Daycare - Imperial,MO

You might want to figure up what it would cost you to work and put your son in daycare (don't forget to include the costs of "extras" like work clothes if you need them, and "convenience" foods if you don't have time to cook due to working, etc.) vs. how much you would spend hiring someone to do your job while you stay at home with your son (this is how I became a SAHM). Definitely count your feelings and your husband's feelings as important, too! Then figure out which option is most worth it to you and your husband.

If you decide on daycare, make sure you feel comfortable with your son's caregiver(s) before leaving him for a full day. If you're going to be worried about him, or constantly checking up on him, will you be able to do your job effectively? Will daycare be too stressful for you, or would the financial cost of hiring someone be more stressful?

If you decide to stay at home, are there parts of your job you could still do from home (scheduling clients, for instance)? Could you hire someone part-time, or even take your son with you to work (not possible for most of us, but if you own your own business, it might be an option)? Are there concerns you may have about staying at home that need to be addressed (boredom, need for social outlets or intellectual pursuits, etc.--these were never an issue for me, but for some, they are)?

Just some things to think about, since ultimately, you're the only one who knows what would be best for you and your family. :-)

--A.

I take my son to a licensed daycare center (academy/school) and am very happy with them. My son was exclusively breastfed for the first six months, and did not have cow's milk until about 18 months (I pumped - a LOT!). He was and continues to be very healthy. I think he may have gotten what was "going around" once or twice, but got over it very quickly.

Wherever you plan to go (or the places where you are looking), I would be sure to check their accredidation, licensing, hiring practices, cleaning procedures, turnover rate, etc. before making decisions. I think my son is better for the daycare experience. He is socialized, has great empathy, likes group play yet can also play alone and entertain himself, and has different experiences than what I alone can provide (they have more toys and equipment, friends, crafts, lessons, early childhood education and experience, etc.). An open-door policy is a MUST! Best of luck and blessings to you!

I've been on both sides of this issue. My oldest daughter went to daycare. She really did not like daycare much, but it didn't seem to harm her. She was still happy at home. I started running my own daycare when she was 2.

I've had hundreds of children through the years. The vast majority of the children thrive in daycare. Some simply hate it and no amount of loving and coddling them will fix it.

There are good daycare providers out there. You need to do your homework, check references, do a background check and by all means, do it yourself. Don't trust licensing as the reason to feel everything is hunky dory. There are great licensed providers and terrible ones and the same can be said for unlicensed.

The MOST important thing is making a good decision. It's not good at all for children to be sent to multiple caregivers. If the caregiver quits unexpectedly, or the child is neglected there or has a terrible experience of some sort, each subsequent daycares will cause more and more distrust in the child. I've had many children come to me as their 4th or 5th provider in just a few months time!

Whatever you do, don't let distance and price be the deciding factor. Parents that choose their care with these 2 factors being the primary deciding reasons are rarely happy with their choice. I've had people call me every 3-5 months looking for care and always tell me I'm not conveniently located or I charge too much. Eventually, a year or two later when they are still calling me I'll ask them what gives?? They will run down a long list of why each person didn't work out and you can tell their frustration level is through the roof. I hate to tell them, but if they had gone with me they would have saved themselves a LOT of grief. I've never missed a single unplanned day in 22.5 years.

I am sure that you can find a great place for your little one and she'll love it :)

Suzi

I am assuming that by daycare you mean in an individual's home? Both of my daughters went to a private home for daycare when they were small. I was fortunate that both ladies were loving, kind, and really cared about my children. I interviewed several homes before I chose. Look for safety issues, ie: stairs, animals, etc. Also look at how many kids she watches and their ages. A 3 month old cannot tell you what is going on throughout the day. Count how many diaper changes he gets, does he get diaper rash? My oldest dau. has always been shy, and I believe that part of this is because she wasn't around too many kids at a young age. I placed her in a church run preschool right before she started kindergarten. With my second child she was in a private home until age 4. I placed her in Kids R Kids preschool and was very happy with my decision. They have cameras on all day so you can check on your child. You get a daily report on how they're doing and can talk to the teacher. Good luck!

S.,
This is the worst thing about parenting..the worry! Especially the worry about other people! It's awful! My 16 year old has babysat for a wonderful little family! The mom has now had her second baby & decided to stay home with them & supplement her income by watching other babies and toddlers. She is a wonderful sweet young woman! I believe the only way to leave our children is to have someone give us personal references! Shelly is wonderful! But, you have to feel comfortable! Always trust your gut! Shoot her an email & sit down to have coffee with the kids playing nearby & see how you feel! Good luck! This is a big decision.

T.

Shelly
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