Day Care Vs. Hiring A Nanny:

Tips for Choosing the Best Service


Mothers of all ages are currently establishing their own names in the workforce. Because of this, experts have developed a number of services geared towards caring a child. The concept of childcare then comes out in the open, and later terms were coined to provide people the option to choose from, including "day care" and "nannies".

But more than what the terms carry, leaving a child at the hands of care givers is no easy task for most mothers. It's one big decision that anyone can make. So being necessary, it would make a lot of sense for mothers to make sure that at whomever's hands they're leaving their children with, that subject is responsible and reliable enough to bestow all the care and love that the children require.

There are a lot of childcare options actually that parents should choose from in case they need someone to keep their children supervised. Babysitting is one popular concept that everybody is familiar with. It's the service that works to care a child temporarily on behalf of the parents or guardians, and people have done this to get extra money. Well, beyond what babysitting can give, there are the day care centers and nannies, which both offer the benefits of a good childcare service.

Now, want to know the basics of day care and hiring a nanny? Wondering what made them different? Interested in knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then read on and take note of the most important details provided below.


The Basics of Day Care Centers

Day care is actually no new term. It has been around for decades now and that thousands of parents have already sent their kids to it for educational guidance. It is becoming more and more popular nowadays with lots of people realizing everything that day care centers have to offer.

On the most basic, the day care centers are considered throughout the United States and the world as the most institutionalized form of childcare. They are established under certain regulations and they care for children of preschool age in a well-structured setting. The degree of care and comfort they provide are even well-supervised, then leaving parents no traces of worries and bothers.

However, because of the high quality service that the day care centers provide, it's no wonder for these facilities to require parents a higher amount for the service payments. Yes, the value of the services offered by these institutionalized form of childcare is so high that most parents, especially those who are on a limited budget, find it hard for them to support their child's growth and development. It is also for this reason that instead of sending their kids off to study in day care centers, most parents prefer to get only nannies who can do all the supervisions at the comfort of the child's home.


The Basics of Nanny Care

Just like the rest of the childcare options, nanny care is no new thing. However, for some parents, the term invokes images of certain characters in magical storybooks like Nurse Matilda who took care of the wicked, naughty Brown children until they turned nice. Well, beyond that image, you'll see nannies as one considerable option mainly for their having traits that are essential in raising and caring a child.

A nanny is simply a woman who is hired by a private family through the help of an agency mainly for the purpose of providing their child a private high quality care. They are employed to work either in the residence of the family hiring them or at their respective homes considerably. They often are identified from babysitters for their age, which is typically ranging from the early 20s to the early 60s. Unlike the babysitters, the nannies are well-experienced and trained in childcare, as much as what the people working at day care centers are.


Tasks Performed by Day Care Givers and Nannies

There is a wide variety of tasks and responsibilities that both the day care providers and nannies perform to meet the child's needs. In case you are considering the day care centers as your primarily childcare option, then take note of what the people working in this field are actually doing. Note their tasks and responsibilities as mentioned below:

Day Care Providers' Responsibilities:

* Provide childcare based in certain regulations and standards.

* Handle educations trainings and programs usually from 6AM to 6PM.

* Help children learn, gain new skills, and grow as responsible citizens.

* Handle all sorts of activities like learning sessions, playing, educational travel and program viewing in routines.

* Provide firm discipline.

* Supervise kids and prevent any possible trouble among them.

* Work and close longer until all the children are picked up by their guardians or parents.

* Handle groups of children, divided according to ages, for a single learning session.

Nanny's Tasks and Responsibilities:

* Provide childcare during the hours agreed by the employing family.

* Support all aspects of child's growth, be it emotional, social, physical, or intellectual.

* Protect children from any possible harm. Ensure a higher level of safety and security.

* Prepare meals and snacks for kids.

* Maintain good rapport with child's parents. Hold the responsibility of informing the parents about the child's development and other concerns.

* Maintain cleanliness inside the house, then leaving the child secured from any possible illnesses.

As what you may notice, both the day care providers and nannies carry roles that are all important in helping a child grow responsible. What's more notable is that although the nannies are bound to the task of preparing meals and doing some maintenance inside the house, it should be understood that they come available for hire to primarily provide a quality child care to children of all ages in a more individualized manner. With that, expect the quality of this childcare service to go beyond what any other options have to offer.


Day Care Centers and Nanny Care: Pros and Cons

Whether you prefer to send your child to a day care center, or hire a nanny for your kid, both ways have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you are one serious parent who always want to get the best for their kids, then it's a rule of thumb that you discover what sets day care centers and nannies apart. Well, below are the most considerable points about both childcares, so continue reading.

