Finding the right childcare is very important for working moms. This is because working moms rely a lot on other caregivers to care for their babies while they are working.
Daycare and in-home nanny services are the most common forms of childcare used by working moms but each is preferred over the other for various reasons. While it may be easier deciding for older kids, the situation is more complex and sensitive for infants.
The main things/factors a working mom should look for when choosing a child care program include the cost, convenience, availability, safety, and quality of care.
Nanny Versus Daycare for your Infant
A nanny is the best option for your infant or toddler in the following conditions;
- If your infant or Toddler is Vulnerable to Infections
- You need personalized Infant Care
- You need a convenient and time efficient plan
Daycare is best option for your infant or toddler in the following conditions;
- Cost is a major factor and you are looking for an affordable plan
- You are looking for the most available childcare urgently
- You need consistent and standard childcare
1. Safety and Vulnerability to Infections
The safety level or exposure level to infections is a key consideration factor for moms when choosing a child care program. If your infant or toddler is vulnerable to infections, you are better off using a nanny than daycare. The risk of getting transmitted infections is low.
Since a nanny offers care at your home, your infant is protected from outside infections in comparison to a daycare. Babies are least exposed to health risk and vulnerabilities while at home as he/she only comes into contact with the nanny and the rest of the family.
The safety from infections offered by nannies is especially important for preemie infants or other infants who are immunocompromised.
Daycares on the other hand are a haven for infections. Many working moms dread the daycare bugs which their babies catch too often. While babies are adorable they are also filthy and this makes them good at transmitting infections.
Given the high number of children in the daycare, it is very easy to transmit these infections around to others. While babies outgrow their age, it is not recommended for infants who are still developing their immunity. For this reason, your infant is better off at home with a nanny.
It’s important to note that the frequency of infections varies from daycare to daycare. Some daycares are very strict on their policy regarding sickness and keeping sick kids out of daycare, which helps manage infections. However, some infections still do happen no matter what and as such you should hire a nanny instead.
Read: How to Avoid Common Daycare Bugs
2. Cost and Related Expenses
Cost and affordability is a main factor to consider when choosing a child care program. There is a wide gap between nanny vs. daycare cost, so if you are looking for an affordable childcare option, the daycare may be the best option for you.
Daycares are one the most affordable form of childcare, even for infants in comparison with a nanny. While the cost varies from location to location and from daycare to daycare, it is comparatively lower than hiring a nanny.
In locations within the town, the demand for daycare is high; hence the cost is much higher than in semi-urban or rural areas, where the daycare demand is low. But in comparison, nannies are significantly expensive.
Sometimes a nanny can cost twice the cost of daycare. Nannies especially hired to care for infants are more significantly costly because they need to deliver high-standard specialized care and a lot of attention.
Read: How to Single Moms Afford Daycare Costs
3. Personalized Infant Care
Nannies tend to offer a higher level of quality and personalized care than a daycare. If you are looking for a childcare plan where you child has special needs, then you opt for a nanny. A nanny will be able to offer highly attentive and personalized care than a daycare would.
On the other hand, daycares are handling more than one child. As such, there is a low chance that your child will receive any personalized care. While the caregiver-children ratios are usually regulated by the local authorities there is no chance your child will have a personal nanny at the daycare center.
Because infants need specialized care round the clock, you may consider starting off your child nanny and later transition into daycare.
Read: How to Make Nanny Sharing Effective
4. Convenience and Time
A nanny is more comparatively convenient in terms of time and flexibility than a daycare. If you work odd hors and need someone on standby for convenience, then you need nanny and not daycare. Also if you are looking to save time, for a nanny because daycare will use a lot of your time in drop offs and pickups.
While most nannies report daily, you can easily request them, to extend their time for you if you need some extra time at the office. This is important for working moms as sometimes work demands you work odd hours. You also don’t need to do drops off and pickups that can be tiring and time-consuming for working moms.
Daycares on the other hand operate on fixed operating hours. While some daycare would occasionally consider you, most won’t and are strict about opening and closing hours. Some will even charge an extra fee for every hour you are late picking your child. Further, there is a lot of time and hustle involved in drop offs and pick ups every day.
Read: Disadvantages of Daycares for Working Moms
5. Availability and Accessibility
Availability is one of the big concerns for working moms with infants looking for childcare. Between daycare and a nanny, daycares are more available and accessible. Hence if you need childcare urgently of your just moved to a new location you will find daycare slot easier to get than a nanny.
Once you have a slot at daycare, you are assured of their services day in day out. You are unlikely to miss out on work or other duties because you don’t have a child care arrangement. It’s their job to find the staff and ensure staff emergencies don’t affect their operations.
On the other hand, it is very difficult to find a infant nanny who shows up consistently. Some even terminate their services with no or very little notice. Some take several sick days as a matter of emergency which is an inconvenience. You are better offer enrolling your toddler into daycare instead instead of these irregularities.
6. Standard Infant Care & Consistency
Daycares operate a system where they manage the staff and operations. You, therefore, don’t have to deal personally with concerns you have about the care. If you need your infant or receive standard and consistent care, the daycare will offer you that.
Daycares can maintain a certain level of standardized care and this is especially important for infants.It is especially important for working moms who find it hard to micromanage people. At daycare, you just need to raise a concern with the management and resolve the issue.
If you worried that your child may be too young, daycares take in infants as well. Most daycares have infant rooms specifically for infants. Infants as young as 2 or 3 weeks can get enrolled into daycare. if a nanny is not an option, you can enroll your young infant into daycare.
On the other hand, you have to have a more personal discussion with your nanny every time there is a concern. It is hence hard maintaining a consistent level of standard care. Further, you have to deal with the fallout of hiring someone who is not a good or a bad fit.
Read: Questions to Ask During your Daycare Tour
Final Verdict
Most working moms consider different factors when choosing a childcare option for an infant. These factors vary from one mother to another. Therefore the choice between the daycare and nanny will depend on which factor carries more weight than the other for the mom.
For infants, the most important factors to put into consideration would be the age of the infant hence the need to minimize exposure to infections. If cost is a major factor, then day care would be the optimal choice. If you work odd hours and need a flexible arrangement then a live–in nanny is a better option.
Therefore the two options vary differently when different factors are considered . Every case is different and the circumstances will advise on which option is best for the infant and the working mom.
Tips on Choosing an Quality Infant Nanny
- Find a nanny who can keep a high level of hygiene
- Vet and screen your nanny before hiring
- Have subs available to come on days your nanny is not available e.g. after them calling sick- This was you will ensure that your child care does not get interrupted
- Look for a trained and experienced nanny- It is very important for an infant
- Set guidelines and expectations early enough – It ensures that the care remains quality and consistent
- Vet and do thorough background checks from referees- You are guaranteed of safe and quality child care
- If you have the room, consider a live-in nanny
- If working from home having baby and nanny around can be distracting- opt to work in a secluded room
- Opt for a nanny who can further chip on home duties such as giving the baby baths and doing their laundry
Tips on Choosing an Quality Infant Daycare
- Look for less competitive daycares as they may be cheaper than popular ones
- Book early for a slot to avoid inconveniences and irregularities
- Visit/tour several daycares and choose the one that suits your needs
- Ensure the daycare location is convenient and near you
- Ask for early drop-offs and late picks ups just in case you need them
- Check daycare safety standards (check their adults/children ratio, compliance to local standards)
- Look for highly regulated daycare- ensure it is licensed and not in any violation
- Constantly do unplanned visits to check on their operations
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