Nanny vs. DayCare? Or other?

How did you choose? What are the costs per month? Advantages? Disadvantages? Are there other alternatives?

We're not pregnant yet, but trying to do some planning ahead of time.

Any advice welcome! Thanks!

We're still trying to decide between a live-out Nanny and in-home daycare which seems to be a *little* less expensive. A woman two houses away from us (how perfect!) does in home where she only watches 2 other children but she charges $8/hr. It doesn't sound like alot but it adds up fast when you figure we need her for at least 10 hrs (8 am - 6pm) M-F - that's $80 a day - $400/wk - $1600/month!

For that amount of money I much rather pay someone to come to my house and watch only MY child there.

Either way, it looks like we would be paying somewhere in the neightborhood of $1200 - $1600 a month for ANY kind of child care. Funny because the Nassau County child care services website says the average cost of childcare is $235/week. I have yet to find one child care alternative that comes even close to that. Maybe if the child's grandparents are around you can get away with paying that.

I had no idea childcare was so expensive before we got pregnant and I have no idea how we are going to do it.

That's my big fear. We have very little family support in the case of emergency and neither of us can afford to stay home and not work. The best I might be able to arrange is working from home one day a week.

With day care, if the baby is sick, then one of us will have to take a day which is okay once in a while, but I don't think our employers would like that happening too often.

Are the in-home caregivers acredited in some way? How do you know how safe they are other than word of mouth? Is word of mouth tbe best way of finding them? Is there a limit to how many children they can/will watch at once? I'm also assuming you provide food/formular/diapers, etc. for that cost.

I'm completely clueless in this department -- can you tell?

Here are some regulations for day care in NY

Day Care Regs

OK... well I am a nursery school teacher, and the school is for 3-5yr olds and anything younger goes to the daycare portion of the center...

It is VERY expensive, the older the child the cheaper it gets...my center is more exp. than others...but I know from friends this is a frequent complaint.

I also was a nanny at one point as well... I of course was cpr and 1st aid certified, and NEVER got paid less than 10$ an hour...I have many friends that work for the daycare, and do this on the side, they're going rate starts @ 10. But you may find someone than does it for a little cheaper....

I am lucky enough to have MIL and mother who are willing to alternate days of watching my child when him/her is born....but as soon as he/she hits 2 and a half they will be in daycare part time...I think its great social interaction and they really learn so much, especially if they are an only child...

I teach the three year old program...when my kids entered my class they could count in english and spanish, they knew the days of the week, and the alphabet...When they leave they will be reading site words, recognizing thier names, small math skills and so on...

Many parents can teach this at home...but for those who can't the child learns alot, but like I said before this dosent start in daycare until like 2 1/2 yrs. of age

In-home caregivers can be licensed and 'Providers are required to take a 15-hour Health and Safety course prior to registration/licensing as well as a minimum of 30 hours of professional development training every two years'

-- from Child Care Council of Nassau


I still can't get over how expensive childcare is. It's more than our two new car payments combined and more than we pay in property taxes!! Yet it still doesn't make financial sense for me to stay home. And I am in the same position as you - I don't have my Mom or DH's mom around to help. They both live out of state.

I agree that toddlers benefit from the social and educational opportunities at a day care facility. However, as infants the costs are out of control.

JimmysBride, can you and your husband stagger your hours a bit so that maybe the baby only needs 7 or 8 hours of childcare each day?

That's what we might try and do -- my husband can go to work early (8pm) and get done at 4pm, and I could go to work late (10pm) and be done at 6pm so that we only then require childcare for 7 or 8 hours per day.

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Posted by aimerliny

I agree that toddlers benefit from the social and educational opportunities at a day care facility. However, as infants the costs are out of control.

JimmysBride, can you and your husband stagger your hours a bit so that maybe the baby only needs 7 or 8 hours of childcare each day?

That's what we might try and do -- my husband can go to work early (8pm) and get done at 4pm, and I could go to work late (10pm) and be done at 6pm so that we only then require childcare for 7 or 8 hours per day.