Advantages of Day Cares

Compared to nanny and other forms of childcare, the day care centers are established in a highly structured environment. They offer the most formal form of education, all for the benefit of the kids. With that, it follows that they are built according to certain inspection standards and licensing purposes. The care givers working on this area are also licensed and supervised. The day care centers are even composed of a structured team, with more than one teacher handling the lessons and trainings, and they are headed by a director who in turn is responsible in overseeing the entire operation.

Another good thing about the day care centers is that the parents have certain rules to follow for their children's sake. These rules primarily focus on the time for drop-offs and pick-ups of the kids. Given this clear cut rules, parents already know what they should do.

When it comes to price or cost, the service offered by a day care center is cheaper than the nanny care. The reason behind this is that the services that a day care offers are already structured, so the center has already set a price for the overall service package, which is often lower. You'll need to pay for few charges though especially when it comes to projects and educations travels. This advantage is coupled with the fact that sending your kid to a day care center will allow you to meet other parents who maybe are interested in lending support and time for your kids.

The other benefits of sending a child to day care centers include the following:

* Skilled and experienced staff

* Stable arrangement

* Wide selection of activities that kids may participate to enhance their skills, growth and development

* Higher chance for kids to socialize with their peers

* Children in day care center have higher chances of becoming independent

* Day care centers are easy to monitor and regulate

* Flexible schedule

So that's it! Now, let's take a closer look to its disadvantages.

Disadvantages of Day Cares

First and foremost, parents sending their children to day care centers are under the mercy of the center itself. They will be required to pay for certain charges related to late pick-ups and backup care, for instance. Other than that, the children have higher chances of acquiring diseases and all sorts of illnesses knowing that they are exposed to the outside forces. They play on schools' playgrounds, with the other kids. And, since teachers at day care centers handle the responsibility of caring not just one child, there's no surprise to find your child not really cared for. One-on-one care is not available.

Now that you've known both the pros and cons of day care centers, let's turn into something more interesting – the factors that make nanny care best and not best.


Advantages of Nanny Care

Nanny care involves caring a child at home. With that, it's no surprise for parents to find it good seeing their selves not bothered by preparing their child for school. They don't have to bundle their kids out the door just to catch the class. Other than that, their kids will be kept on a surrounding that is familiar to them, making it easier for them to take naps or rests, and eat on their own schedule. They also are not prone to illnesses, saving you from worries.

There is more to nanny care than what is mentioned above. One great benefit that it has to give is the higher degree of comfort, attention and care that the children may get from their nannies. One-on-one care is available every day as the nanny can take care of the child from morning till night.

Scheduling can also be more flexible than those offered at day care centers. Well, this lies primarily on the fact that parents can arrange and rearrange schedules with the nannies anytime of the day. This means that if something important pops up, like a business meeting, the parents can negotiate with the nannies easily.

Disadvantages of Nanny Care

When it comes to the flaws of nanny care, you'll find the degree of supervision not that great. This is where the importance of finding the right nanny or someone whom you can trust comes in. Other than that, nannies have the right to leave as soon as she decides, making it hassling for you to scramble just to get a new one. Because of this case, it is always important for parents to make some contracts about the service that the nanny can give. This way, you can find some time to seek for a replacement.

The children are also not exposed socially, and this can affect the development of the social aspects of their lives. You can solve this issue primarily by letting your nanny do some strolls with the kid to the park, or let her read a storybook to the child at the library.

Finally, although nanny care is not seen as something luxurious, it still is the most expensive childcare option available in the United States and other areas in the world. Most parents pay amount of about $700 for a whole week alone, and that is based on the standard $17.50 service per hour. Other than that, parents need to get and pay for medical insurance, paid holidays and vacations. Live-in arrangements even demand some fees, and this entails making the best deals.


The Bottom Line

Regardless of whether you send your child to a day care center or hire a nanny for the childcare, it is always necessary to make sure that you're dealing with the more reliable and trustworthy people in the world. If day care centers hold your interest best, then find a center that is licensed and is run by professionals. The environment they offer must be comfortable and safe enough for your kids, and the quality of education they offer must be high, at the same time.

If, on the other hand, nanny care tops your list, then note that while the idea of having someone to supervise and care for your kid at home is a perfect arrangement, finding the best nanny is still important. You also have the responsibility to take the roles of a good employer if you need her to stay longer. Be ready to do some legal arrangements attached with the trend also, and keep a strong relationship with them for better results.


So everything is said. Now, which option suits your needs best? Thinking of the right answer? Well, actually there's no right and wrong answer here and this is due to the fact that both options have their own advantages and disadvantages. Families also have their own requirements and preferences, so what may work best for one, may not work for others. To find the best choice, parents are highly advised to consider the ups and downs of the options.