Help decide on day-care for our child
December 8, 2022 12:52 PM Subscribe
we have two options to send our 1.5 year old to daycare. As someone who is on the other side of this, can you give us some thoughts on our pros and cons below? Assume both are high quality, well regarded daycares.
Daycare 1:
+ Guaranteed free Pre-3k if local school lottery doesn't work
+ Provides food
+ Super close (2 min walk)
+ Know many families there, very happy
- More expensive
- No real out door space
- More cramped/older quarters
Daycare 2:
+ Feels 'nicer' (new building, Montessori muted colors)
+ Cheaper
+ more outdoor area
+ has connection to local public school post kindergarten (aftercare option)
+ farther so forced being out in community more
+ bilingual (same as zoned elementary)
- Much farther (13 min walk across 2 busiesh streets vs 2 min walk down the street )
- no free 3k option
- No food
- double kids in each classroom so maybe more likely sickness(kid has history of febrile seizures so somewhat concerned about reducing chance of sickness)
- worse hours (need to pick up by 5p)
Other than practicalities (distance, no 3k option and no food), Daycare 2 would be where we would lean. k
Daycare 1:
+ Guaranteed free Pre-3k if local school lottery doesn't work
+ Provides food
+ Super close (2 min walk)
+ Know many families there, very happy
- More expensive
- No real out door space
- More cramped/older quarters
Daycare 2:
+ Feels 'nicer' (new building, Montessori muted colors)
+ Cheaper
+ more outdoor area
+ has connection to local public school post kindergarten (aftercare option)
+ farther so forced being out in community more
+ bilingual (same as zoned elementary)
- Much farther (13 min walk across 2 busiesh streets vs 2 min walk down the street )
- no free 3k option
- No food
- double kids in each classroom so maybe more likely sickness(kid has history of febrile seizures so somewhat concerned about reducing chance of sickness)
- worse hours (need to pick up by 5p)
Other than practicalities (distance, no 3k option and no food), Daycare 2 would be where we would lean. k
I vote Daycare 2 - access to outdoor play is so crucial at that age. Also, the cost difference is not something to overlook. Daycare is expensive and if you can find something less expensive but still good quality, definitely consider it.
posted by tafetta, darling! at 1:11 PM on December 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 1:11 PM on December 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
Background: I have two kids, one aged 4.5, one turns two next week, we live in the suburbs of Atlanta.
#1 is more convenient. It's closer, and they provide food. Don't underestimate the convenience of that. And "worse hours" for #2 could matter more than you think - maybe you're working from home right now, and having to pick up by 5p is fine, but what happens when your employer/your partner's employer starts insisting that it's Time For Everyone To Come Back?
On the other hand, #2 is physically nicer, and cheaper, and daycare is expensive.
Something you may not have considered: might you have a second kid? In that case, think about what your whole routine might look like when you have one kid in the daycare and one in the elementary school. (Our daycare is at a community center that *also* runs an after school program, which seems ideal.). I realize that's a few years out and not on your radar now. That's a point in favor of #2, since you mentioned they have an aftercare program.
I realize I have not helped.
How do the holiday/vacation closures compare?
Seconding this. My one big issue with my day care is that they close a lot (it's Jewish, so they close for Jewish and gentile holidays...)
posted by madcaptenor at 1:19 PM on December 8, 2022 [4 favorites]
#1 is more convenient. It's closer, and they provide food. Don't underestimate the convenience of that. And "worse hours" for #2 could matter more than you think - maybe you're working from home right now, and having to pick up by 5p is fine, but what happens when your employer/your partner's employer starts insisting that it's Time For Everyone To Come Back?
On the other hand, #2 is physically nicer, and cheaper, and daycare is expensive.
Something you may not have considered: might you have a second kid? In that case, think about what your whole routine might look like when you have one kid in the daycare and one in the elementary school. (Our daycare is at a community center that *also* runs an after school program, which seems ideal.). I realize that's a few years out and not on your radar now. That's a point in favor of #2, since you mentioned they have an aftercare program.
