What Type of Daycare to Choose (In-home Childcare or Daycare)

I would go with a daycare, you never know what happens at in-home places...My 6 month old son has been going to an in-home sitter, and I just found out she has been napping with him and other children there. Unfortunately, I am a teacher and don't have any other options right now because the waiting lists are long around here. Luckily, I will be able to stay with him this summer until we find someplace else for him to go next year. Only 1 more week until summer break!

HI L., I would personally recommend in-home childcare for little ones under 2, but then a daycare for 2 or older. If you have a good in-home contact, I feel they receive more attention on a personal level when they are just babies. My son is now 2 1/2 and we moved him to a daycare when he turned 2 so he could have more structure and start "learning" the basics. He loves daycare. They have art class, music class, computer class, etc. It all depends on finding the right one. Sorry, I live in Nashville, so I don't have a KY recommendation for you. I know it's hard to have him away from you, but remember you'd have to let them go anyway when they turn four for preschool. Good luck and remember that quality time matters more then quantity time! Here is a story to remember ... I know a woman who had been a flight attendant for 30 years. She had raised three children and talked with me about how she balanced working and parenthood. During the conversation she offered two valuable pieces of wisdom for me.
First she said that she had no regrets. But if she could do anything differently she would have stopped whatever she was doing (laundry, cooking etc) and looked at her kids when they were talking with her. She said that she was always attentive, always listening and that they felt heard. But that often she kept at her chores while conversing with her children. And she wishes she would have stopped her work, turned, and looked at the faces of her kids more often!
Secondly, she talked about a friend of hers that is a pilot. He talks often about how his own father was a pilot and was never home. He reports his dad was gone for three days and nights each week and then home for four, but that he recalls his dad "never being home." This woman explained to me that her own father worked all week in Atlanta and then came home from Friday evening through Sunday evening to be with the family. She reports that when he was home he was completely focused on family time and they had picnics, ballgames, family dances etc. She said that her own experience is that the time when he was gone almost seems as thought it never existed because she has so many full and wonderful memories of her time with him.
She said that she has often thought about the difference between her pilot friend's experience and her own. Their fathers were gone and home almost equal amounts, but he never remembers his dad being there and she can barely remember her dad being gone. She said that she believes the difference is that when her father was home he was really home...his heart, mind and body were totally with his family. Hope this helps! Good luck!

what kind of job are you able to get that will give you any money after paying for day care for two children? day care costs about 150/week for the little one, and 120/week for the older one, and that is after the sibling discount. 270/week, plus work cloths, meals and gas to get you back and forth to daycare and work and home. will you even bring any money home? if you have to work though, i think that a day care center gives you more reliable care. there are more employees, so if one is sick, you can still use daycare. if you are with an in-home, and the sitter is sick, you are out of luck. you will miss so much work between you being sick, your kids being sick, and the sitter being sick. add all of the extra doctors visits and missed work into the cost of it all. you may be surprised at how little going back to work will help your family.

I think unless you know the people I would send them to daycare. My son goes 3 days a week and he loves it. He stayed with my mom from age 6 weeks until age 2 and he needed to be around other children. Good Luck.

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i have worked in 2 diff daycares and after being behind the scenes I would never put my children in daycare, unless i knew the employees on a personal level, but even then i'd be iffy. I am going back to work and I am fortunate enough to have our parents helping me out and a dear friend of mine. In home is more personal and they have more control and can go with your rules.

I have some advice from the parent standpoint and the daycare worker standpoint. First the parent point I was a SAHM for 2.5yrs and then started working for a daycare my kids have stayed sick from almost day 1(started in 2004) BUT if the daycare cleans like they should ie washes toys at least weekly etc. It should lessen the sickness--in home daycare will have fewer children and typically less sickness goes around, larger centers are going to have more sickness b/c they have more kids so more germs. Whichever you choose I would ask how often they clean toys and how often they wash hands etc. Hope this helps!

