BTDT Daycare moms..pro's and con's? Help!!

Hey ladies...we are thinking about putting G in daycare when she turns 1 in Feb..so far she has been watched during the week by my husband on the days he is free and by his parents on the other days..we are thinking about putting her in for 2-3 days per week to ease up DH's schedule and so she has some kids to play with..poor baby has no friends ...we can also wait longer and keep using his parents if we wanted to for a bit...so, do you think we should do it...wait a bit longer...please let me know what you ladies think if you personally had the option of both situations, which would you choose...and also give me some your good and bad reasons for making your decisions on whether to send your kids or not. Thanks so much!!!

Re: BTDT Daycare moms..pro's and con's? Help!!

I was fortunate enough to have the option and waited until DD was 21 months when I no longer had the option.

ETA: The friend that was watching DD had a DS that was 3 months older than DD so she was not alone all day with just another adult.

Message edited 12/14/2009 5:10:35 PM.

Re: BTDT Daycare moms..pro's and con's? Help!!

I think it would be great for your DD. Both my kids have been in day care and it is really nice for them to have the socialization. I say go for it!

Re: BTDT Daycare moms..pro's and con's? Help!!

Personally, i would wait a little longer, since it sounds like you have the option. i think around 2 or so is more than enough time to start the socialization piece.

Re: BTDT Daycare moms..pro's and con's? Help!!

I originally had my DD with a babysitter and planned to move her to a day care at a year old.

As it turns out, the babysitter didn't work out and I switched DD sooner. I'm very happy with the interaction she gets in day care. She's around a bunch of children her own age, plus some older and some younger. She is on a schedule, which is important to me because I like to follow a routine and the babysitter didn't care to.

It's been a year now and I'm still pleased. My DD has learned a lot - even though this isn't an educationally based program - she sings the alphabet, she thinks every cake is a birthday cake , lately she walks around singing jingle bells, she counts!! - these are just things that probably wouldn't have happened with me alone (except maybe the alphabet).

Re: BTDT Daycare moms..pro's and con's? Help!!

Being honest about our situation. I love daycare for the social aspect. Last year I was able to cope having one child in daycare during a moderate cold/flu season. She was sick pretty often, but we got through it.

This year is a whole other story. Lets just stay both my 2 have been in daycare 4 weeks, we have not had a full week with either one yet. DH and I have taken so many days off from work we are both going to lose our jobs if this keeps up. We decided after a very heart wrenching few weeks that we can't keep this up. Since we have 2 only 14 months apart, our hope is that they can eventually play together. There is also a SAHM on my block with a 2 y.o. that I'm sure would love to bring her DD over to play with mine. We'll do gymnastics on weekends and eventually a swim class in the summer. Daycare can only do so much to keep the kids from catching stuff and at our's it was clear there was a kid who was being sent to daycare very ill, possibly drugged to hide a fever. My 2 have been burning up on and off for weeks and for my older one it's kind of dangerous b/c she's prone to febrile siezures. I do think though that there are some great programs out there and they learn so much. I'm going to try to "replicate" the learning environment in my home as best I can. PS. there was no "discount" for all the missed days. I paid about $600 a week to daycare while I had them home and our jobs threatened.

With all this said, I can't say we will do the nanny indefinitely. I may resign them up in the late spring. We'll see how it goes. At least later on I won't be so watched with work after I have time to prove myself. At least it sounds like you have backup should you have to keep your DC out for illness. We have no one to watch them last minute like that.

Re: BTDT Daycare moms..pro's and con's? Help!!

i think it's a great idea. my dd is watched by my mom 4 days a week. on fridays she goes to a little daycare that one of my neighbors runs out of her home. she has 6-8 kids and 2 other employees. my daughter LOVES it. she has so much fun with the other kids and i think she learns a lot there. she does crafts, cooking, karate, etc... i think it is great socialization. i highly recommend finding a place you feel comfortable. your DC will enjoy and it will give your husband and family a break too. We started DD going there at 15 months.

Re: BTDT Daycare moms..pro's and con's? Help!!

Thanks girls..all of this info is very helpful..thanks for sharing and all of your honesty!

Re: BTDT Daycare moms..pro's and con's? Help!!

DD has been in daycare since she was 14 weeks old and honestly, I love it. Sure, she got sick a lot in the beginning, but I like the fact that she is exposed to other kids and teachers and is doing something different every. Now that she's a little over 2 she is constantly talking about her teachers and friends when she is home and makes me feel even better. She also learns a ton - can count to 20, knows her ABC's, etc...And I can't take credit for that at all!

Re: BTDT Daycare moms..pro's and con's? Help!!

DS had been at daycare one a day week from 10 months to 26 months. We just upped him to 2 days this sept. I have to say he is so happy there...loves his teachers and friends and is so social, I think daycare is good for kids. He absolutely LOVES kids and playing. Yes he was sick a lot that first year, but they either get it now or if you dont put them in till later on, they get it then...either way once a child starts any kind of school they are going to get sick b/c they are exposed to new germs.
I have to say one of my closest friends is a SAHM and her son will be 2 soon and he is so clingy and scared of other children, if my DS makes a noise around him he freaks. and she does take him on play dates, but she is always around so he never got a chance to be comfortable without her there. She just joined a gym so she can leave him an a hour a day in the childcare portion b/c she realized he needed some separation from her and the chance to socialize with other kids.

Re: BTDT Daycare moms..pro's and con's? Help!!

DS was in daycare until he was 18mts (from 7mths). We left and got a nanny b/c it was cheaper for us, my son never slept at daycare, and he was constantly getting sick. I didn't mind the daycare, my DS enjoyed it and they were very sweet, but this worked better for us.

Re: BTDT Daycare moms..pro's and con's? Help!!

I didnt put DS in daycare until he was 11 mos, and it was and still is for 2 days a week. I think its great for him, to be able to be in a structured enviroment with a learning curriculum (hes in a chain center), to learn to socialize with other children and do something other than being at home with me, DH and my mom, if nothing else but to just get him out and stimulated in a different enviroment where he is not the end all be all of someones attention. I LOVE that he is in daycare 2 days a week. For me, short of me being a SAHM, its the best of both worlds.

The only downside, is the amount of colds during the winter, but it only helps build up his immune system in the long run.