I work fulltime and can't stop working due to the fact that I am the primary breadwinner. My DH started a new job (commission based) and will take a few years before he makes decent money. He is well on his way..........

After the baby was born, I was planning on taking 6-8 weeks off and then working from home afterwards for 4 weeks. At that time I thought we would have my mom staying with us. She was planning on staying for a few months afterwards also. Some things came up and that has fallen through. So now we are considering our options. I plan on looking at daycares this week but I feel tortured taking a 8 week old baby to daycare. We have two neighbors that we have become wonderful friends with during the last two years. They are at home moms and they have offered to take care of our baby. They both have 2 large dogs each. One of the neighbors dog is so big, he opens the fridge and helps himself to whatever is in the fridge. Would having such huge dogs around a newborn make you hesitate? Does anyone who has pets worry about allergies? Its not that we dislike dogs - in fact DH and I plan on getting a dog in a few years but I wonder about it now. What would you do - daycare or babysitting? Also if you are looking at babysitting, how much do you pay? Thanks!