I'll preface this with the fact that my almost 2 year old has had 5 providers other than me since I went back to work. Obviously a lot of change for a little guy and I wonder if it is part of his attachment issues and possible speech delays. So I'm already feeling guilty going into this decision.
After our last daycare shut down, we've had DS temporarily at a friend's house with her kids. They don't mesh well. So we've been actively looking for a new long-term full-time daycare that can give him consistency and love and take baby #2 next year. After touring 8 places, we've narrowed it down to 2 choices:
Option #1: In-home run by a wonderfully kind Hispanic family.
Pros:
Liked it on first sight
Great ratio: 2 Providers to 4-6 kids under the age of 5
Exposure to Spanish at an early age
Separated sleeping area
Great home with lots of windows and light
Cons:
Hours (they close earlier than I get off work, so DH would need to pick up every day)
Slightly more expensive
Spanish is not my best language and English isn't theirs (DH is fluent in Portuguese and pretty good with Spanish too)
Baby wouldn't be able to start till 5 months, so we'd need an alternative for 2 months.
Older kids watch TV if not napping
Option #2: Previously an in-home, the provider is opening a new center midway between mine and DH's work.
Pros:
Hours are totally flexible
No language barriers
Director has low enrollment, so ratios are currently very low and she's giving us an excellent monthly rate
Director has degree in early childhood education, certifications in nutrition and physical activity and has been part of NAEYC
Participates in county nutrition program
No TV
Baby #2 could start whenever needed
Cons:
The facility is new, but currently chaotic
Licensed for 40, so ratios will get change as more enroll
We don't know his teacher (or likelihood of turnover)
Infant/Toddler room is set apart with large accordion walls that don't reach the ceiling and there is no door
No separate sleeping area
TLDR: Do we go with the in-home with great ratios and language barrier or the new center with a director that we like, but an infant/toddler room we didn't?
If one doesn't work out, am I doing damage to my son by switching his providers yet again?