To use daycare or not to use daycare, that is the question....

It is not possible that you will have the best thing always. What I believe tha mother's company may be better than day care as I am a home-maker. But I stay at home because I didnot get job, now I don't want to start to search for a job. But if I had a job I would be doing the same thing what you're doing, even if my financial condition would be better. It is really a hard thing to decide. But if you are earning then it will surely help your child in further studies and making future. so be happy. every thing has pros and cons.

I think that the best thing for any child is with his parents (as long as they are loving, non-abusive parents of course). I think that as long as you have a working, live-in spouse, that one of the parents should be staying at home and raising the child instead of a complete stranger. My child only goes to a day care one day a week during church service (which our church provides). Why would anyone think that it would be better for your child to be raised by someone else? And if someone really wanted to, they could stay at home with thier children with one spouse working. My husband and I did it. We went from a two income household with my income being more then my husbands, down to a one income household with a child. We learned how to work the system, how to get assistance from the state (our income qualifications only let us get assistance for a short time because my hubby got a new job with more pay). We went without luxury items. We didn't go out to eat very often at all. We don't live in a fancy house nor do we drive a fancy car. We don't shop at Banana Republic and we sure as heck don't go out very often either. But you know what? Our child is at home with his mother, being taught the values and morals that WE want him to be taught. He is not learning things from a stranger that gets paid $7 an hour to watch 20 - 30 children and could NEVER care for your child like you do. Want my opinion on daycare? I think that you are missing out on your child development. I think your child is suffering because he is not at home with his mom or dad in a loving invornment being taught greater things then ANY daycare could teach. There will be time for your child to go to school and that is around 5 years of age. Enjoy your child now while you can because you can't get those years back. And just to let you know, my hubby and I didn't plan on having kids. We didn't even want kids. So we didn't have time to prepare ourselves for having a child and losing an income. But we knew the second we found out we were pregnant that I would be staying at home with our son. I would sacrifice anything to be able to stay at home with my child.

I understand your predicament. I have recently gone back to work and have my child in care 2 days a week. In an ideal world I would love to be able to stay home with her full time. I have gone back to work for financial reasons - my husband and I do not have extravagent spending habits, we do not own a plasma tv or other expensive "toys". We planned and saved hard to ensure that I would be able to spend the first year at home with our baby without having to struggle financially. However in order for us to move forward in life (for example get a bigger house to accomodate our growing family) I need to go back to work. Me staying at home would mean that we would just tread water, we would have to survive in a small 2 bed room apartment with no yard, no airdonditioning (I know this is more than what most people have but I want to be able to provide MORE for my child and future children). Although I struggle with the idea of my child in the hands of "strangers" the ladies that look after my little girl are fabulous. Apart from my girl crying when I leave her (this is the part I struggle with) she settles well and have a good happy day. sheenac1983 the fact that you are questioning yourself tells me that you are a good parent. It sounds like you are doing a great job and personally I would be concerned about your friend (how can she own a daycare centre and not believe in the service she is providing????) Trust your instincts and do what you think is right for your child. Good luck to you.

As a daycare teacher, I always tell my parents that I would rather the child be home with his/her parents. That would mean I would be out of a job, but that is my feeling on it. I love my job as a daycare, and I love my infants. If you need to have your child in daycare, find one that is certified with qualified teachers, which it seems you have already done and that is great. All daycare have a student/teaher ratio that is mandatory. For infant rooms 5:1, toddlers 6:1, two's 8:1, and 3-5 15:1. These ratios are very managable for most teachers. In our infant room we have 8 babies and 2 teachers and each child gets personal attention, and personal love. Daycare are highly regulated and if your child is having a great time with his class, then I would leave him there. Do not doubt your desicion unless you see something that is wrong with him, or with the center that you have placed him in. Voice your concerns with his teachers as well, they should be able to help you through your concerns.

Daycare is a much needed part of many lives. If you are in school preparing for a better life or have to work to help out with finances, what choices do you have? I think as long as you do a thorough check and get references, it can be a good and educational experience for a child. I ran an in-home daycare for many years and made sure the children had a good experience with lots of love and activities. Since I had taught pre-school and kindergarted in a private school, we also had some lesson time which I made sure was fun for the kids. I was there to help with homework so the kids would be free to spend quality time with parents upon their pickup. So the key here is not whether to put them in daycare, it is finding one that offers love and growth.