Hellobee Boards

I just listened to the author interviewed on NPR. I'm currently looking for a daycare for my LO so it was perfectly timed. Or horribly timed, I guess, depending on how you look at it. It was SO depressing.

One thing that kills me is the talk about how little the teachers are paid in most centers. I mean, on one hand, I can't afford to pay more than I do. On the other hand, I've had one of LO's old daycare teachers babysit and I know that she's just barely making ends meet. These folks are barely making over minimum wage, but we expect them to be superheroes. It's a terrible situation!

I can't even read this story without crying. I'm so very thankful for our daycare and our nanny, and my flexible work situation. Even in what the article claims as the priciest state for child care (MA!!) we make it work, and it's been so amazing so far. We're seriously lucky to have gotten a spot at Wagon Jr.'s daycare (there is a 3 year waiting list!) and when LMW comes of age at 15 months this October, she'll get to start there since she got priority as a sibling. Paying double daycare is going to be expensive but I love that we can trust our center.

I had tears in my eyes reading this article. I'm currently searching for daycare options, and having read this makes me a little frightened but more determined to ask questions, talk to other parents, etc.

To me, this issue is the one that we need to solve for working mothers. It's more important to me that we have affordable and safe daycare than long maternity leaves (in a situation where we can't have both).

We ended up picking a more expensive daycare center for our LO but I'm sooo happy with it. I think the extra cost is worth the security of knowing our LO is in safe hands.

This makes me sooo ill.

@dagret: where do you find the inspection information?

My heart is hurting and stomach churning and I just bawled reading this. It makes me so mad and terrified. I know I'm blessed to have a family member as a nanny for now, but it makes me worry- did he turn off the stove? Is he watching J to make sure he doesn't stick stuff in the outlets? Is he being gentle with him... Etc etc! He did take a class and my parents attended with him, he did CPR and first aid, and my parents are good about leveling with him. But I can't help but worry you know??

I have worked in child care the majority of my working years- as a nanny. And it's true we get paid so little for all that we do- I did everything a mother does and more, working long hours and weekends for little pay. I loved it anyway- I loved the kids- but I do think there comes a point when many providers rationalize "I don't make enough to do X."

I was always under the impression that home daycares were better but I keep hearing things like this. A friend of mine recently sued her home daycare for negligence- she left the sleeping children and went to the store. My friend got there to pick up her child and she wasn't anywhere to be found. My poor friend- first time mom to a six month old and she was devastated, betrayed, terrified, etc... She now has him in a center and its so worth the extra cost for them.

@blackbird: in theory, I agree about the age. But I am 23, and I know I'd make a hell of a daycare provider if it was something I wanted to continue doing I do think I'm the exception rather than the rule, though.

@Mrs. Pen: I've always felt much better about centers vs. home day care simply because of the accountability that just doesn't exist with a single provider in the home. I'm so sorry that your friend went through that... that would be devestating for me.

We feel extremely blessed that we are able to afford a very high end day care. It certainly makes my brain hurt to consider the fact that my day care bill for ONE child is more than my MORTGAGE every month, but the peace of mind is worth every single cent. It breaks my heart that families have to choose between not working (and therefore bringing in ANY income) and sending their children to a sub par care situation.

@dagret: oh yes, I know they are licensed. I just mean I think that when there are multiple care providers working as a team that environment helps hold them all up to a high standard of care because they hold each other accountable.

After looking at everyone's comments here, I can't read the article. I already know it would upset me too much.

Wow. This is devastating. I am just sick to my stomach. These poor families! All because no one can regulate the costs of daycare. I am not 100% into regulation, but damn, let's make it so everyone can put their children in quality day-cares that are not going to kill them.

ugh..i agree with the posters about how awful it is that quality daycares are largely unaffordable. I shared this link on facebook, and already am worried I will be attacked (as a sahm) for judging working moms..but I'm not at all. I think all around it's awful..I feel guilty (per the article saying I'm not really contributing economically) cause I'm staying home with O because we can't afford daycare on what I would make anyway!

Wow such a sad story. It really breaks my heart that single moms have a tough time finding daycare.

This is really depressing, but 100% true. Daycare isn't even an option for me because there aren't any in my neighborhood that take infants. And the closest centers that take infants start at $2,700/month and there are long waiting lists. So we will have to hire a nanny unless I stay home, which isn't an option because this city is so damned expensive.

I take DS to a great daycare, but this has to be a parent's absolute worst nightmare. I can't even think about dropping my son off at daycare and that is the last time I see him alive.

Heartbreaking story. I've worked with young moms before and it's awful that they have to make choices that are bad from worse. I remember one little boy who had the flattest head from sitting in his carseat so much at a daycare with way too many babies that was unlicensed