What's your opinion on in home day cares vs. a day care center?

I had my son in an in home day care and he never adjusted to going after over 6 months. He would cry and cry most of the day. I am going to have a friend of the family watch him while I try to find someplace else for him to go. His old sitter had probably at least 8 kids and I am wondering if he will do better with someone that only has a few kids or at a center where there are multiple sitters so he can have more attention paid to him as he is an only child.

What's your opinion on in home day cares vs. a day care center?
How old is he? If he's still young he could have separation anxiety. I used to watch a boy at a in home daycare who thew constant fits when his mom dropped him off for over 2 years.


If he plays well with other kids and loves a very structured environment i'd put him in a daycare center. They tend to be more schedule oriented. There would also be more kids which could be good or bad depending on how he makes friends. If he does really good with a one on one look into a small daycare center or a smaller at home daycare where the ratio is 1 adult per 4 children. At home daycares seem to be more spontaneous with their daily schedules but can be more personal. It also depends on the person who's watching him. Hunting for a good daycare is hard. If you find one you like and decide to try it out, make suprise visits and show up when they dont expect you. this way you can take a look at how things look when their isn't a apointment.


In any case, I hope you find a great daycare and I hope you'll find one that he'll adjust to. Good luck in your search.
Reply:I worked in a day care center for 1 month. It was horrible. The kids themselves were fine but the employees were terrible. They were more interested in talking and gossiping about the other employees than they were in taking care of the children. Some of them even told the parents they hated children and did not know why they were working there. They never did anything fun with the kids and the kids ran wild. I refused to let my kids come with me when I worked there, even though it would have been free.





I got another job and my oldest son went to preschool, where the main teacher is wonderful and has a VAST variety of activities for the children to do. I sent my youngest son to a lady who did daycare in her home and he only had 5 kids, 4 of them 2 years old and 1 was a baby. She kept her house very clean and was organzied the my son loved her.





So... it REALLY depends on the people. If they love kids and have a lot of stuff for them to do then I would go with them.
Reply:I wouldn't put my child in either one. Children need to be raised by their parents. Find a way.
Reply:I am a home daycare provider, and I think that we are the better choice. I have children of my own, unlike some of the people who work in day cares, and therefore I am more conscious of the needs of the kids in my care (physically and emotionally). I think home scenarios are more relaxed, more fun, and flexible. I wouldn't send my kid to one with more than 4 kids, though. Just my opinion!~
Reply:YAY TISS!!





best answer Ive seen all day!
Reply:It's not good that your son cried for six months. He should have adjusted way before that time. I worked for a daycare center for 7 years and I am now a nanny. I prefer corporate centers over in-home daycares. Here's why-








Centers have to answer to somebody (usually corporate). Most of them today have cameras so you can watch your child interact with the care-givers (or more importantly, the care-givers interact with your child) unnoticed. All employees must have background checks and be CPR/First-aid certified (in most states). The children are divided up by age. There are generally curriculums. The teacher/child ratios tend to be better. Centers can't take sick days (open all the time). Centers will address any prolonged problem (i.e. a child crying every day for 6 months(!)).





I know, a lot of the people are reading this and saying that in-homes can be just as good. It's true, they can be...but it's a lot harder to tell if they are. You can contact the Better Business Bureau about a center... take detailed tours of centers. You can have trial days at centers.





Ultimately, it's your decision. However, I, personally, wouldn't feel comfortable sending my child to an in-home daycare... ESPECIALLY if he's too young to verbally communicate any problem he may be having with ANY kind of care.





Good luck with your dilemma.
Reply:You really have to check both places out carefully but I think I trust day care centers more than home day cares. Most centers have cameras and that makes me feel slightly better. Also, I really wouldn't trust who comes and goes from a home day care-does the provider have friends, etc that visit while children are there? I like the fact that if I sent my daughter to a center she would be in a room with children her own age and that there would more than likely be more than one teacher in the room. That's just me but I feel like centers are more regulated than home day cares.
Reply:I don't know where you live and I most certainly don't know where you'll find a center where he'll get more attention than he does at a home center. I replied to your other question about the hom daycare and paying the 2 weeks. I wonder if you know why he's crying? How do you know he's crying all the time? It's hard to imagine any child crying more than a few minutes in the morning and a few minutes if he's too tired in the afternoon. How old if your son? Perhaps the daycare provider is just a person that likes to complain? Maybe she wants to to pull your son so that she can put someone in who will pay more? There are alot of other things that could be going on other than your son crying "most of the day". Is another kid there hitting your son or something? If the provider is shady, she might not tell you for fear you'd report her, etc. Have you dropped in unannounced during the day? I know it would mean taking off work for a bit....but if you can pop in, you can see what's going on. Better yet, if you know when they play outside (if there's a specific time) you could watch from across the street and observe. Is he playing with the kids happily? Or is he crying? I know you already pulled him out...but these ideas would apply if the same thing happens again.