I realize I have not helped.
How do the holiday/vacation closures compare?
Seconding this. My one big issue with my day care is that they close a lot (it's Jewish, so they close for Jewish and gentile holidays...)
posted by madcaptenor at 1:19 PM on December 8, 2022 [4 favorites]
The 5pm thing would make me rule it out totally. That's ridiculously early.
And how much cheaper is cheaper?
posted by Ftsqg at 1:24 PM on December 8, 2022 [4 favorites]
And how much cheaper is cheaper?
posted by Ftsqg at 1:24 PM on December 8, 2022 [4 favorites]
How rigid are your work schedules? It is a real drag to try to consistently be out the door at 4:40 if your work hours don't actually support that. Also, that is peak commuting time which can also affect things like crosswalk lights.
Does Daycare 1 offer trips to the park or anything, or are the kids inside all day? Because being outside to run around is really great for kids. On the other hand, having food provided and being close (plus knowing other happy families at that daycare) are HUGE pluses.
The bilingual options at Daycare 2 also sound really great, especially if you're planning to do bilingual education in elementary. (My kids go to a language immersion school and it has been possibly the best decision I ever made for them).
The good news is that you'll probably be happy with whichever one you go with, since they both sound great.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 1:24 PM on December 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
Does Daycare 1 offer trips to the park or anything, or are the kids inside all day? Because being outside to run around is really great for kids. On the other hand, having food provided and being close (plus knowing other happy families at that daycare) are HUGE pluses.
The bilingual options at Daycare 2 also sound really great, especially if you're planning to do bilingual education in elementary. (My kids go to a language immersion school and it has been possibly the best decision I ever made for them).
The good news is that you'll probably be happy with whichever one you go with, since they both sound great.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 1:24 PM on December 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Daycare #2 is 20% cheaper (i.e $550+ a month), though it's offset because they have more holidays (they use local school's calendar). They offer day/week camps for the same daily price as daycare. If you don't go on vacation ever, it is roughly same price, but if you do plan vacations around those weeks, it is much cheaper. (Summer is a weekly thing too, so you can save money then too)
We've been doing childcare pickup at 5p for a year and it's worked for us, family that both WFH but does make sense to see that as a negative.
posted by sandmanwv at 1:31 PM on December 8, 2022
We've been doing childcare pickup at 5p for a year and it's worked for us, family that both WFH but does make sense to see that as a negative.
posted by sandmanwv at 1:31 PM on December 8, 2022
Both sounds like good options. I have a 4 year old son now so almost out of pre-K and struggling with kindergarten which is its own thicket of questions and options. Some items to consider before making a choice which I think it helpful now in hindsight:
1. Teachers/Caregivers - How long have the daycare teachers/caregivers been at the daycares? What is turnover? What is the difference between the two places? With experienced teachers and caregivers, they have seen it all and are especially invaluable when you are struggling with your child.
2. Financials - See if there is any look into the financials of both day cares. One of the children attending our preschool transferred to another and that preschool went bankrupt which forced them to scramble for a new school midyear.
3. Administration - Are they competent and do they care about kids? I have seen administrators more concerned about screening kids and money than actually looking at the kids. How well do they know kids and childcare philosophies? Have they been former teachers or caregivers?
All else being equal, proximity and food would trump all for me. Those are really valuable things and you would not have to worry about the 3k which would be free and maybe balance out the cost of the other program.
posted by ichimunki at 1:42 PM on December 8, 2022
1. Teachers/Caregivers - How long have the daycare teachers/caregivers been at the daycares? What is turnover? What is the difference between the two places? With experienced teachers and caregivers, they have seen it all and are especially invaluable when you are struggling with your child.
2. Financials - See if there is any look into the financials of both day cares. One of the children attending our preschool transferred to another and that preschool went bankrupt which forced them to scramble for a new school midyear.
