Trying to Decide on a Childcare option...advice?

I understand how difficult it is to leave a newborn. I was lucky enough to have my aprents available to sit the first 6 months. However, Discoveryland Child Care has a wonderful baby care program. Theya re located on 60th and SE Belmont - Polly Johnson is the director. I would not hesitate to take my baby there.

I was well on my way to a really exciting legal career, was pregnant with my first baby, and won a pretty high profile case against the payday lending industry that landed me in the newspapers and had a couple of big law firms courting me when I read Parenthood By Proxy: Don't Have Them if You Won't Raise Them. Don't know if this is your cup of tea but it sure opened my eyes. I've been a SAHM since the night before my oldest son was born. (Yep. I worked until about 8 p.m. the night before he was born.) And have been home for over four years.

(Oh. And even though I am a SAHM I do keep my finger in the legal pie by doing pro bono (volunteer) work. I do my research and writing after my boys have gone to bed. I even make the papers every once in a while, too, so I'm still making a difference and I'm doing enough to keep my resume current for when my kids are all in school and I can rejoin the workforce full time, but I am able to say that I am proud to be my boys' stay at home mom. In my world, that's the most important job I will ever have and it's the biggest difference I will ever have the privilege of making.)

Erica,

Congrats! While looking for childcare I would first call around to the ones with the best locations nearest your work or home. This way, you can go and look at daycares and make choices about what you like or don't like and decide what you feel would be the best daycare situation based on your best judgements and personal opinions. Second, depending on what district you live in you can get a list of daycares that are registered and licensed with the county. This is helpful because the day cares have been checked out by the state. Here is a link to services they provide: http://www.clackesd.k12.or.us/ece/ccrr.html

Anyway, it's really up to you and your best judgement. If you have friends that know of a place that is great, but everyone wants different things for their children.

Goodluck!
G.

I am a first time mom, but i have been a nanny for years now. I currently stay home with my son because i too am leary of childcare. I have worked in various centers myself and I know from experience that they are not the best place for children...especially babies. I would definately recommend finding a nanny if you can afford it. The time spent with your child is more focused, they are less likely to get sick all the time, and it's easier to follow what is really going on with your child. As far as agencies go...I haven't found one I like. I sometime use a free online agency called enannysource.com to find jobs in my area then you can just run your own background checks and all of that stuff yourself and save the tons of money it cost to hire an outside agency. Good luck to you in your pregnancy, birth, motherhood, and search for childcare!

I can tell you from my experience that it sometimes takes a while to find the "perfect" option. I stayed home with my son until he was 9 months. I have had my son (3 1/2 now, only child)in both in-home childcare and in child care centers. I was a single mom when my son began childcare and am currently living with my fiance. From my experience, I like the centers better, but you have to find the right one for you. My son (James) first went to an in-home child care. I really liked the idea because he would be around other kids, but it was still small and homey. The problem was that if his provider was ever sick, I had NO childcare options because I was single, and at the time, I did NOT have a very understanding job. Also, she closed for the entire month of August. James' biological father lives out of state, so there were no options except to seek childcare elsewhere.

The first center I had him at was very nice and I liked it a lot, but it was quite large and he seemed to get sick a lot. Also, and this realization came later, James didn't really click with the center. Most young children seem (at times) like they are always sick, but I noticed a difference the next time I moved him. The center he is currently at is a good size, but not HUGE like his other center was. It is a center where they speak Korean (my son is not Korean, just happened to be the one accepting kids his age). From day one, James was extatic about it. He just loves it there and the people there treat all the children as if they were their own. That is something that I did not notice at the other center or even really think about until they started asking me why I like them so much.

Keeping your options open is a good idea. If you do have someone privately (or in home situation)look after your baby, make sure to have a back up plan at the ready. Thankfully, I work for a much more understanding company now and if my son is sick, no worries. Also, last year my fiance and I traded whose turn it was to stay home with him after I ran out of sick time. Also remember that you are paying for the childcare, so you can change the provider any time you choose to. Sometimes you have to try several places before you find the one that your baby really clicks with. You will know if your baby needs a change of scenery...just follow your instinct. Good luck. Take your baby to the various places you choose to visit to see how he/she takes it all in. That will give you a lot of clues in reaching your decision. Good luck!

As a mom of 5 and a Postpartum Doula I have a little insight. First listen to that voice inside yourself. I think as a mom this is one of the most important things we can do.
As for what type of daycare options you have. I feel that the best options would be to hire a nanny, or someone to come to your home to care for the baby.
My next option would be in home daycare.
And my last option would be a day care center.

I know that there are moms out there that are willing to babysit during the day when their kids are in school. This might be an option. You can put an ad on craigslist.com.

As a Postpartum doula I have worked for up to 6 months with a family while they where interviewing and looking for the right day care option.

Also, police background checks are not the only thing I would look at. I would ask for personal references, and business references. I might even ask for a reference of someone that would not give them a good reference.

Good luck in finding someone.
B.

I'm kind of in the same boat you are. I had my daughter in January and will be returning to work in a couple of weeks. My husband and I are pretty blessed in that we live right next door to my grandparents. She'll be with them for about 6-7 hours a day while I'm at work. When she's more mobile, in about 7-9 months, my husband and I will have to look for other childcare. If I could stay at home with her, I would, but in this day and age, it really isn't an option.

So my two cents is to find someone that you really trust, like family, a friend, someone from church, etc, who would be willing to watch your little one.

I hated the day that I had to return to work and leave my new baby with someone else. The one thing to remember is... no one will EVER be good enough for your precious baby. You are the best one to care for him/her. However, in this day and age, it's not that easy. I HAVE to work, so I have the next best thing to me... my mom. Do you have any family close by that could watch your baby? If not... ask friends that have children in child care. They are the best ones to ask. I have found from experience that an in-home daycare, with only a few children, is the best. I wish you well and I hope you find the perfect care giver!! :)

my name is S. and i have a 8 month old daughter and i was in the same sitution you are. I decided to become a nanny and so my daughter goes to work with me. I would seek out a nanny if you could afford one rather than daycare. S.

My best friend just had a baby, well a year ago, and is a teacher. She uses a mom of one of her students that owns a daycare. She got plenty of references. Maybe check a school near you or your work that has day-care for the students that can supply plenty of references. Check out the house and maybe stick around for a couple hours the first day, or even before you decide to watch how the care-giver takes care of the little ones. Also, make sure there aren't too many new babies to where they can't take care of yours. Hope this helps. Good luck!

I personally believe a nanny is the best situation for a newborn,Or a SAHM in your neighborhood. In daycares they just do not get the time they deserve being held and the attention needed.There is 5-6 babies per worker. Daycare is better when they get to the age of socializing and sharing around 16 months or so.