Need All the Mama's Help Deciding Which Daycare to Chose!

I would go A definitely. Better program, more attention, tax write off. I hate it when daycares don't do things above board!

Hi!
I would personally go with the Person you are more comfortable with! Noone else can make the decison for you of WHO you want to care for your kids. That is the most important factor in my opinion. That being said I also think smaller is better. I run a licensed home daycare and keep it small to give lots of attention. To correct another response--a licensed home is allowed 5 children under age 5 with only 3 being under 24 months(not 36 months). Good Luck with your decision!!

L.

Daycare A sounds like she is licensed which is always a plus in my book. Although if she is licensed she will not be able to care for her newborn and your to be 2 and 1 year old all at the same time unless she has no other children in her care. She can have up to 5 children under the age of 5 as long and no more than 3 are under 36 months. So find out the situation before making your decision. Switching daycares is never easy on the children or the parents.
Daycare B doesn't sound like it is licensed or it would have to claim taxes. If daycare B isn't licensed and it gets reported, which happens all the time, you will end up looking for alternative daycare on the spur of the moment, which you probably already know isn't that easy especially when you have 2 children so close in age.
I know that I didn't help you make your choice but these are things that you need to consider.
Good Luck!
J.

Definitely go with the one you feel most "at home" with. If you are comfortable, your kids will be too! When we first sent our son to his first daycare, I had reservations, but it was so inexpensive & convenient, I went against my gut decided to do it. 3 months into it, I was searching for new daycares because it was brought to my attention that 1) there were insanitary changing conditions (a towel on the couch used for all kids), 2) he was put in a bouncy seat in front of the tv all day (pointed out by a 3 year old one day when I was dropping him off) 3) he was exposed to second hand smoke to the point that his clothes / blankie / diaper bag REEKED!, 4) a monitor wasn't kept on him -- I arrived early one day, to hear him SCREAMING in the pack n play. I was politely told "he just woke up", but when I was handed my sweaty, tear streaked, inconsolable infant, I knew he'd been screaming for an extended period of time & no one got him. I quickly researched other options, and immediately felt at home in the more expensive, less convenient option. Go with your gut! The only thing that keeps me at peace about the whole situation, is he was way too young to remember it!

I would choose daycare A. Children need structure. But I would not look at the price or the distance--it is what is best for your child. As for daycare B, having more children is not neccessarily something to be concerned about. I find more children more interaction which may be better for your children. THe number one thing to look at is references...ask for a few, training...ask to view the certificates, the environment, and the schedule for the week...which should be broken down daily. I would also suggest to see which is licensed and or accredited.
Hope this helps...
Take care

I'm going to go reaffirm what everyone else has said - 1) go with what your instinct is telling you and 2) A does sounds better. I've had my fair share of working with home day care ladies and sometimes when things get so involved, it's like you're working for them rather than them working for you. Like B with everthing she's got going on. She's obviously entitled to take her maternity leave but what if she doesn't find someone to watch your child, what if the person's way out of the way, what if they can't guarantee your price, etc.

One gal who I personally really liked was simply too busy with her own kids and the ones she watched. I would have to meet her at soccer fields and football fields to pick up my son from her (which were very far out of my way). I work regular days but sometimes I have long days so even once I told her I had to work a little late (I told her ahead of time) and rather than telling me she was hosting a purse party that night, I showed up and found a house full of people and purses and some random woman I've never met before walking around holding my 3 month old baby. And the kicker was, she was licensed but I never got a good feeling from her in the first place and I wish I would have listened to my inner voice. You're very lucky to have 2 to choose between. I was in a situation with no options at one point. So just take a little time, think it all over and follow what your heart is telling you. I'm sure the decision you make will be the best one!

Go with Daycare A. Your kids are worth $25 a week extra and 8 minutes a day. You can tell from what you wrote that A is the Daycare that you feel more comfortable with. I am a daycare provider, and from what you say, Daycare A is the more organized and less crowded home and you will probably be happier there. Go with your instincts. Good luck with the daycare and good luck going back to work!

I would be concerned about what will happen when daycare A provider is on maternity leave. You will need to be comfortable with the fill in provider also.

Hi K.,
I agree . ..A sounds better. Go with your gut, not your wallet.

When I needed day care for my 1 year old, there was a woman right down the street from me, great neighborhood, very convenient, but I got a weird feeling in my belly in her home and with a few things she said. The other woman, had a much smaller home, 15 minutes away, but I felt so at ease in her home.

You have to go with whatever place you felt more comfortable with. Good luck with your decision.
B.