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daycare vs babysitter...need some advise from moms

tryingtomakeit's picture

Submitted by tryingtomakeit on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 12:30pm

This really has nothing to do with stepkids, but I am needing some advise from the mothers out there.

My 6 month old is staying with a baby sitter and has been since he was about three months old. There is a 3 year old there on Monday and Wed, a 1 year old full time, and in Feburary another 3 month old full time. SO, she basially has three kids full time. My some lover her and she is really good with the kids. The only bad thing is that she has a daughter in school and sometimes you dont konw when she will call and say her she cant keep my baby due to sickness.

A new day care has opened and I checked it out for my son. It seems like a neat place. They can keep up to four small infants. It is a small room they will be in.

Do I stay with babysitter or go with the daycare? these are my thoughts...daycares scare me with sickness especially in small quarters. My babysitter at least calls and lets me know when she is sick....but it puts me in a bind for a few days. But I know at my babysitters he is getting one on one time with the sitter.

What are yalls thoughts on daycares vs babysitters?

Comments

youngmama1b1g's picture

Submitted by youngmama1b1g on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 12:39pm

My decision was made on price sadly. Home care centers are the ones that typically cost less. At an infant level-even up to 2 yrs old, the amount of people or kids really doesnt make a difference- its about reliability and trust for me. Id suggest making a pros and cons list. time is a big deal too- most centers require you to pay for your days and if you dont use them, you dont get refunded and have very strict drop off/pickup times and charge if youre late.
Good luck sorting it out.

SteppingUp's picture

Submitted by SteppingUp on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 12:48pm

We go to an in-home daycare and the only con that I see is that yes, there may be occassions where we are unexpectedly put out because she has to attend a funeral or gets sick or whatnot. I'd say if it is a very regular occurrence and it causes you a lot of problems to take days off and such, it would be worth it to find somewhere else that you trust, where that won't be an issue at all. But if you love her, your son loves her, and it's not that often, personally I'd stay with the sitter. It's hard to find someone you trust so much.

Jsmom's picture

Submitted by Jsmom on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 12:52pm

I believe in Daycare for socialization skills. I had my son in a normal daycare from 12Mos to 2.5 after that I moved him into a Montessori environment. He thrived. Look into Montessori daycare by three and you won't believe the difference. The focus on learning is amazing. Expensive, but worth every penny.

DaizyDuke's picture

Submitted by DaizyDuke on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 1:21pm

I agree, I've had my 20 month old BS at a sitters since I returned to work when he was 3 months old. There are 2 other kids there his age, and the sitters daughter who just turned one. Then she has her boys after school or when there is no school and my little guy just loves it! I love the interaction he gets with the other kids. DH recently was talking about keeping BS1 home with him to save money and I said hell no! I could picture the two of them eating crap, watching TV and my BS just being downright bored eventually.. it's worth every penny to me. However, working in education I am big on learning, so at about the 2.5-3 yr age range, I want to put him in more of a daycare/preschool setting that's more focused on learning than babysitting.