Nanny vs. Daycare

Any opinions out there?

I found this article and understand all the pros and cons http://www.pregnancy.org/article.php?sid=1881

But its such a hard decision. I hear nannies can cost $400 - $500 a week.

Would love to hear from moms who use one or the other....

Re: Nanny vs. Daycare

We are doing daycare p/t for personal reasons. I dont like the idea of a nanny who I really dont know very well and is then left in my home with my newborn all alone all day. I feel like in a day care there are other people there in case one worker is overwhelmed or needs a break. Also if a nanny gets sick who is the back up?

However I have a friend who has a nanny as she doesnt like the idea of day care, so its really a very personal decision.

I also love the idea of social interaction that a child gets from the beginning in a day care.

Message edited 10/6/2007 10:31:14 AM.

Re: Nanny vs. Daycare

For me, I wanted someone to come to my home to care for my infant. I didn't want to have to wake DD up or take her out in bad weather. When they are really little, there isn't a great amount of benefit to being around other babies as they don't quite interact with each other. Plus, now that DD is older, she is taken to playgroups and playdates for interaction with other children and she loves it.

I installed a surveillance system which is can assess at work and watch what is going on in real time and it records too. I did a background check on her as well.

These are my reasons for having a sitter/nanny. It's more expensive but it was my preference.

Re: Nanny vs. Daycare

For now we are using family childcare. The provider has 2 other kids who she cares for and DD will be the only infant. My older DD will go for after school care.

We thought about a nanny but just didnt know where to look-Agencies were too $$ and as a recruiter I didnt trust some agencies that dont let you talk personally to references-some are made up I loved the one on one aspect of it though and dreded it at the same time. Even with a nanny cam I realized abuse could happen when they ventured outside with my child out of camera range, so no one seemed good enough..

Daycare I liked that DD would be in an environment with other adults around incase someone has a "moment" but at the same time I wondered about her getting quality time and too many kids passing germs back and forth. so we went to an in home Family Child Care - The median---she has fewer kids,seems very loving,Keeps a clean home and is reasonably priced. I still have concerns about abuse regardless of if its daycare,family care or Nanny. Theres never an easy choice.

Re: Nanny vs. Daycare

Message edited 10/6/2007 12:02:02 PM.

Re: Nanny vs. Daycare

We are doing daycare. Basically bc of the cost. Daycare is like $400 a week and the nannies I looked into were $700-$1000 a week. I am not working to pay a babysitter!

Re: Nanny vs. Daycare

Posted by Tine73

We are doing daycare. Basically bc of the cost. Daycare is like $400 a week and the nannies I looked into were $700-$1000 a week. I am not working to pay a babysitter!

Re: Nanny vs. Daycare

I was a nanny in college

Do what makes you comfortable....What situation makes you feel your baby is safe? Thats where they should be



Good luck with your decision

Re: Nanny vs. Daycare

This has been such a topic in our home that every time it comes up I get stressed out.

I still don't know what we'll do, but I think because of the cost, that we will be doing either day care or family child care. My mom works for a child care referral agency so she will help me find someone if we go in that direction.

Either way, it's still a difficult decision.

I wish I could just stay home...but for now that's not a option.

Re: Nanny vs. Daycare

When you say nanny, do you mean someone coming to your house? If so, that's anywhere between $400-$600.

You also have the option to drop DC to someone's house. That's $45-$50 per day. You can get great referals from other people, etc....

Re: Nanny vs. Daycare

I think $40 -$50 a day for someone to come to your house may be hard to find if you want someone you can trust. A few of my friends' moms babysit for families a few days a week and they get anywhere from $12-$15 per hour. Some even have the kids come to them. They watch them all day. I know it is expensive, but if you want good help, you cannot expect someone towatch your child for $40-$50 per day. I would be afraid that the person would be doing housework and not watching my child if I only paid them $40-$50.