Daycare, nanny or just stay home? And questions about daycare...

My maternity leave is halfway over as of today. I am extremely lucky to have 6 months off. However after DD's 5am feeding today I couldn't fall back alseep b/c I was stresing over what will happen when I go back to work. I know SO many mothers go through this. I am sick at the thought of leaving her with strangers, be it a nanny or at daycare. I techinically *could* be a SAHM, but I enjoy my job very much and want to go back, even if part time.

I know nothing about daycare...what do they do with the babies all day? Is it a very structured routine? Is this soemthing we needed to get on a list for a long time ago? I guess all places are different so I'm just looking for general feedback on how daycare works.

TIA!

Re: Daycare, nanny or just stay home? And questions about daycare...

in my DC center it wasn't really structured until 12 months. babies all have their own routines, but I will say even when I pass by now, they are always interacting with the babies in some way in the room. the ratio is really low (like 3:1), so there's a lot of contact and interaction from the adults.

Re: Daycare, nanny or just stay home? And questions about daycare...

You should start looking now at daycares if you need a spot 3 months from now.
Some are more structured than others.
I believe Tutor Time lists their schedules online.
Pick a few and check them out. Thats the best way to decide what you want for your child. How much structure you want in their day.


As to whether you should stay home, only you can answer that

Re: Daycare, nanny or just stay home? And questions about daycare...

I went the day care route - my son started at just over 5months - at his daycare they did not have waitlist - i got a new job on teusday and he started daycare the next monday

till 18 months - they follow his schedule that i had for him - so he napped his two naps for a few months and got bottles every 4 hours like he was used to

at 5 months -they had him finger painting - they have plenty of age approprate toys and switch them out so they don't get bored

theys work on him self feeding- holding his own bottle, feeding finger foods, drinking from a cup, feeding from a spoon - they have a monthly goals for each child - now that he is standing they work on walking

he does get sick and i have thought about a nanny but my son loves to be around other kids to the point that i think he sleeps extra on the weekend so he does not have to sleep at daycare

the teachers are very loving and are great at taking him out every day that it is not raining - for me it was a good decision - i need to work and i am a better mom now that i work - i love my weekend and evening time with my son

Re: Daycare, nanny or just stay home? And questions about daycare...

I chose daycare only bc I didn't feel comfortable with someone in my house and I wanted my kids to be exposed to more than 1 person. I also have an irrational fear of coming home to a nanny one day and everyone being gone. Silly, I know bc that could happen anywhere. I also would have had to hire a total stranger - if I had a recommendation, I may have felt differently.

It's a really personal decision. I would start looking into both options and see what you feel more comfortable with.

If you love your job, I would at least try to go back to work and see how it goes. You can always quit.

Message edited 9/2/2010 10:56:20 AM.

Re: Daycare, nanny or just stay home? And questions about daycare...

Posted by Tine73

I chose daycare only bc I didn't feel comfortable with someone in my house and I wanted my kids to be exposed to more than 1 person. I also have an irrational fear of coming home to a nanny one day and everyone being gone. Silly, I know bc that could happen anywhere. I also would have had to hire a total stranger - if I had a recommendation, I may have felt differently.

It's a really personal decision. I would start looking into both options and see what you feel more comfortable with.

If you love your job, I would at least try to go back to work and see how it goes. You can always quit.

Re: Daycare, nanny or just stay home? And questions about daycare...

AJ's daycare was structured with HER schedule. Her nap times, her feeding times, her play times. So whatever best fit her and made her happy. They stimulated her with colors, movement (pre walking) and her motor skills (building etc) but really it was all up to her. This was all infant to 12m stage.

It wasn't until after 12m they started to put some structure into the room. With everyone eating at the same time, napping at the same time. But she didn't "Move Up" at 12m they kept her behind about 2m due to spacing issues and until she would walk stronger and could maintain herself, if that makes sense.