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Nope. That's not an option for us. It's strictly a 9 - 5 job with a 40 min commute each way for both of us. That's a good idea though if you can do it.

I paid $1,000/month 5 days a week from 10 -4 including lunch and snacks to a private babysitter. She had a child the same age so the ratio was 2:1 She was great, but a little unreliable..

My preschool will take children as young as 2. Their classes are no bigger than 8:1. The 2s, 3s and 4s are all seperated from each other. They go by the school schedule, are very reliable, give you a menu at the beginning of the month, newsletter, the kids tae home projects every day and its $700/month!!

Good Luck! When it comes time, let us know and well recommend some if youd like :)

We live in Lindenhurst. My husband works in Melville and I work in Mineola. I'd prefer someplace nearby home or my husbands job.

A&A where is your preschool located?

ETA: Also, what kind of enrollment wait lists have you guys encountered?

I have always used a Daycare center. I personally (again, just me) was not comfortable with the idea of another women in my home caring for my child all day long. I felt that in a daycare center there were security checks in place and she would also have a lot of interaction with other child and thus build more social skills. I also wanted Molly to understand the difference between her home and her daycare caregivers. Mommy cares for her at home, Ms. Fran at school.

I was also worried about care in someone else's home since while that person may great but there is no control over who else enters the home and has access to your child. That concerned me a lot.

If you don't use someone who claims their income you cannot use the tax deduction either.

I also found that my niece who was always cared for by my MIL had very little preschool knowledge...and that is because my MIL was playing with her but she was not doing any real educational tasks. My niece also watches way TOOO much TV. And she never had much interaction with any other children because my MIL stays home all day with her and doesn't drive so there are no trips even to the store.

There was a big special by Dateline a few years ago that looked at a few working moms and after analysis realized that they were working for nearly nothing...after you deduct costs of lunches out, dry cleaning, daycare, and change in tax status etc...it was amazing. One women was LOSING money by working. For me working is worth the money but each family should evualate their situation and really look at it.

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Posted by michele31

I have always used a Daycare center. I personally (again, just me) was not comfortable with the idea of another women in my home caring for my child all day long. I felt that in a daycare center there were security checks in place and she would also have a lot of interaction with other child and thus build more social skills. I also wanted Molly to understand the difference between her home and her daycare caregivers. Mommy cares for her at home, Ms. Fran at school.

I was also worried about care in someone else's home since while that person may great but there is no control over who else enters the home and has access to your child. That concerned me a lot.

If you don't use someone who claims their income you cannot use the tax deduction either.

I also found that my niece who was always cared for by my MIL had very little preschool knowledge...and that is because my MIL was playing with her but she was not doing any real educational tasks. My niece also watches way TOOO much TV. And she never had much interaction with any other children because my MIL stays home all day with her and doesn't drive so there are no trips even to the store.

There was a big special by Dateline a few years ago that looked at a few working moms and after analysis realized that they were working for nearly nothing...after you deduct costs of lunches out, dry cleaning, daycare, and change in tax status etc...it was amazing. One women was LOSING money by working. For me working is worth the money but each family should evualate their situation and really look at it.

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I agree with your reasons for Daycare choice. I will also be going to a Daycare center for these above reasons. I want my child to have stimulation and be in an educational environment...not in front of a TV all day alone with 1 person. Security is also another factor I choose Daycare center.

I have to agree. My daughter was in daycare for 5 years and she learned sooo much. When she had only half day kindergarten I used a sitter. She was nice and great with kids BUT my daughter didn't like going because all they did was watch TV all day. She had so many different age groups that she could not stop and do projects or learning with one of the kids.
My son is now in daycare and I have no problems at all.

Gabe is in Patchogue but I know they have another place that is equally as good and have been in business for about 50 years or so.. I was lucky and didnt have a wait list. The other place I think did. The place Gabe goes to is gorgeous! very clean, all the rooms have themes and the playground outside has a full sized boat and firetruck! Ill try to find out where their other place is. My friend takes her son there.

I did check out a few more places, but dont remember the names anymore..