https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:05:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1860256 Fri, 12 Sep 2014 11:43:04 +0000 catomd00 1860256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Originally we wanted and had our daughter in a *licensed* home day care (that lasted for 1 week). We liked the idea of home day care because it's smaller and felt she would get more one on on attention, less possibility for illness, and it was also much more affordable. We also liked that we could do part-time since I only work 3-4 days a week. Most big centers do not have part-time for infants.</p> <p>We had a horrible experience with our home daycare provider (despite being really comfortable and confident in the arrangement when we interviewed and toured). I will probably never trust home daycare again though because of it.</p> <p>We are in a small center now (infant room only has a max of 6 children) and I absolutely love it. Because it is smaller, it feels more "homier". The owners are super involved and sweet people, and many of the teachers have been there for 10+ years, which I think says a lot about the type of center it is. It is with every extra penny to feel like she is well taken care of. After our bad experience with home daycare, I am more comfortable in the fact that other teachers are around to observe and report what is going on.</p> <p>As far as costs - our home daycare was $200/week for an infant. I have found home daycares in our area range from $150-$250/week. Our center is $325/week, which is on the inexpensive range in our area. Generally, centers here average $375-425/week for infants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1860193 Fri, 12 Sep 2014 11:22:03 +0000 looch 1860193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used a center, because I wanted more controls around the ages and number of kids in the room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1860188 Fri, 12 Sep 2014 11:20:34 +0000 NovBaby1112 1860188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently use— an in-home daycare provider<br /> It costs (if you feel comfortable)— $880/month for 4 days</p> <p>We have used in the past— an aunt watched LO when I went back to work at 3 months and continued watching her until she was around a year old.<br /> We changed because— As LO approached the 1 year mark, I thought it would be beneficial to have her get into a social setting with other children, etc. </p> <p>What I liked about:</p> <p>Day Care Centers— the curriculum and learing/projects, more accountability, usually better hours (open 12 hours instead of 8-10 like most home daycares), no vacations, usually open more days per year.<br /> In-Home Centers— the "warm, family, homey" environment, having one sole caregiver, lots of one on one attention, less children/less chaotic, usually more flexible with pay and hours used, less illnesses.</p> <p>What I didn’t like about:</p> <p> Day Care Centers— felt more "cold" than the in-homes, higher teacher turnver, teachers are paid very little, felt too structured, more rules/less flexibility, too many children.<br /> In-Home Centers— less accountability, less focused on curriculum/teaching (loved this when LO was younger, but now that she is almost 2, I am wanting more focus on learning/etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1860154 Fri, 12 Sep 2014 11:08:43 +0000 Mmsva 1860154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone. You've given me some things to think about--certainly things I hadn't even thought of. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858469 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:51:29 +0000 LuLu Mom 1858469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently use— in home daycare<br /> It costs (if you feel comfortable)— 500/month per kid</p> <p>What I liked about: small atmosphere/amount of kids, lots of attention, close to work (especially when an infant), she feels like family </p> <p>What I liked about:<br /> Day Care Centers— the education/religious based setting, daily/weekly lesson plans</p> <p>In Home- ultimately I wanted my daughter to have time to be a kid, I didn't want her to be "forced" to be in a school setting so young. She's smart and advanced without us "shoving" it down her throat. I wanted her to be a kid for awhile, I'm glad we chose this. </p> <p>What I didn’t like about:<br /> Day Care Centers— less personable, less one on one attention<br /> In-Home Centers— I wish there was a few more educational projects and a better diet (lots of canned fruit/veggies instead of fresh and frozen food) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858454 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:45:06 +0000 Chillybear 1858454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know price is a driver for many people, so if you had to make a decision you weren’t comfortable with because of price what did you do to reduce your fears? </p> <p>We were choosing between 2 centers Center A: Was closer to home, had better ratings, was $20 more/week, recommendations from my SIL/BIL - my niece goes