I would offer that you should figure out why he's having this reaction. I would be 99% sure that it's not that he is not adjusting. Small children adjust very quickly to new things. My mother has been a daycare provider for over 25 years and I've never ever seen a kid have a 6 month adjustment period. If you can figure out the problem, I'd take that piece of information to your interviews and that would be a key question. How would they deal with that situation.





I always say home care instead on centers...but I guess I grew up that way. Centers are just awful...at least around here. They're dirty, unsafe (broken toys), and they're just about getting money. Kids don't get personal attention and they have no tolerance for any kid that needs special attention (either because they're delayed or bright or too stimulated etc).





Again, I don't know where you live but in Maryland, home daycare's have to abide by all the fingerprinting, cpr, safety, fire plans that centers do. It is very easy to check that all their things are in place. Their license must be displayed and the provider has to show you their certifications if you ask. The provider must have 2 substitutes (with all the same security background things) on call at all times. You can check with the agency that regulates and inspects the home daycare for any complaints filed, etc.





I wish you good luck in your search....if I can help you get your son in a good situation, please email me.





TO THE 2 RESPONDERS ABOVE ME:


Must be nice to be independently wealthy!! Some of us don't have that luxury!
Reply:I have used centers and in-home. I like the in-home provider that I used, and some of the centers. It really depends on your relationship with the adults involved. Do you feel like you can talk to them about your child's day, if there is something out of the ordinary going on at home and it is causing behavior changes will they understand. I became very close to the lady that took care of my youngest. She knew when anything was different with him. In-home providers also tend to become more attached to the children and treat them more like their own. Mine even celebrates their birthdays and gives gifts. She is also more flexible in her schedule. For toddlers %26amp; preschoolers there is a scheduled nap time, but a child who is very tired before lunch can take a nap and eat later.
Reply:All day cares, home or business based are only as god as the adults working in them. All you can do is keep trying to find one that suits your son. The health department or department of human services in your state should keep a file of liscenced care givers as well as any complaints they have reveived on each one. So that's a good source.
Reply:my sons have been going to home day care for 12 months and love it!!.


thay go 2 days a week and the law is carers are NOT allowed to care for more than 5 children and only one is allowed to be under 12 months of age.


If he is an only child he better get used to not getting the attention all the time.The big bad world is scary and he must realise he is not the only child in it.


My children have never come home with colds and illnesses other children would get from a day care centre with 20 other children.


good luck but make sure the carers are approved by the government.(in australia)
Reply:Mine goes to a learning center and I LOVE it. Here is why:


1. They are state licensed so they are very clean and follow good rules about diaper changes, meal prep, and overall care.





2. she is in a class of six 1 year olds and 2 teachers. She gets to play with kids her own age and I don't have to worry about what the older kids are doing around her.





3. she is learning. They have a structured day and we get weekly lesson plans so we can work on the same story or song at home.





4. They have wonderful activities and games. They have special days where they play with the 2-year olds and they go outside. She has wonderfully filling days and is not just sitting around watching TV





5. They can take her extra days if I need them to (she only goes 3 days per week) and I can easily switch days for vacations, etc. If the staff gets sick, they have back-ups so that I am not stuck without a sitter.





Also, about some of the Daycare Center comments:


They have tons of toys and games. None are broken. They are very clean. And they adjust to meet the needs of the kids. My daughter has severe acid reflux and has some dietary modifications. each month I take the menu and circle what she can have and cross out what she can't. I either provide an alternate or they do. They area great about meeting her needs.


Also any and all medications have to be signed in and signed for by the parent any time they are given. The teacher has to call the parent for permission unless they have been signed for a head of time. So they are very strict about meds there.


I feel good knowing they are stated lisenced and they have to comply with rules and inspections. And the state can walk in any time. So they do it right all the time.
Reply:My first daughter went to a daycare at about 9 weeks old as I was in college at the time and had to get back to classes. She spent many days sick and was one of about 12 babies in the same class. And this was at one of the most highly recommended day care centers in our city and it was very expensive. I think the infant to caregiver ratio was 1 adult for every 6 infants. Then for my second daughter I was fortunate enough to find someone's home to send her too and it was the best decision that I ever made. Even though there were about 8 children there with 2 adults, all of the children were different ages (newborn thru 4). I think that is what made all the difference, there were not 6 little babies crying all at once. She had such wonderful care taken of her and she was always made to feel so special. She got homecooked meals and spent much less time with illnesses then my child who went to daycare.