Making Childcare Decision for a Newborn

I think your best bet would me a home daycare. I run a daycare out of my home and I am able to be very flexible with my parents. If your baby will be there a different number of days and different days each week a daycare center will be hard for you. Most daycare centers want you to commit to a specific number of days and specific days of the week. With the same schedule every week, whereas a home daycare provider will be able to offer a flexible schedule. I have some children that are only here 3 days a week and every week it is three different days. If you don't know of anyone that provides daycare out of their home in your area, try checking with your local churches or preschools. A lot of women with home daycare businesses advertise in these places. If you don't have any luck with that, try checking with your county. know in Mercer county daycare providers refister with ChildCare Connection. I am not sure if this is county or state run. good luck and please let me know if you have any other questions.

Have you considered a nanny. My sister is one and she doesn't live in the people's house. She goes to their house every day. Takes care of their son and goes home at night.

I suggest a Home Daycare situation,
It is as good as home,
she will be able to play freely and loudly
she won't be distracted by your presence at home.
she will have a little independence making the transition from child care to school easier.
and when you need free time you can HAVE free time,

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Having some one come to your home while you are there,
can be distracting to you,
more costly
no friends for your baby
quiet play time only
she may feel bad that your in a room and won't come out for her.
You may not approve of everything the bbsitter is doing and become distracted trying to SHOW her the right way to do things.

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GOOD reasons for a in home babysitter
she might clean aswell,
cooking
and knowing where your baby is at all times,
having absolute control

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things to consider, PAY, are you willing to PAY

with daycare enviornment you don't ususally have to pay unless she was there,

for a in home care person you ususally have to pay them whether they come or not, if you plan on retaining the same person,
--If you don't pay they will find a job that will, and move on. causing you to have to find child care AGAIN.

Where as she will be able to see the same children, and caretaker at the daycare. not much will have changed.

Plus you have a place to leave her if you want to go out one night.

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Regular Daycares, are less personal, and you must pay to keep your spot even if she doesn't go

Its in my opinion more for toddlers. PRE school thing.

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I really think a home daycare is the way to go for your family, because there are only a few days when you'll need a sitter.

The only BETTER thing you get from the AT home care is a the cooking and cleaning but that means you need to pay them regularly even when you may not need them to retain them.

M

I had a similar situation for a while. My husband's days off often fall in the week, but not the same days every week. I also had the chance to work from home, and was not always busy. I was lucky enough to find a woman through family friends who was looking for a flexible schedule. I would give her a schedule every week (one week in advance), and this ensured care when we really needed it, and I was happy that it was at my house. If you can find someone like that, then you're golden. Good luck and congratulations.

First off, congrats! Certainly you have concerns about your childcare and I think it is wonderful that youare thinking so far ahead. I am the same way. I am a 30 year old mom to a 6 month old boy. My husband and I both have masters degrees but neither of us actually use them. Therefore, hubby has a low income (but loves his work) and I have been babysitting to make ends meet and be able to be home with my boy. I am not ready to leave him yet. I do have to say though, the mom of the little girl I watch went right back to work when the baby was 6 weeks old and I have been there ever since (with 8 weeks off when I gave birth in the middle) and have enjoyed the experience. I am hoping to find another child or children to care for in September since my current employer will not be returning to work in order to have another baby. Where do you live? I think we could get along as new parents, and possibly I could help with your baby too. Looking forward to hearing from you, E.

Your best bet would be a live out sitter/nanny. Especially because you work at home and this is your first child. You can choose someone and give her the schedule for the week to come every Friday evening for example. This works better than daycare because, you are in your home and the nanny can take care of the baby while you work and you will always be somewhere within distance. On the days you travel, she can spend the night. It's all about communication and so long as you make it clear as to what is expected, you should have no problem. Daycare at this early stage I feel is a little too much...not that it can't be done, people do it all the time. But in your case, this is a most special time and it's your first baby, you want to spend time together, you want the baby to become familiar with his/her surroundings and I'm sure you would prefer those surroundings be your home and not a daycare. I'm sure you'd be better comfortable with the baby within your midst rather than away from you all together. When you are ready, or perhaps even at the time the baby is born, you may want to go on care.com and create & submit an outline for a nanny/sitter and you would just state what you needed and the fact that the schedule would change week to week..etc. I would advise that you publish the outline at the time your child is born as it may take a while, or not, sometimes you get lucky and find someone right away, but at least you give yourself the option. You will have the 3 mos. your mom will be with you to search and she can help you interview. Good Luck A. and may your pregnancy be a happy & healthy one!