there, more "learning" time, well hidden and affliated with a hospital, Center B: was closer to my office in not as nice a neighborhood, was cheaper, teachers mostly around 20-25yrs old w/ no real childcare education. </p> <p>We were on the wait list at Center A from the time i was 8 weeks pregnant... as far as i know we're still on the wait list and my LO is almost 1. That said, I love Center B now that were there I have had no issues with them following my instuctions and keeping me informed and my LO loves it and her teachers</p> <p>We currently use— An independent daycare center ages 6wks-kindergarten<br /> It costs (if you feel comfortable)— $178/4 day week or $712/month (40 minutes out from Philadelphia) She also does 1 day a week with my MIL at our house</p> <p>What I liked about: </p> <p>Day Care Centers—Clean, bright space, locked doors, friendly instructors, 5-10 minutes from my office in case of emergency, willing to try cloth diapers, lots of attention bc of small class sizes 4 instructors to 12 babies. (normal ratio is 1:4), Lots of activities (music mondays, lesson plans, planned parties like luau and carnival, provided meals, weekly water day (during the summer) Very private FB group where i get updates and pictures everyday. More in control with what she is fed in that i pack her bottles/food at this stage, when she is in the older class rooms they provide breakfast and lunch. Almost always open (we have the same holiday schedule and they barely closed this winter due to snow)</p> <p>In-Home Centers— being fairly new to the area without a lot of word of mouth we really couldnt find one to even go look at. </p> <p>What I didn’t like about:<br /> Day Care Centers— All the illness, i drop off to one teacher and pick up with a different teacher (some there has been some miscommunication) It was a lot harder when she was 4 months old vs now that she's almost a year. </p> <p>In-Home Centers—From what i hear from my 2 coworkers that use an inhome center i'm confident i made the right choice for my family, though. they both have issues with tv/screen time, the babies being fed too much BM. Not being regulated/liscensed worries me or having to do my own background checks. who else is around the home - their own children or children's friends. too much unknown for this worrywart </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858380 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:18:47 +0000 Grace 1858380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The honest reason we chose our daycare is because we got in. Wait lists in my city are two years minimum and when you get in you jump at the chance. Having said that, a center was my first choice because<br /> - it doesn't shut down because the provider is sick/having surgery/going on vacation<br /> - centers here are non-profit, community owned. I have the option of sitting on the board and I have a vote at the annual general meeting (so I have a say (in a sense) in how things are run)<br /> - there are several workers in a room (more eyes for if an employee is doing something wrong/bad) and they are all Early Childhood Educators (meaning they have gone to school to be certified)<br /> - I find centers to be more structured, which I like. I like that they have free play followed by story followed by outside time followed by lunch and so on. Home daycares can have this too, but it's not as common </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858360 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:12:10 +0000 blackbird 1858360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use an in home. It costs a little more than a center: $250/week vs $213. I mine how close it is (same subdivision), how small and cozy it is (one woman in her late 40's/early 50's runs it), only 5 kids....there's never strange people or anything there. She rotates toys and E loves her. She always has a back up if she gets sick. It is so personal and flexible and not regimented or anything super structured. I just didn't feel comfortable with a center. The girls were teenagers, super high turnover, supposedly super secure, yet DH and I walked right in uncontested. It was more structured and rigid than I felt I wanted to put my baby into. I've been really happy with our in home </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858356 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:10:43 +0000 wheres_c 1858356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently use: A church affiliated daycare center<br /> It costs: $875/mo for an 18mo<br /> What I liked about: </p> <p>Day Care Centers: There is a "curriculum" and routine, it's not just play. Healthy meals, accomdation of allergies, background checks regularly, accountability to a director, grouped with children of similar age.<br /> In-Home Centers: Flexible hours</p> <p>What I didn’t like about:<br /> Day Care Centers: Hours are not flexible. More kids=more potential illness.<br /> In-Home Centers: Most here are all play, unhealthy food, mixed age, no accountability. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858306 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:55:06 +0000 JoJoGirl 1858306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently use— In-home<br /> It costs (if you feel comfortable)— $82/day, 4 days/week = $1421/month for 4 days (8:30am-5:30pm) - THIS IS THE CHEAPEST RATE WE FOUND</p> <p>In-Home Centers— So few kids and so many (amazing) providers. LOTS of personal attention. No "PnP farm". No rotating teachers. Feels like our family instead of a daycare. I'm obsessed with them. Very few illnesses. </p> <p>What I didn’t like about:<br /> Day Care Centers— TOO EXPENSIVE. Too impersonal. Too many kids. Too many illnesses.<br /> In-Home Centers— Our place is closed a lot during the year - Christmas/New Year's week AND 3 weeks in August. That sucks. But there are 3-4 providers (for 6-8 kids) so we never have to worry about illness or something coming up that causes them to have to close. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858271 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:37:16 +0000 BeachMama 1858271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 27 months. She goes to a daycare center 3 days/week and my parents watch her 2 days. We've always done day care centers. To me (just my opinion) I'm more comfortable with a center than a home because I feel like it's more regulated, it seems more like a "school" setting where there is a curriculum. As a pediatric physical therapist I've visited some of my kiddos in home daycares and they just arent for me. Also, I can't take a week off when a home daycare shuts down for vacation or has last minute illnesses. </p> <p>I don't remember the cost - maybe $650 ish for 3 full days including meals. When she was an infant it was maybe $1200 without milk/snacks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858269 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:37:07 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1858269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I chose a center for my 2.5 year old. I was home with him the fist year, when I started working he was 13 months and we had a family member as a nanny. </p> <p>We chose a center mostly for proximity- it's across the street so we walk over there for drop offs and pick ups and it's so convenient. We loved the teachers, had glowing reviews from other parents, the price was right, and I loved their day schedule. Many in homes I looked at had tv/media time and I would have preferred that not be an option, and the center doesn't have a tv. All the lead teachers in each room have early education degrees which is a bonus to me. I've been really happy so far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858222 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:15:03 +0000 tinyperson 1858222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently use—day care centre<br /> It costs (if you feel comfortable)—~1300-1500/month (depending on number of days)</p> <p>We have used in the past—n/a<br /> We changed because—n/a</p> <p>What I liked about:</p> <p>Day Care Centers—close to DH's work and home, recommendation from someone who's 2 kids went through the centre, exposure to more kids (social aspect), more activities, great facilities, great structure, caregiver will never call in sick (backups), province does routine inspections<br /> In-Home Centers—less expensive, personalized care</p> <p>What I didn’t like about:<br /> Day Care Centers—lots of kids, less one-on-one time, more illness<br /> In-Home Centers—if your caregiver is sick, you might have to scramble, further away from home, less oversight/regulations </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858204 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:05:53 +0000 daniellemybelle 1858204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently use a "Mommy's Day Out" preschool / church based daycare center. They follow a school calendar, so they are closed more often than a daycare center, and their hours are 9am-3pm although they have before &amp; after care.</p> <p>It costs $235/month for 2 days/week, 9-3.</p> <p>In addition, my mom watches LO 1-2 days a week. I work part-time with a flexible schedule.</p> <p>We didn't really look at traditional daycare centers because of our needs for part-time. Mommy's Day Out was a good fit for my schedule. It is also a lot more affordable than daycare. I really like that it is a small Christian environment, too. The teachers are so sweet and the ratio in the class is lower than the daycares I called.</p> <p>Since we started at 10 months, it was also important to me that LO didn't have to change rooms just because she turned 12 months or started walking. In her current class, the babies ranged from 6 to 13 months at the start of the school year, and they will stay in their same room with the same teachers all year.</p> <p>All that to say, LO had a very hard time with separation anxiety at first and I seriously considered a nanny, even though it is much more expensive. If you start daycare earlier than we did though, and full time, I doubt you will have that issue! