What are your thoughts, daycare vs. nanny

Now that I have a 3 month old, I am thinking of getting a nanny and keeping both children at home with the nanny. My concern is that my DD has been in daycare for 2 years and really seems to like it. She has learned a tremendous amount and it is a great program. I am scared that taking her out of daycare will negatively affect her. Any thoughts?

Re: What are your thoughts, daycare vs. nanny

What about hiring a nanny to come to watch them both and sending your older child to nursery school (not sure how old she is, but assuming at least 2). She can go to school a few mornings or afternoons and be home with the nanny and baby other times.

Re: What are your thoughts, daycare vs. nanny

My sister has a 3 year old and 4 month old twins.

her 3 year old has been in daycare since she was a few months old. Yes she has learned a ton at daycare but she has also been really sick there as well.

My sister has hired a nanny full time, live in.
tues-sat, those are her hours at work.
She also enrolled the 3 year old in nursery school 3 days a week that the nanny can walk to pick her up so she is still learning.

The cost and headache of getting 2 kids ready or in my sisters case 3 kids ready for pick up and drop off, plus hiring a saturday sitter would of been well over 900 a week
A live in costs 450 a week and they cook, clean, take care of the kids and run the household. Its defin cost effective

Re: What are your thoughts, daycare vs. nanny

Not from my own experience, but daycare kids get sick and bring home a lot of germs. With a newborn at home, I'd really hate to risk illness.

Children learn a lot regardless of where they are IMO.
I'd do the nanny thing, if I where you.

Re: What are your thoughts, daycare vs. nanny

Ugg I feel the same way. we can't afford two kids in daycare but don't want to send DS to a "less expensive one" b/c there were reasons we dindt send him there in the first place. but scared to keep him home... i'd love to hear the answers.

Re: What are your thoughts, daycare vs. nanny

I work FT and my mom watches DS 2 days a week and we have a nanny 3 days a week. Because of my and DH's hours, daycare really wasn't an option. We definitely pay more for our nanny than if were to put him in daycare, but its really nice not to have to drop him off and pick him up. Plus, our nanny does DS' laundry, straightens up, etc.

As for learining (he's just about a year), I do feel like he learns a lot at home. My mom and nanny play with him, read with him, etc. He "socializes" on the weekends when he sees his cousins, playdates, etc.

I do plan on putting him in a 2 year-old program when he is old enough. Can you still do something like that? I know a lot of those programs seem to be for about 2 hours a day 3 days a week.

Re: What are your thoughts, daycare vs. nanny

I would def choose a nanny over a daycare, no doubt . I would just hire an experienced nanny with very good references (checked) and I would def get a nanny cam.
I think when you have a nanny kids get more one on one time-even if you have 2-3 kids- therefore more attention (JMO) . Plus no need to go through the stress of going to a daycare every morning ,especially in winter and they don't bring home all the germs-they don't get sick as much.

Re: What are your thoughts, daycare vs. nanny

Nanny, hands down. I only work part-time but I have a nanny come two days a week..

It's GREAT not having to bundle up DD and bring her out every morning <and wake her up if she's sleeping!>

She's on her own feeding/naps schedule and doesn't have to fall into a routine set by a daycare so that they can manage multiple babies at once.

She's not exposed to daycare germs. I asked my ped if I was doing DD a diservice not exposing her to illness at daycare at a young age. She looked at me like I had three heads. She said there is no *need* for little ones to get sick and wouldn't take her DD to the gym daycare until she was 2.

By the time she needs to learn and get socialization from peers, she'll be in preschool. She has playdates for now that teach her how to be a good girl.

I get to set the rules, throw in some demands, write a note to the nanny about the latest happenings and needs for DD and she gets individualized attention when she needs it.

If you can afford it, go nanny