https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 20 May 2026 13:13:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140798 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 14:13:35 +0000 shinymama 1140798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Follow your gut instinct. We went the residential daycare route and it has worked fabulously for us. It's licensed, home cooked meals, 12 children maximum, has a designated daycare area that is completely separate from the home, and is run by a mother-daughter team. Aside from all of that, it's always the same two ladies who love and care for my son.</p> <p>My 11 year-old, went there for 5 years, and if he's with me when I pick up my little one, he will {unprompted} hug the ladies hello and goodbye. He tells me that he thinks of them as his grandma and aunt! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140695 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 13:41:00 +0000 LuLu Mom 1140695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I recommend an in home daycare, the personal attention they receive is worth it! My daugther loves it so much she cries when I pick her up to go home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140689 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 13:38:45 +0000 NovBaby1112 1140689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>thanks everyone! so it sounds like i just need to follow my gut ;)<br /> Good idea about asking for references to call- I will do that asap! That will make me feel a lot better about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140594 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 13:04:39 +0000 Beebug 1140594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gut again and any referral.</p> <p>I was dead sure she would go to a centre, I left crying every centre we went to, and followed our gut on a home daycare, and are so far so happy (she is in her 2nd week full time there!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140564 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:54:46 +0000 banana 1140564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lindseykaye: Awesome! Glad they were honest with you, too. It really helped manage some of my expectations. They said that the daycare lady was very warm and affectionate and loved the kids. But she wasn't the best at toilet training. But I was ok with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140562 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:53:40 +0000 bunnylove08 1140562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we're at a home daycare. DD is very scared of strangers and she was very at home with our daycare lady. This home daycare had a lot of great reviews and referrals from other parents on our parenting board. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140533 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:45:23 +0000 JoJoGirl 1140533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gut again. And referrals. We have a home daycare we adore. We know two families who have 2 kids each that went there from 4 months through kindergarten. And seeing them compared to every other place was night and day. You'll know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140525 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:43:27 +0000 blackbird 1140525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Total gut feeling. We toured a bunch of places and the lady we went to, we both just felt like, ahhh this is great. We like her, we like her home, we like the daycare....every week that goes by, we love it more and more :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140482 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:33:31 +0000 lindseykaye 1140482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: I also got a some referrals and called them and spoke with the moms on the list. We got her referrals before even meeting with her, and they were very honest and gave me a lot of confidence in her care. I highly recommend asking for some email contacts or phone numbers of parents you can call. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140466 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:30:16 +0000 banana 1140466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both of my kids were in a home-based daycare and we absolutely loved it. It was such a great environment for both of them and we really think that it helped build up their self confidence. Our main focus was to ensure that they felt secure and nurtured and loved for the first 3 years of their lives, while they are developmentally building up a sense of security and trust. I asked her for a list of referrals and I called everyone on the last. I asked them to give me both pros and cons and they were very honest, which I appreciated. Would she be willing to provide you with a list of referrals? It definitely helped make our decision much easier! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140465 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:29:56 +0000 lindseykaye 1140465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is such a hard decision - you really have to go with your gut. We also use an in-home daycare and have had nothing but the best experience. She started out with a 1:4 ratio (two 2-year olds, two infants). She's since hired an assistant who is there part-time and has added another 1-year old - a friend of ours actually after we referred them - and will be having a 2-month old (another referral from one of the mamas). </p> <p>We found her through the local moms forum that is run by our local newspaper. I was searching for recommendations and reviews on centers and in-home care. She had replied to previous posters with prior availability. I then cross-checked and saw she had a care.com profile and we went from there.<br /> Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140433 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:16:28 +0000 Boheme 1140433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS goes to a teeny home daycare with four kids. We LOVE it. He is so happy and well nurtured there! We found her because she is a friend of a friend. She doesn't advertise and only takes kids she knows by association. So word of mouth is probably the way to go for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140425 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:13:28 +0000 sunshineandsushi 1140425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we first started looking, we wanted a home daycare and found some great ones, but when it came time for the boys to start, they were all full. So they started in a center daycare and are still in it. I have to say, even though it wasn't our first choice, we are really happy with it. It's definitely more expensive, but I like all the extra regulations that come with center daycares, the longer hours give us flexibility when we need it and they are around other babies their own age. </p> <p>@walnutems: when I first started looking for home daycares, I would google home daycares with my zip code for starters. You could also try looking through your county's registry list, assuming you're looking for someone who is licensed. I found the most success asking my neighbor, who has three young kids, one of whom is in a home daycare, for the name of her lady. As I met with each one, I would ask them for names of anyone else they know in the area who also did home daycares. I found several who I would never have found otherwise, and some who won't even take kids unless you're referred to them by someone they know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140424 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:12:54 +0000 NovBaby1112 1140424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: you are so right, i just need to trust my gut. I do think this lady is a great fit and I had a really, really good feeling about her. I'm glad it's going great for you guys so far!</p> <p>@walnutems: my DH got a list from the town I believe. They usually have a list of licensed home daycare providers in your town. I also joined a moms group on facebook in my town and looked for recommendations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140403 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:04:36 +0000 walnutems 1140403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're in the same boat and it's terrible. I'm having such a hard time with the whole thing :sad: </p> <p>Not to thread jack, but how were you guys able to find home daycare places? I have no idea where to start with searching for those so we've started with the bigger name daycares but my mother in law is not supportive of them and making it even more difficult. She isn't paying for it or anything, but her opinion matters to me and DH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140387 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:59:07 +0000 ALV91711 1140387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Subscribing. </p> <p>We are in the same situation and I really don't know what to look for. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140339 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:46:01 +0000 mrskc 1140339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went through this too. It is SO hard and stressful. DH and I thought we wanted a center but we ended up finding a home daycare that we loved. It's been great so far and I loved that she has an assistant there all day so it wasn't just one person watching a bunch of kids all day. </p> <p>You will know when you find the right one. Follow your gut instinct. One lady to 4 kids doesn't sound bad at all! The other home ones I looked at were 1:8 ratio. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-daycare-home-daycare-thoughts#post-1140294 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:34:15 +0000 NovBaby1112 1140294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Now that we are finally under contract on a home (yayyy!!) we have started looking into daycares in our area. Currently DH's aunt watches M, but we want something closer to home and want her to have some interaction with other kids. </p> <p>How did you know your daycare was the one?? I am having such a hard time and am SO nervous about anyone watching her other than family. </p> <p>I thought for sure I would go with a daycare center- but the few we looked at I wasn't crazy about and just didnt get a great feeling about them. I saw a few home daycares and I think I found a really great fit- the lady is licensed and seems extremely warm and nice, cooks all home-made food for the kids, has a huge backyard with playsets, and only has 4 kids on the days we would need her. BUT it is still so nerve-wracking! </p>