In home daycare or daycare center
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My childhood best friend's mum ran a home daycare. Technically my brother and I attended the daycare (ages 10 and 12) along with another 2 kids around that age plus my friend, and there was I think 5 babies plus us, and we were expected to help with the babies. I no longer work daycare, I currently work in healthcare, as an ER clerk. We had a baby come in that didn't make it that was in a home daycare. They were put down for sleep and 2 hours later the caregiver realized they weren't breathing.
I hired a nanny because we have access to state daycare inspections and I did NOT like what I saw. I love our new nanny. She’s literally heaven sent. There is lots of physical abuse in daycares now. I can’t take it.
My daughter did go to a home daycare that a teacher opened up from her old daycare center. The teacher stated she got tired of witnessing racism in the infant room! Mrs A too was heaven sent and my daughter went to her for years. Are would clock out and stay just to braid my baby hair. She and her family was extremely loving and lived the next street over from us. We love them and still speak to them often. My daughter is 7 and stayed with her from 2-4
I live in CA and we have a nanny 2 days a week. If I were you I’d aim for a nanny if you can or use an in home daycare.
I live in Spain, and my baby went to nursery from 4 months as that’s how long I got for maternity leave, Spain is very relaxed and there is almost no such thing as rules here, it’s a very popular nursery and is always full, most kids are feral, but to be completely honest, he has since learnt great social skills, they do lots of fun activities and we always get photos, he’s never come home hurt, however always coming home with someone else’s bottle etc… at first I was really nervous and I also hated that my little baby had been drinking from another baby’s bottle, clean it not… But now he’s 16 months old and it feels normal, he’s thriving there. I’m due my second in February and ill be doing the same with him xx
I'm from Canada, and my baby isn't in daycare, but I used to work daycare. Home daycare can be more personal, but a good daycare center is safer because of the rules and regulations in place (I assume CA has similar rules and regs to us here in Canada). For example (these are the rules for us in Ontario) in an infant room, the ratio is 3 babies to 1 caregiver, and the maximum in the room is 10 babies and 3 caregivers. When babies sleep, they must have at least 1 caregiver in the sleeping area watching at all times with a physical check of each child every 10 minutes (not waking them but checking for breathing, that their face isnt covered or face down,and when possible putting a baby back onto their back to sleep). Those rules are not in place for home daycares, so you really have to trust the person running it. The ratios are also different home daycare vs center, especially if the home daycare isn't registered. Also, some home daycares are a but shady even if registered.