3. Administration - Are they competent and do they care about kids? I have seen administrators more concerned about screening kids and money than actually looking at the kids. How well do they know kids and childcare philosophies? Have they been former teachers or caregivers?
All else being equal, proximity and food would trump all for me. Those are really valuable things and you would not have to worry about the 3k which would be free and maybe balance out the cost of the other program.
posted by ichimunki at 1:42 PM on December 8, 2022
As someone with a kid the same age in daycare, I would put the most weight on the food provided (which we have and it's amazing to save that added time/mental effort) and on the close distance (which we don't have, but would be really nice, especially on days we're sick or just want to WFH). So I would probably pick #1 on those alone. It sounds like both are great options, though, and you might value some of the pros and cons differently from us.
You might ask about their sick kids policy because this can vary a lot - I'd prefer that our daycare had a stricter policy because I suspect we'd get sick much less often that way, although the tradeoff is that we have the ability to send her when she has a cold but no fever/vomiting/diarrhea (though we typically do keep her home if she has anything more than the ever-present runny nose/lingering cough).
posted by randomnity at 1:47 PM on December 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
You might ask about their sick kids policy because this can vary a lot - I'd prefer that our daycare had a stricter policy because I suspect we'd get sick much less often that way, although the tradeoff is that we have the ability to send her when she has a cold but no fever/vomiting/diarrhea (though we typically do keep her home if she has anything more than the ever-present runny nose/lingering cough).
posted by randomnity at 1:47 PM on December 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
More cramped/older quarters
Your kid is not yet two. The quarters are cramped for you. Would they be cramped for your child?
posted by aniola at 2:27 PM on December 8, 2022
Your kid is not yet two. The quarters are cramped for you. Would they be cramped for your child?
posted by aniola at 2:27 PM on December 8, 2022
Assuming double kids in each classroom also means twice as many adults, you have two good options. You child will thrive in either place.
posted by aniola at 2:27 PM on December 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by aniola at 2:27 PM on December 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
For me, having had friends whose kids were enrolled in a very close to us pre-school was more important than anything else. We had been at two other places, and when a spot opened at the third, that was literally a block away, and have 5 families we knew there we jumped on the opportunity. My kids at 21 and 24 are still friends with those kids, and I am still friends with the parents. Having the ability to have someone else get my kids when I was in a jam, and also knowing that they were happy made up for all of the negatives of an old building and not the most trendy curriculum.
posted by momochan at 3:03 PM on December 8, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by momochan at 3:03 PM on December 8, 2022 [4 favorites]
I cannot overstate how much ease having food provided adds to our life. It means I don’t need to bring anything except a water bottle and her outdoor clothes when we’re exhausted and running behind. It also feels like a really good equalizer in a mixed income daycare, everyone has the same access and eats together. I care about this a lot and think it fosters good habits and closeness in my kiddo’s class, and she eats stuff at daycare she wouldn’t necessarily be exposed to at home.
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 3:06 PM on December 8, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 3:06 PM on December 8, 2022 [8 favorites]
I don't have children, but for the "more expensive" option, do I understand the Pre-3K situation correctly?
Given,
Child is 1.5 years old.
Pay 18 months at the higher price, until child reaches 3 years old.
You mentioned it is 20% more than option 2.
Free from age 3 to 5 (Pre3k?)
Cost is: ((Cost of daycare 2)*1.2 factor)*18 months =>After 21.6 months, it will break even with daycare 2. If you have your child in care until kindergarten, it will be "free" for the last year.
Adjust as needed if there is still an aftercare charge, but double check which is more expensive over the next few years if cost is weighing on you heavily.
posted by Narrow Harbor at 5:08 PM on December 8, 2022
Given,
Child is 1.5 years old.
Pay 18 months at the higher price, until child reaches 3 years old.
You mentioned it is 20% more than option 2.
Free from age 3 to 5 (Pre3k?)