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858194 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:59:00 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 1858194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently use— Daycare Center<br /> It costs (if you feel comfortable)— $275/week (now that he's 2. It was &amp;295/week as an infant/toddler)</p> <p>We have used in the past— n/a</p> <p>What I liked about:<br /> Day Care Centers— always available, oversight/accountability, continuity of care (he can attend until he's school-aged), location was great for us<br /> In-Home Centers— personalized care, smaller setting, less expensive</p> <p>What I didn’t like about:<br /> Day Care Centers— caregiver turn-over, less personal, expensive, larger group, more germ exposure<br /> In-Home Centers— I had a bad experience once with an in-home provider so I'm not comfortable with the lack of oversight on a daily basis (basically I can't trust just one caregiver)</p> <p>It was moot for us really because only one place was in the right location for my husband and I to both pick up/drop off. It's expensive but we love it and are just sucking it up until our son is in school. I loved the place so much that I quit my old job and teach preschool here now!</p> <p>ETA: I have the same dislikes of in-home as @corderoy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858183 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:54:39 +0000 Corduroy 1858183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently use— an in-home center with 8-10 kids aged 6 months to 6 years<br /> It costs (if you feel comfortable)— $880/month bay area</p> <p>We have used in the past— a infant/toddler daycare center with 20 kids, 4 rooms.<br /> We changed because— We moved. I liked it a lot. It was $1250/month</p> <p>What I liked about:</p> <p>Day Care Centers— Everything was structured for LO's age group. I knew everything that happened because there was a detailed written report system. I liked being able to talk through sensitive issues with the director as a buffer instead of facing the teacher directly.<br /> In-Home Centers— LO plays with a kids of a variety of ages. I think she is developing faster physically and verbally because of it (but what do I know?). She gets fewer colds because there are fewer students.</p> <p>What I didn’t like about:<br /> Day Care Centers— Too much turnover. Teachers were always swapping around.<br /> In-Home Centers— The daycare provider has a life to lead and kids of their own. In interviewing several and sending LO to two I've learned that they aren't always there with the kids. Maybe that's a "duh" thought, but I expected the person I left my kids with to always be there. LO attended an in home daycare where I had no idea what happened. From the front door I could only see a hallway. It's a small thing but it really bothered me that I could never see what was going on. Plus, there were always 5-6 people I didn't recognize there at pickup. I think they were friends of the teenage son. I didn't like that at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858182 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:53:43 +0000 sarah.clarisse 1858182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently use — daycare center (they do daycare as well as a separate building/playground for preschool/kindergarten)</p> <p>What I liked about:</p> <p>Day Care Centers —<br /> LIKES:<br /> The multiple eyes on my child at all times. Personally I feel there is a level of accountability present in a daycare setting because it’s a full blown business w/ a director, owner, multiple employees that doesn’t exist in smaller home care.<br /> Knowing that aside from holidays/weekends daycare is always open and available to us. A family/personal emergency of one teacher in a classroom just means a sub for the day not a shutdown of daycare.<br /> The daycare center we chose has a large facility with multiple small play yards and a ton of room to play and explore. It also has a classroom like setting starting with kids at 18 months and this is something we liked. We already call daycare “school”… not in the OMG get into college already way but in that we were looking for structure, activities, learning &amp; crafts and found it in a center.<br /> We also wanted our son around a lot of children and a mixture of adults. We think it’s good for him to be in a classroom full of kids his age and not just one or two. He’s also very social and good with strangers even at his age (10.5 months) he hasn’t had any of the separation or stranger anxiety. Part of that is probably just luck with his personality but also he’s exposed to so many people every day… other teachers &amp; multiple parents coming and going.</p> <p>DISLIKES:<br /> None really now that we found the right spot. However, during our search some of the negatives of places we didn’t choose included: lack of security over who comes &amp; goes. Too much mixing of much older kids with babies. Small facilities.</p> <p>In-Home Centers —</p> <p>Even though we didn’t go with a small home daycare it was the way we thought we’d go when we started the search. We visited with people that we simply found on yelp as well as some who were recommendations of coworkers/friends.