Do you use a daycare/home based babysitter/nanny/opposite shifts?
How do you make sure your little one is well taken care of while you are working?
I use a great home based babysitter. I think of her as part of the family. She been the only care-giver since my son (6) was born. The time they spend with her is winding down, DS will be in 1st grade and DD will start preschool in the fall.
My sil did daycare for us for several months. I actually started looking for someone else (too many issues) when my inlaws told us they were moving back to TX. Now they're 3 miles away from us and my mil watches ds.
Actually, my husband is the housewife (although try telling him that!). He gets a small Disability check each month, while I have a decently well paying job to pay most of the bills. It didn't used to be this way. Up until my middle child was a few months old, he tried working and having our schedules work together.
0-6 months, DH was primary (works from home). 6-10 months we had a baby sitter come over during the day so DH could work. 10-14 months DH was primary. 14-22 months we used an in-home daycare. It ended badly. 22-30 months DH was primary. We just restarted him in an inhome daycare 2 weeks ago and he LOVES it...and they love him.
we have gone through the gamut looking for a good way to handle this problem. after exhausting several different options, we put out kids in a private preschool/daycare a few minutes from our house. it's definitely been the best place for them, although it's by far the most expensive.
my son is going into the preschool program this year, though, so i feel it's much better for him than a daycare setting. they are very education-oriented. i really appreciate that.
We use a daycare center, I love it. It's literally on the road I take to work and is super convenienet, and Liam LOVES his friends and teachers there. A bunch of his friend's parents are also pregnant so Max (the one due in October) will have a good sized class :-)
Because I work from home, I am the sitter.
Previously we worked opposite each other. It sucked but it's what we felt best for our family.
I run a home based daycare, and I LOVE all the kiddos in my care. I have had some of the same kids from birth until they start school and they have become an extension of my family. I have considered renting a space and becomeing a center, but I dont want to lose the "home" feeling. I think kids thrive when mixed with multiple ages and are allowed the freedom to explore play-based learning.
I think ALL options can work for different types of families. Each has its pros/cons and you need to find the right fit for yours.
"Acts of God"
- Bubbie0809
on Jul. 10, 2012 at 3:18 PM