be observant and "picky".

I would get a recommendation from someone in a mom's club and make sure that they are registered as a home daycare with the state, etc.

Either way, I would get a recommendation from various moms and go from there and decide yourself. Find another mom that shares the same values and seek if it's a good fit.

Good luck!