B.C.
Day care is such a hard decision - there are so many choices.
When I was looking for day care there was something in the news about two 6 month olds who suffocated at a home day care.
They were placed on a regular bed with pillows around them so they could nap while the sitter was planning a birthday party for her own kids.
The babies pulled the pillows over their faces and they died.
I interviewed a few home day care places but in the end I went with a commercial day care.
My reasoning was this - they had people coming and going all day long - I felt they were much more likely to treat the kids right if they might be seen at any given time.
Also, if a baby was colicky or fussy - a care giver could take a break while another took over for awhile - they are much less likely to freak out and get over stressed.
They had a fire station/rescue squad across the street from the day care I picked. They had a very good relationship with the firemen and they'd often come over with ladders to get toys off the roof of the day care.
At the end of the day I wanted day care to basically keep my child alive till I came to get him.
He was usually pretty happy and really enjoyed his time there.
From a very young age he absolutely LOVED fire trucks and always got excited when the siren sounded and the trucks came out.
It wasn't always ideal, and he came down with a lot of colds his first few years but I trusted this day care to not just prop him in a crib with a bottle at feeding time.
In a home day care - and I'm sure there are many wonderful places out there - there is less oversight and especially if the kids are too young to talk - you don't really know what goes on when you walk out the door.
It's really a very personal decision.
What makes me feel good and secure might not be the same criteria for you.
Interview several places and go with your gut.
You'll find a good place that will work for you.
