Wow! I’m shocked! Have you ever looked for daycare? The competition is fierce! In my town I’ve found 8 home daycares that are accepting new kids. 3 of them are brand new looking to get started, and the other 5 are established home daycares. I’m kind of on the fence. Part of me would like to put Sierra in a new daycare – where the ratio will be really low (she’d be the only kid for awhile – and by the time they got more kids she’d be a bit older and more comfy with her provider). But part of me is hesitant – some of these ladies don’t seem to have alot of experience with kids. They seem to love kids and that’s great – but I’d like someone who has alot of experience in getting kids to nap, eat etc. The ladies with established daycares have higher ratios – Sierra will be the third kid under 3 years, + 2 additional kids over 3. Yeah – a whopping 5 kids 
. In that situation I’m not sure she’ll get much attention – she could crawl around in a poopy diaper for an hour or more etc… On the other hand these ladies will have experience potty training, getting her to nap, eat blah blah blah.
So, dear internets – what are your experiences with home daycare? Should I go for an experienced provider? Or a new provider gung ho on getting started? I’d love to hear your feelings on this.
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oh my Marie…I don’t envy you. Noah goes to a daycare centre but he was much older and so that was a great place for him. I can’t decide if newer or older is better.
Experienced or not, go with your gut. Who makes you feel most at ease. Who gives you the best vibe. Who does Sierra take to best. Thoese questions will probably lead you to the best person.
Totally – go with your gut! Oh, and when I was a brand new home-daycare mommy, I had no problem getting business because I showed lots of proof of experience in other settings (preschools, public daycares, etc) that I had worked at. Ask for references of family or friends they babysit for. Daycare for your baby… totally not an easy thing to be worrying about! Good luck!
I agree with everyone else. Go with what feels the best to you. Even though the other women have more kids, they may have a system and schedule down so Sierra won’t be neglected. If you would rather go with someone with a lower ratio, then ask for refferences, or see if you can do a trial. Leave the baby for a few hours and see how it goes. Good luck, I don’t envy your position at all. I have trouble sending my kids to school, so I couldn’t imagine having to find a day care center.
Here in TN, the legal ratio for our kids age groups is 4:1, which isn’t all that bad. After all daycare, is not a “school” they aren’t really there to teach anything, although there is some basic learning lessons involved.
I would be torn too. Although, the experience daycare may see this as ordinary and not really pay attention, cut corners and the like. Where as the new day care may be much more attentive and proactive, as they have something to prove.
I am with the CosmoCommentors before me… go with your feeling. You’re a woman, you should have some intuition about who seems right or not.
Yup trust your intuition. I know you are being pulled both ways, however you will know which one is right!
Day care cost like a gazillion and a half dollars! Good luck.
I hear Grandma’s have the best day care, if you were wondering.
We’ve tried both the center and home daycare and found that a center is alot more structured and the our little ones have learned a lot more in the center.
I really think it had to do with having a lot more kids their age and also older kids for them to watch and learn from.
I’ve never used a ‘brand new’ over an established daycare. However, I do know that day care centres do provide a higher learning experience, usually because they’re more structured in activities and programs for the kids, and home daycares usually consistent of more of a family-like atmosphere where the provider may be busy trying to make her dinner when you get there and have her own kids doing the sitting.
Regardless of who you go with, just remember that Sierra is not only going to get on a big learning curve, but she’s also going to learn all the bad habits of the other kids she’s with.
No experience here with daycare. We homeschool so my wife is the daycare provider too. The good news is I get to sleep with my son’s teacher.
I agree with the “go with your gut” approach. You know what feels right and you obviously are a good judge of what is best for your kids. I would go with what feels right over what logically might be better.
I am so not looking forward to having to find daycare for Mya. Thank goodness my husband works nights and I work days. When Mya comes we won’t have to worry for a while. I hope you find something great and safe.
This is a tough one. I worked a more convential job when my boys were little, and I remember going to see a group day care and not being able to imagine them sleeping on little naps. I had a nanny for awhile, and then had the boys in a dayhome … and I loved both options.
Yes, go with your gut. Go and see them when there are children there. Take Sierra with you and see how they interact with her. Talk to their references, mostly of those of babies Sierra’s age. Take your time and use Grandma or friends til you find someone you’re totally at ease with.
Nikayla is in an established larger daycare and has been there a little over 2 years. Its a great place and even with lots of kids she still got lots of attention. Of course, it helped that she’s the favorite…lol.
When her Mom was little, I tried a couple of “in home” daycare places. One was a bad choice another worked out well. Go with your gut. Go with the one where you feel comfortable and as your child grows and is able to say things, listen. If they fear going there, really listen. There may be truth in their reactions. I don’t want to scare you, but the size or age of a daycare doesn’t always mean its the best choice nor does a small home with what seems like happy little ones of their own.
Look at things like staff turnover, how long have some of the kids been there, check Better Business to see if any complaints were ever lodged. Talk to other parents of children who have been there for awhile or even neighbors of the place. Is the facility clean, what do they feed the kids and what is the ratio of kids to staff? Do they have a secure “pickup” policy. For example at Nikayla’s daycare, her Mom, hubby and I are authorized to pick up Nikalya. They are very strict about that. One new lady did not know my hubby. He had to show id and she confirmed it by calling her Mom. It was a hassle but we were happy to know they were careful about that kind of thing.
Lots to think about. Goodluck with your decision.