I'm trying to decide whether we will start with a daycare or a nanny at 6 weeks. There's a lot of pros and cons for both, so it's been difficult to choose.
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If I was using childcare, I would pick a nanny, hands-down. No question.
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We could never afford a nanny -- but if we could, I would choose a nanny.
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Nanny all the way. They can arrange play dates with other LOs if you are worried about socialization.
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If you can afford it, a nanny at 6 weeks (to avoid sickness) and then daycare when your LO is older.
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At 6 weeks I'd go with a nanny or nanny share if you can afford it.
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Don't have a LO yet, but if financially resonable, I think I'd get a nanny since they're so young! Having someone in the comfort of your home with one-on-one attention sounds comforting.
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I'm very pro-daycare, but at 6 weeks I would pick a short-term nanny and then transition the LO into daycare.
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I agree with @yoursilverlining: I think 6 weeks is too young for day care. If it's financially feasible I would do a nanny for 6 months to a year and then move to day care.
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I think it depends on both the nanny and the daycare. My son started at 10 weeks with a SAHM friend and was essentially a second child. So a small intimate daycare may be good. But if you find a good nanny you get that too. You may want to explore your options. A good nanny is worth their weight in gold.
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A nanny is out of our price range but even if we could afford it, I would still do day care. The socialization has been great for my son and I like the fact that he's with a teacher and not just a baby-sitter. I also like the fact that I have an idea of the kinds of things he's doing during the day. I have friends that have nannies and they say although it's really convenient, at the end of the day you never really know what they are doing when you aren't around. You can say "I don't want her watching TV all day" and you have to just trust that they are listening to you. I would be really paranoid about what's happening when I wasn't there.
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I voted nanny, even though we can't afford it. If we could I would do a nanny for the 1st year, then day care.
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LO started daycare at 12 weeks but there are lots of babies that start at 6 weeks at our daycare.
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I feel like it depends. If you can find a great nanny that you love and can afford, I'd probably do that for the first 6 months or so. You generally have more control over their day that way, and can generally get more feedback, and if you're looking to do things like cloth diaper, most daycare centers won't do that for you.
I think that at 6 weeks, a wonderful nanny is best, but I also think that a great daycare is (for me) preferable to a nanny that you're "meh" about. So if you find a daycare that you love, and are only "meh" about your nanny options, I'd go daycare.
I'm a big fan of daycare for older infants and toddlers- LO LOVES the socialization, and I love the structure that he gets (the taking turns, the structured activities, the learning to follow directions in a group, the learning from watching older kids, etc.). -
@dookie32: Unfortunately I do know someone that happened to-- she told the nanny no TV, but every day she came home and the last channel on the TV was nickelodeon or some other kids channel. But I think that's an exception not the norm.
I agree with people saying nanny for the first few months to a year, then day care, assuming you can afford either, you have access to good daycares that are convenient, etc.
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I was a nanny and also worked in a daycare. Now I am a mom, and I agree their are pros and cons to both. As far as socialization, a daycare is good...but as a nanny I took the kids on play dates about 1-2 times a week. In a daycare, babies and toddlers put a LOT of things in their mouths and germs are passed around for sure. The nice thing about a nanny is if your kiddo is sick and you just can't get off work, the nanny can still care for your baby. At least I did anyway. You can really build a relationship with a nanny, but from a nannies point of view don't take advantage. I'm sure you wouldn't, but I've had to quick a few different times because the parents expected way too much for what I was being paid, and took me for granted. Long story short, if you can afford a nanny I think its a great option, but if not, daycare is a great option too!
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I voted nanny for such a young baby. The other pro to a nanny is the convenience. You don't have to dress your baby and pack up a bag and take them somewhere. Save u time and hassle in the morning. Plus if they're sleeping, u don't have to wake him.
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It depends upon what you can afford. With DD we started her in daycare at 8w and had no problems with her getting sick (but then our family is pretty resilient in general). With DS he started with a nanny at 9w but that was because it was cheaper for us to have both kids at a nanny than in daycare.
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A nanny would be awesome for an infant, but I'd prefer a day care for a toddler for the interaction with other children. Ideally a small, really high quality one.
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At that age, I would definitely choose nanny. Once your LO is older, daycare would be great because of the socialization aspect.
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Before I had DS I'd say 6 weeks at daycare is fine! DS will be 13 weeks when he starts daycare full time & will be the youngest by FAR. A nanny for the first few months & then daycare once he's older sounds ideal.
On the bright side, DS is so small & sweet that all the infant room ladies were beside themselves about him. So maybe he'll get a little extra love & cuddles because he's the littlest? At least that's what I'm telling myself.
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the youngest i've known kids to start daycare was 3 months.
for me personally i would choose nanny. love daycare when the kids are a little older, but i just felt more comfortable having a nanny for a baby.
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I would also go with a nanny, for both the flexibility and the germ factor. That's what we're going to do when LO2 gets here. We would/will transition to daycare later on.
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We have used a daycare right from the start with both DDs with great results.
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Thanks everyone, I'm so torn! From the responses I'm now leaning towards a nanny. Can we find someone who can take care of the baby at the nanny's house? Also, what if the nanny goes on vacation or is sick? I'll have to find a backup option and that's most likely a drop-in daycare since we don't have family/close friends in this new community. For anyone using a nanny what back-up options have they offered?
I did check out a daycare and there's only 4 babies per room. It's a smaller setting and perhaps less chances he will be exposed to infection, but still...
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