Choosing the right daycare for your baby is a challenging decision. The article that follows lists the pros and cons of each possible choice. Understanding your options can help you make the best decision for you and for your baby.
Daycare vs. Nannycare: The Pros and Cons
Babies -- Development
Daycare
Pros:
- Cost: It is one of the most affordable options for childcare.
- Your child's care provider is in a supervised environment with many adults present.
- Daycare centers must meet minimum state safety and sanitary regulations.
- You maintain your privacy. You do not have to open up your home to anyone.
- Your child will have more opportunity to socialize with other children.
Cons:
- It is very likely that your child will be sick more frequently.
- Shipping your child to a daycare center can be inconvenient. Packing baby supplies, bundling kids up in the winter and getting yourself ready for work can be very time consuming.
- It is a fact of life that daycare centers pay their employees very low wages. Consequently, turnover is high. If consistency in care providers is important to you, this may not be the best option.
- If your child is very ill, daycare centers will not allow your child to attend. You will need to find back up care or be prepared to take days off from work.
- Many daycare centers dictate when your child should be off the bottle, pacifier, take naps etc. If the idea of someone else calling the shots with your child's routine turns you off, you may not like this form of care for your child. On the other hand, some parents like the idea of the daycare center doing the "dirty work" and appreciate someone else getting their toddler to give up his comfies.
- If your work hours are longer than the standard hours of operation for the daycare center, you will need to arrange for drop off and/or pickup by either a family member or another childcare provider.