Cost is: ((Cost of daycare 2)*1.2 factor)*18 months =>After 21.6 months, it will break even with daycare 2. If you have your child in care until kindergarten, it will be "free" for the last year.
Adjust as needed if there is still an aftercare charge, but double check which is more expensive over the next few years if cost is weighing on you heavily.
posted by Narrow Harbor at 5:08 PM on December 8, 2022
i chose the closer, but less "nice" seeming daycare, and i am so so happy i have a 5 minute drive instead of a 15 minute drive. it makes a difference. and they feed them. packing lunches sounds terrible. they do have an outdoor play area but they basically don't use it from november to march which really sucks. but they do indoor exercise games. so basically, we went with 1, and our other option was a lot like your 2, (except same price) and i feel really good about our choice. parenting is enough about putting their needs above your own, picking the daycare that's more convenient for you seems reasonable.
posted by katieanne at 7:51 PM on December 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by katieanne at 7:51 PM on December 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
What does “no real outdoor space” mean in practice? Do they have some outdoor space that isn’t great? Do they use it? Excursions to parks? Walks? Other than that detail number 1 sounds good.
Number 2 sounds doable to me but harder and you’d have to get into a routine; language exposure is great.
posted by vunder at 10:28 PM on December 8, 2022
Number 2 sounds doable to me but harder and you’d have to get into a routine; language exposure is great.
posted by vunder at 10:28 PM on December 8, 2022
Bringing your own food sounds very annoying. I would go with number 1. You can provide outdoor play. Daycare outdoor play is pretty sanitised either way, though definitely a plus. For me personally I'd go with longer hours and food.
posted by jojobobo at 10:37 PM on December 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by jojobobo at 10:37 PM on December 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
I would, without question, choose option 1 for all of the reasons given above, especially proximity and free food. Those are huge. Except for the money (which I assume isn't prohibitive to you or you wouldn't be considering option 1) the pros you gave for option 2 probably matter way more to you than to your kid.
posted by lyssabee at 6:38 AM on December 9, 2022
posted by lyssabee at 6:38 AM on December 9, 2022
Seems like you really can't go wrong with either option. So I'd say this: Pick the one that you feel most welcome in when you first come in the door. Because that's how your kid is going to feel every day for a long long time.
posted by dawkins_7 at 7:15 AM on December 9, 2022
posted by dawkins_7 at 7:15 AM on December 9, 2022
I would pick daycare #1, primarily for the distance. Even if you put the kid in a stroller and can do the walk in 13 minutes, that’s still a 26 minute round trip 2x a day - so an hour-ish a day. The closer one is <10 min a day with two round trips, plus if you forget something at home, you can easily drop it off. I’ve had my kids in schools that are a less than five minute walk, a 10 minute walk / two minute drive, and a 15 minute drive away. Being closer is SO much easier; it feels very different than commuting for work, where a 15 min drive would be nbd.
posted by maleficent at 1:54 PM on December 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by maleficent at 1:54 PM on December 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Tough choice! They both have their pros and cons. Not having outdoor space would be disappointing, but being close and not needing to provide food would win me over to #1.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 2:26 AM on December 10, 2022
posted by kinddieserzeit at 2:26 AM on December 10, 2022
My kids are much older now, but honestly, having food prepared there is so huge, plus the short commute. Longer hours are useful if you needed to work late. Knowing other family groups is also a plus for playdates and help in a pinch.
Those things are all extreme pluses in my mind. The outdoor stuff is a bit of a bummer, but you can build that into your time with your kid on the weekends and after work maybe?
posted by ceithern at 6:01 AM on December 14, 2022
Those things are all extreme pluses in my mind. The outdoor stuff is a bit of a bummer, but you can build that into your time with your kid on the weekends and after work maybe?
posted by ceithern at 6:01 AM on December 14, 2022
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posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:56 PM on December 8, 2022 [5 favorites]