</p> <p>LIKES:<br /> Personal care. I didn’t think we would find the same kind of one on one attention that I thought a home daycare would provide. In the end we did – but I can see it not always being the case in larger facilities.<br /> Flexibility. A few of the ladies we met were more flexible on drop off times and pick up times as far as emergencies that would cause us to work late or need to bring him extra early.</p> <p>DISLIKES<br /> Size – The personality of our LO was very clearly that of a social dude from early on. I could tell by the end of my maternity leave that he was getting bored just being with me at home or with one or two people all day every day. I worried that a home daycare wouldn’t be that different as being stuck at home with mom… even if there were a few other kids.<br /> Security – I was hesitant with the idea that providers family members and their friends could come and go. I wouldn’t know who these people were.<br /> A big worry for us was in home daycares often had 1 or 2 week vacations a year &amp; what would we do for childcare then? Also – if something came up (sickness or family emergency) and our provider couldn’t care for our children. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858173 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:49:06 +0000 snowjewelz 1858173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO isn't here yet but we just signed up her for daycare twice a week. The rest will be picked up my DH who is off 1 day during the week, and my mom. </p> <p>I live in NY, this place for twice a week costs me $180/wk. </p> <p>I haven't used it so I obviously can't say for sure, but we chose a daycare b/c I don't even know where to start to find a nanny and one that I'd trust! I had a referral to this daycare, so at least someone I know trusted this place enough to send their kids there! We went for a tour and everything was satisfactory to us. </p> <p>It's close to my work so I can drop off/pick up, and won't have to deal with any emergencies from a nanny who is a human being and will have stuff come up I'm sure. I also like that LO will learn to be with other people/babies early on and will get some form of "education". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858172 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:48:18 +0000 mrs. wagon 1858172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mmsva: I couldn't find any in-home centers very close to our home with a spot for my son (I had kind of a tight timeframe to find childcare). There happened to be ONE spot at the daycare center, which ALWAYS has a wait list, so we toured it that same day and took the spot. Plus I liked that it was a center that doesn't have infants because it focuses a lot on education and development. It's NYAEC accredited so that was a huge draw for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858167 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:45:12 +0000 Mmsva 1858167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: Why did you use a day care center instead of a in-home center? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858162 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:43:03 +0000 mrs. wagon 1858162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was home with my first until 18 months, then he started at a 15 month + daycare / private preschool/kindergarten. With my second, she was with grandma full time until 6 months, then a nanny (it was a nanny share, she brought her daughter to our house every day) and then a different nanny (family member) when our nanny bailed on us, which took us to 15 months and then she started at our daycare. So right now they're both in a daycare center, but they were both at home until after they started walking (my preference). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-choose-your-day-care-provider-for-infant-to-3#post-1858151 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:32:45 +0000 Mmsva 1858151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don’t have a baby yet, but are feeling hopeful about our upcoming Egg Donor cycle. In our area slots fill up fast, so we have to make a decision soon.</p> <p>Just wondering why you chose your provider. I’m mostly trying to figure out how people choose between Day Care Center or In-Home Center (not a in your house like a nanny, but in someone else’s home). Having a relative do it is not an option for us.</p> <p>I know price is a driver for many people, so if you had to make a decision you weren’t comfortable with because of price what did you do to reduce your fears?</p> <p>If you changed types of providers due to the age of your child/children, why did you make the change?</p> <p>We currently use—<br /> It costs (if you feel comfortable)—</p> <p>We have used in the past—<br /> We changed because—</p> <p>What I liked about:</p> <p>Day Care Centers—<br /> In-Home Centers—</p> <p>What I didn’t like about:<br /> Day Care Centers—<br /> In-Home Centers— </p>