All working parents must decide on the best childcare options for their children. There are definite pros and cons to putting children in daycare and to hiring a nanny.
*Cost:
The most obvious advantage to placing your child in daycare is that it can be more cost-effective than hiring a nanny, especially if you only have one child. A second advantage is that the parents will avoid the complications, tax ramifications, and liability associated with having a household employee. However, many of these “complications” can be avoided if parents conduct an informed nanny search (see our section on nanny liability and nanny taxes).
*Socialization and Illness:
Placing your child in daycare is great opportunity for socialization. Your child will be exposed to more children and adults than he or she would at home, unless your nanny actively schedules playdates and gets involved with classes for your child. Along with this advantage, comes the likelihood that your child will also be exposed illness in the daycare center, which can introduce the issue of finding emergency childcare for your sick child. Parents that hire nannies do not have to scramble to find back up care for a sick child. Of course nannies get sick as well, so it’s always a great idea to have a back-up plan.
*Quality Time with Children:
If you have an especially demanding job, or you are a busy parent with limited time, you know that it’s a struggle to find quality time with your children. If this is the case, you should consider the time spent driving to and from your child’s daycare center. While a lucky few are able to find daycare at work or a short walk from home, most will have to add driving to and from daycare to their daily commute. This inevitably takes away from the quality time parents and children will be able to spend together in their home.
*Cost:
If you only have one child, it’s true that it can be quite expensive to hire a nanny. However, there are multiple benefits to keeping your child at home with a loving caregiver. And, if you perform an informed nanny search, some of the seeming “cons” can be easily avoided.
*Parents Working at Home:
Parents that work from home will see first-hand the benefits to having a nanny. In-home childcare reduces the inconveniences associated with having your child far from home. Lunchtime rolls around and you can easily enjoy the hour with your child. You will also have more control over what your child is doing if you are able to supervise your nanny every now and then. Parents who put their children in daycare, however, may never really see their daycare providers interact with their children, which is a definite concern.
*Working away from the Home:
Of course parents that work away from the home will also notice that there are multiple benefits to having a nanny. When you arrive home from work, your child will already be there and will be well-adjusted to the environment. If you are running late, your nanny can feed your child and even start dinner prep for mom and dad, which will certainly reduce your stress-level.
*One-on-one Attention:
Consider the adult-child ratios in daycare centers. Hiring a nanny is the best way to ensure that your child will receive the best amount of one-on-one attention to help with his or her development. All parents wants to rest easy knowing that their children are receiving the attention they need when mom and dad cannot be around.
*Special Needs:
If your child has special needs, food allergies or requires careful monitoring, it is more likely that you nanny will be in-tune with your child’s routine and special requirements.
*Stability and Routine:
Unfortunately, because daycare centers cannot afford to pay their employees as much as they deserve to make, centers see a lot of turn-around with staffing. If a nanny is screened well for long-term availability, it is more likely that your child will be able to build a lasting relationship with your nanny. Every parent knows that consistency is crucial for children.
*Extra Help in the Home:
Many nannies are willing to perform extra child-related duties, such as washing and folding baby laundry while your child is napping. Nannies are often willing to run errands during the day, when possible. It can be a great help to come home at the end of the day to a neat house and a stocked fridge. More help with housework will also give parents added quality time with their children in the evenings.