Childcare Outlet, Do Any of You Use More than One?

My kids always did a couple of days of day care and a couple of days at Grandma's house. However, Grandma would take them for a walk, to the park, shopping, whatever. So, it worked out pretty well. In fact, I think she jabbered their little ears off so much that they all developed amazing language skills at a young age! LOL

Now... I'm biased because I have a great family.

Preschool was great for my son. Fantastic. Brilliant.

And now at age 9... 5 years later... he has an incredibly deep bond with NONE of those kids who have scattered to the 4 winds, but he DOES have an incredibly deep bond with his Nana and Auntie and Uncles. Both of whom watched him.

Preschool kids play with each other. Family loves on each other.

Sure with ME, my son is out and about all the time. Sure, with classes and camps and all the trappings of Pay to Play my son has a rich and active outside life. And IN ADDITION to his very active life, he spends a lot of time indoors with people who love him who have a very different outlook on life.

Is it how I want him to spend his ENTIRE life? No. Course not. But a few days a week? With people who love him? Absolutely. For a few weeks solid, to help me out in a bind? NO worries! And grateful as all get out.

His life is all the richer for the wide variety of experiences he gets to have. Including couch potato time.

I work FT, my Mom and my MIL split the childcare for me. My 4 y/o has been going to one or the other ever since she was 3 months old, and now she is in her 2nd year of pre-school (a few mornings a week). So she has 3 different places she is going. My one year old is just with whichever grandma for the whole day.

It's been fine :) Some days I don't know if I'm coming or going because they'll start at my house, then take them back to theirs, other times I wake them up early and drive them straight to grandma's, it depends on the day. This year Mom and MIL decided they each wanted to be responsible for 2 days, then they would literally split the middle day in half. So on Wednesday my girsl start off at one grandma's and end the day at the other's. For the older one that means school in between too!

I know what you mean about what they do all day though... My MIL seems a bit more hands on with the kids and is likely to have made a play-doh project, baked something with them, taken them in the pool or played boardgames. My mom is more likely to have them just running around the house and entertaining themselves with the toys that are dumped out everywhere. Neither of them seem to like to take them out too often! They have to though, or they get cabin fever. They will take them to the park, or my mom likes to drag them around to visit her other lady friends. Your mom would have to take her out of the house eventually :)

I was glad when my daughter started pre-school to be able to socialize with non-family members. Even though it's only a few mornings a week, it's been great for her. I think pre-school time plus grandma-time is the perfect combo while I'm at work.

Anyway it all works fine, we adapt and develop routines around the childcare. My evenings are like clockwork no matter where they went that day.

Who better to help raise your child than your family? It is a common misconception that babies/toddlers/children need so much interaction with other kids in a public institution. I have studied and read that children are far more secure and stable when they have a routine, an adult (preferably mom) to bond with, and are basically home most of the time with family that can be there for their every need. Maybe you can encourage your mom or sister to find 1 or 2 friends that your baby can have a supervised playdate with. That way you get to pick who your child interacts with...someone you all like and trust. Seriously, you are VERY blessed to have a mom and sister to help you...which is probably even saving you money. Please don't fall for the "socialization" misconception. I have been very lucky to be able to stay home with all 3 of my children. They are 12, 11, and 2 - they are VERY well rounded children with very good hearts. I have been able to instill my values into them and be there for them every step of the way rather than pawning them off to other adults and children that I barely know. Kids are going to learn a lot from their environment...why not give them the VERY best...YOU! Or the next best...family. You need to do what works the best for you and your family...but take into consideration what is ultimately the BEST for your precious child that God has given YOU to raise...not the world! Hope this helps.

My kids are currently with my dad on Monday, a sitter on Tuesday, and my mother in law on Wednesday. I am home on Thurs/Fri....though some Fridays I work and then they are with the sitter. Everyone comes to my house to watch the kids. On top of this my 4 year old does preschool 3 days a week. The kids are fine with routines, the enjoy spending time with each provider. My kids definitely have a great bond with their grandparents because of it.

I have an at-home childcare/preschool. I have 3 children who arrive at 7:15 each morning, hop on a bus & go to a special needs preschool, then come back around lunch, staying til 5:30. I have others who are here full-time, others who are here just 2-3 days a week, and everyone is fine. One of my part-time children is here 2-3 days a week, with one gramma another day, the mom one day, and she is just fine. It's just a different adventure everyday. I would think your routine would be the same each day: get up, get everyone ready, bust out of the house, today is Gramma's day, school day, or whatever, and then you pick them up and have your nighttime routine. I don't think it's going to make a difference to your child - it might be a little mind-boggling for you at the beginning, hahaha! Peace, B.

I've done it. In fact I kind of do it now.

My son started as a baby with my sister, then at about 1 year old switched to a small in-home provider. Then when he was 3 I switched to working overnights. For awhile he was going to Donna's (new, small in home provider) while I worked overnights, to Kari's (the old, small in home provider) during the day on Mondays and Wednesdays and to "school" (large daycare center) Tuesdays, Thursdays and some Fridays while I slept.

Currently hee goes to Donna's overnights (and sometimes stays part of the day on weekends, depending on my schedule) and to "school" during the day. He's done very well! He does go through spurts where we have drama at drop-offs or pick ups, but it's no big deal (especially once I realized he was STARVING at school pick up time, and started greeting him with a small snack that we opeen as soon as he's buckled into his car seat!)

My 3 1/2 year old son gets split up too. He does preschool mornings from 9-1 M-F. On Mon, Tues, and Wed we have a nanny at home with our 2 month old so when I pick my older one up from school, I bring him home to her and she takes over. So I work Mon-Wed. Thurs and Fri he still goes to preschool in the mornings but no nanny, I'm home those days so once I pick him up he's mine. He does fine...he was eased into this but I think toddlers are more adaptable than us mommies think - we've had this same nanny since he was 6 months old so I think coming home from preschool to her is nearly the same to him as coming home to me. He did preschool last year 3 mornings and this year we went to 5. Good luck, there is nothing wrong with splitting up her care as long as each piece of the puzzle is high-quality!

When we were transitioning our 3 year old son from full-time daycare into pre-school, there was only a 2 day per week spot available, so we split the two. It was fine. He would ask each morning which one he was going to. The only drawback we found was that one (the daycare of course) was way more fun, less structured and all about play, so on the days when he was going to school, he would be less than pleased. We were really happy when we could get him in full-time for school. It's been better this year with a more structured schedule and he's starting to make friends at school because he sees them every day.

In child care it is often not possible to do part time care. The teachers/owners need a regular payment schedule so they can meet their bills too, and make a little money for pleasure things.

So, in my opinion kids need to go to a full time program and if they only do part time they still need to pay for the whole week so the caregiver can plan on a salary to support herself.