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@mediagirl: There were a few daycares i have heard great things about that DH wouldn't even tour because they're just too out of the way. Time and $.

I am struggling with this right now. Good luck!

@mediagirl: Ugh. Any chance of negotiating with your boss for a raise that covers the difference of the more expensive day care since their move necessitated the day care switch?

We struggled with a related issue and all the stress was so silly in hindsight! We ended up taking my son out of a daycare he loved and we loved and getting a nanny because of similar logistics. He went to the daycare for over 2 years and although he would tell stories about particular kids, etc he never once asked to go back. Kids adapt and their stress levels correlate to yours. Do whatever would make your life easiest on a daily basis. We spend more, but life is so much less hectic without a longer commute and complicated logistics. 4000 a year is only 75 a week and the less gas may offset the increased cost of your ideal daycare . Good luck-go with your gut!

We didn't end up sending LO but in the area we were looking at (like within 15-20 miles!) I found ONE daycare I thought was developmentally appropriate and had good teachers. ONE! If lo had stayed in daycare then I would have cut down other things to afford it if I had to. The director there also was in the know about many assistance programs (although I highly doubt we qualified for any.) If I absolutely could not find a way to make it work I would probably just keep lo in the current daycare for now and then move her when I found one I actually liked. Jmo though. When looking I admit I was pretty picky.

My son will go to a new camp in June and continue there for preschool in September. It is totally out of the way and I am actually paying more for less hours compared to the first place I had registered him.

I kind of had no choice, the day care was closing and the politics around the preschool are not something I wanted to be involved in, so we looked around. One option was equally out of the way but about twice as much money, this option is a little less and the environment is what sold me...when I walked in, I just KNEW this was the right fit.

It's not easy. You have to go with your gut, at least I did.

@mediagirl: I would absolutely drive 10 miles out of the way for a DCP I felt comfortable with! 30 miles? no, but 10 isn't that bad!

Plus, you can do that for a few months and then reevaluate!