The Childcare Question – Nanny or Daycare?

A question I often receive is what childcare choice is better – hiring a nanny or using daycare?

First of all I think deciding whether to hire a nanny or go the daycare route is strictly a personal decision and depends on what is right for your family’s needs. Even as someone who employs a nanny, I could never say that one is better than the other. They both have their pros and cons.

Here are some of my thoughts on the pros and cons of both situations:

Hiring a nanny – convenience, personal attention, and kids that are less often sick

Having someone at home with your child certainly provides a lot of one-on-one attention and opens up a bit of freedom for you as a parent. Instead of rushing to pick your child up from daycare and get dinner on the table, you can return home to a child that has already been fed and bathed. Also, having a child in daycare can sometimes,  expose him/her to more colds and/or other sicknesses that come with being around a lot of children.

Signing up for Daycare – socialization, independence, and more economical

Placing your child in daycare allows him/her to interact with more children and allows him/her to get acclimated to a classroom setting at a young age. Kids in daycare also tend to be more independent at a younger age. Daycare can also be the more economical way to go. However, depending upon how many children you have in daycare, how many hours you require them to be there, and whether or not your schedule ever keeps you late at work, that cost can fluctuate.

I tell parents to think about the following when making this important childcare decision:

Do your work holidays match those of the daycare? If not, do you have a plan in place for those situations?

Do you want your children in a classroom or group setting, or would you rather they receive more one-on-one attention from a single caregiver?

• Getting your child acclimated to the routine of a classroom setting at an early age can be very beneficial when your child starts kindergarten or pre-k.
• If you are interested in having a nanny but still want that classroom/group play interaction, you can always participate in a play-group or other groups and activities for young kids.

How will you work around snow day situations? If your daycare is closed will you have someone to watch your children or will you need to stay home?

What is the daycare’s sick child policy, and how will you handle a situation where your child is sick and you still need to go to work?

Are you ever going to be asked to stay late at work and will you have a back up plan for picking up your children?

I know families that are happy with both childcare arrangements. It just depends on what works best for you. I hope this article provides some food for thought in helping you make the right childcare decision for your family. Check out our How it Works Page to find out more about hiring a nanny if that’s your choice of childcare.

Do you have personal experience with a nanny or daycare? I’m interested in hearing your opinions on the pros and cons of both. Please post a comment!