Hi C.-I used an in home child care. I prepared a list of all kinds of questions and then set up appointments to meet with about 10 different ladies. I checked references, checked the state website, and also threw some of my "mom radar" in there when making my decision. My daughter was born over two months early so initially, I HAD to do in home care to try to limit germ exposure. We had the same sitter for 15 months and she became a grandma AND had to return to work outside the home for financial reasons. Her rates were $40 per day or $165 per week.
I started a job across town that requires travel, so we wound up changing to a daycare environment. We had been at the same daycare for almost two months and my daughter was sick almost the entire time. Every week either my husband or I had to stay home with her for 1-2 days. I really liked the teachers at that daycare but at the end of the second month I decided that two months of constant sick couldn't possibly be right. Again, that mom radar. So we have started at a new daycare this week. My daughter seems WAY happier at this new place and we have made it through the week without having to stay home with her...but it's still a little early to tell. We are paying $152 per week at this newest place and this includes breakfast which seems rare at other places.
So to recap, Pro's of private care: smaller ratios, less illnesses, individualized attention, flexible pricing in some cases. Cons: Having to find backup care if sitter's sick or on vacation, limited hours (most don't work past 5 or 5:30), the majority are listed on the state website but not actually licensed so you have to work harder to check backgrounds, etc.
Pro's of Daycare: Curriculum based learning at many facilities, more opportunities to socialize with kids their age, Wider hours (6:30-6:30 is pretty common), have to have a license to run so you can read reports/violations on website, should have background check info, etc. onsite, etc. Cons: Many of these are WAY more expensive than homecare, more kids so less individualized attention if your child has special needs, more exposure to illness, some of these places have high turnover so you want to ask about how long your teachers' been there...
Sorry for the novel but I have been VERY preoccupied with this lately. Feel free to PM me if you have other questions about this, I have been researching my rear off on this.