Childcare: The Good, the Bad & the Other Considerations

Part 1:  Daycare Centers

When I had my first child, I was working full time for a large corporation in a job that required frequent client meetings and travel.  Missing a meeting because my babysitters car died wasn’t an option, so an institutional child care setting was a must.

The Good:  Open Monday through Friday from 6am to 6pm.  Closed Christmas and Thanksgiving.  If a sitter calls in sick, the management takes care of it and you don’t have to scramble.  If you can find a good one, and really you are the only one that can determine what good is for you and your child, a daycare center is the only consistently reliable choice for child care, even if you’re a work at home mom.  Things to keep in mind include state guidelines, certifications, ratios, cleanliness, organization, educational opportunities and whether or not you get the kind of warm fuzzies you’re hoping for.

The Bad:  Not always the warmest of environments.  You and your child will get frequent colds in the beginning from exposure to the other children.  Can be expensive.

Other Considerations:  If you have friends or family that can help in a pinch, you have the luxury of considering other child care options.  That said, the last thing I want to deal with at 6:46am when trying to feed am eighteen month old while wearing a black business suit and pumps was a telephone call from my sitter saying that she had strep and couldn’t watch my child.  Makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.