L., I am in the same boat as you are....
After having hard time for a year making it on my husband's income I am now on a job hunt. I do not know about you ,but unfortunatly I do not have a degree(dropped out after 2 years :(..) so I do not have many options. I've apllied for a job in 2 daycares that are right down the street from us.A friend of mine works there part time, has her daughter there for free(different class though, but still she come go and see her any time) and still get's paied $200 a week. Not much, but hey that $$$$ they did not have before.You said you looked at some evening jobs and stuff,but have you checked local coffee shoppes??? I 've aplied for evening(5.30-10pm) and weekend one at one here too and they always hire.
I am bummed about being away from the family like that but, it's something we need to do till we get out of the hole And my kids will be with my hubby too.
If you have to choose a day care....I would go with in-home kind. There are so many mom's out there that are wanting to take in just one child in additiond to their own(I was going to do it, but we are in the prosses of remodeling our house so it is not really child friendly). Look on Craigslist, many of my friends are doing it(they are also first aid and spr certified) They charge $100 a week per kid full time+ you usually get a discount for second kid. Of course you will need to check references and stuff like that. To be honest ,one of my friends is so crafty and creative(I am not that much:)) that I think my kids would have more fun with her if she would be watching them. Also are you a member of local meetup moms group(meetup.com), you can find moms there. Or if you live in a community check your message board, there might be somebody right on your street so you will not even have to drive far.Hope this helps:)
UPDATE
many inhome day cares have a back up in case of sickness(like my friends back up each other )

Hi L., Sorry you have to go back to work. I don't live in J Town but I am looking for 2-3 children to care for in my home, it's very easy access if you travel on 64 or 264 west.
Here's a copy of the ad I use, ###-###-####, good luck

Your Child will enjoy many fun things in my home, I'm not a daycare but have all the benifits of a center with the small group of children you want! Some of what I offer:
Healthy Meals
Daily Written Reports
Daily Pre-school Activities with workbooks for all ages
Story Time
Exersize Time
Arts and Crafts
Free Play
Outside Water Play
Our fenced in Backyard includes tons of Little Tikes Equipment!
Differant Centers: Awesome Train Table Center, Kitchen/Doll House Center,Barbie Area, Farm Center, Kid Tables for coloring/art, Book Center,
and so much more for all ages
Weekly Gymboree Open Gym!!! Gymboree is beneficial in so many ways, it's great exersize, and it gives them a chance to socialize with other kids, and it's so FUN!
Parks and walks,library story times
And plenty more exciting, stimulating activities!
I don't have/do all these things just for a daycare, it's just what my children and I do and I'd love to include a few more.
We are an active family, I'm a stay at home mom with 2 toddlers and I'd love to care for around 2-4 other children,
I have a pre-school/childcare background and I love kids!
I'm 26 and happily married, we have a nice, clean home and safe transportation.
I would like long-term arrangements also,My weekly rate is $110 and that includes healthy meals and places we may go!
We may take some trips to McDonalds or walk to get ice cream!
I'm open to school age children also, I have a 7 year old boy
I provide care on Fridays nights too if parents need a break,$25
Thanks, I look forward to meeting the new little part-time additions to our home

My son just started going to an in-home daycare and I really like it so far. My son stays with a couple other children his age and I have really noticed him blossoming during his time there. I also like the one-on-one attention that he gets from staying at a place where there aren't a huge number of kids. My advice is if you decide to go this route, make sure that you do check references and do a background check on the person keeping him. Also, make sure they are registered in your state to keep children. The lady that keeps my son also has a business license for her in-home daycare which tells me she is serious and committed about what she does.
I myself grew up in an in-home daycare until I was about 4 years old. I still have fond memories of that and can still remember many experiences there as well. My mom and I kept in touch with the woman that kept me over the years until she died- she attended my graduation, wedding, baby shower, etc. After she kept me, I stayed in a large daycare and hated it. I remember that I could hardly wait until my mom picked me up and I was miserable. My own personal experiences were a huge factor in my daycare vs. in-home. Good luck with your decision...

I would choose a day care over an in-home childcare, although do your research. We found a smaller daycare with very little employee turnover.

My daughter stayed with a very nice woman and her family her first year and I regret every minute of it. My daughter stayed sick the first year since the caretaker’s older children brought home every virus going through the schools and shared them with my child.

At a well run daycare, the children are never left alone for a minute. The place is cleaned thoroughly each and every day. Think about it. Their only job is to care for your child. Some one else does the laundry, cleans the dishes, etc. My daughter has been healthy and happy since starting at her “school”.