Daycare: Everything You Didn't Know You Needed To Know

From daycare expenses to locating a location close to your home or office to eating out and much more...

Congratulations! You're expecting the first child! Now, you need to learn how to care for your child, particularly in daycare. As with many things in life, you're unsure about what you don't know. So, how do you determine the right daycare for you? What questions should you ask the daycare provider before signing up for your child? How do you begin? You can find all of that plus more.

To Daycare or Nanny? (Or Nanny-share? )

The first decision is whether to enrol your kid in a daycare facility, employ a nanny, or join a nanny sharing in your area. What are the steps to make your choice? Let's get started with the fundamentals.

• Daycare: Many children are watched in classroom-like surroundings
• Nanny: Looks after your kid (or children) on their own, mainly in your home
• Sharing a Nanny: Up or three families employ a childcare nanny at one of the families' residences.

Like all things in life, every option has advantages and disadvantages. This article will break down some of the most important distinctions.

• Cost: Sometimes, the choice between daycare or babysitters can be based on the cost. In many cities in the United States, nannies are more costly than daycare near me. Nanny shares are cheaper as you share the cost of the nanny's wages. In certain areas, you can locate shares for a nanny that cost less than daycare. However, it could cost more in certain situations than the highest-priced daycare.
• Regulations Daycares are licensed by the state governments of the United States, though what qualifies as"a "daycare" can vary widely. The centres could be subject to inspections by authorities to ensure they comply with regulations. These regulations could include things such as the educational guidelines staff must adhere to and how large the facility has to be. Nannies, however, do not typically have a license issued by the state and need to be inspected.
• Taxes and payments: When you employ the services of a nanny, you'll be the one paying the nanny directly and accountable for reporting that revenue to the IRS. Similar is the case with the shares of a nanny, which can be more complex because several families are involved. If you choose to use a daycare, you won't be subject to the same obligation to report as a daycare business dealing with taxes on its own.
• Sick days If your child is sick, a nanny might still be willing to look after them. However, this is not the case for daycares, which have sick children sent home and ask the children to stay at home until they feel better to prevent the spread of illness throughout the daycare.
• Time off: On the other side, when your nanny is sick, you'll need to find a replacement or get off work. This is the same for holidays, and any time your nanny may require. It is a commonplace to provide your nanny with paid leave time in certain areas.

Types: Center Versus In-Home

There are two types of daycare centres: centres and in-home services.

Daycare centres are what you imagine when you think of daycare. They are located where they are devoted to looking after children. They can also have different rooms for children of various age groups.

In-home daycares are offered in the home of the provider. They tend to be smaller than a centre and generally less expensive. However, unlike nannies, they require state approval and may be subject to random inspections. They usually have children of various ages rather than separate classes for children of different ages.

Location: Home or Office?

If you'll be dropping off and picking up your child for your commute to work, the most critical decision is where you'd like to keep your child throughout the day.

If you select childcare near your work, you can visit your child throughout the day (if they permit dropping-in sessions) and won't need to leave the office earlier to return them to work close to the work day.

The disadvantage of being near the office is that if you're sick or wish to be able to do work at home, you'll have to take a trip to take them to daycare. It's the same if they fall sick during the mid-day and the paediatrician is close to home. If it's a long journey, crying babies can cause more stress than everyday commuting.

If the childcare is located near your home, you'll be required to leave earlier to be there before the pickup time. If you must remain at home during the day, you can easily find a daycare. Your baby will also spend less time moving between the two during your commute.

Cost: Show Them the Money

It's a fact. Child care is costly. Costs differ widely from region to region, so what might be $500 per week for one place may cost as little as $250 or as high as $1,000 every week for another. In general, daycare costs are based on the cost of living in the region. The more costly it is to lease or purchase a house, the higher the price is to find daycare.

How do you determine what a daycare costs? 

This usually involves calling the daycare's director to speak with you and playing played as a game of telephone tag during business hours. Specific locations may require you to go on an in-person tour before determining the cost.

You may have to pay tuition once a week, twice per month, or every month. For the Washington D.C. area, daycare expenses typically cost 350 dollars per week. However, there are many variations within the city. It's worthwhile to shop for the best deal.

In addition to the regular tuition, daycares may charge additional charges for items like books, a registration fee for a year, and even payment when you first sign up.

Hours: The Drop-Off and Pickup Hustle

Daycares usually have a strict date for when they begin and close. In most cases, there isn't a grace time -- you cannot leave your child a bit early in the morning, and you can't take them home one minute late.

The typical time for pickup and drop-off in the Washington D.C. area is 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., according to. 

However, those times can be different; some places are closed at 8 a.m. or even operate till 7 p.m.

It may not seem like much of a difference at the moment, but it's all based on your work, your commute, and the way your daycare is connected to this. A few extra minutes to pick up could make a significant difference in the stress of your journey home.

If you're late for pickup, some daycares may charge you for each minute that passes after the time of pickup. After a specific time, they'll need to contact the security or social service to get help from backup in certain states. This only occurs in extreme situations, but remember that daycares are very strict about picking up time. There is more flexibility regarding in-home care providers, but it's essential to establish clear expectations with them before starting.

Days Closed: Holidays and Vacation

Along with the regular time for pickup and drop-off, many daycares close on federal holidays, and some will even extend their time during summer when schools are shut. You won't receive an exemption from tuition these days, and it is part of the total price in many places.

You should determine when the daycare is closed and ensure it fits your schedule. For instance, if the childcare is not open on holidays, but you typically have to work during those times, it is necessary to locate substitute childcare.

Extras: Weekends and Babysitting

Certain daycares provide extra childcare on weekends. For instance, one daycare located in Northern Virginia offers "date night" babysitting services on certain Saturday nights at a low fee. You can relax knowing that your child is among familiar faces. Plus, it's less expensive than hiring a babysitter.

A lot of daycare instructors will offer babysitting as an extra. It's not an official service provided by the daycare. Therefore, you should inquire about it once you've developed an association with the daycare staff.

Recommendations: Ask Friends, Look for Parent Groups

Personal recommendations are an excellent way to locate a provider you can quickly leave your child with. How do you get the recommendations? It's not easy since even if you've been in an area for some time, you may have yet to contact the parents of children living in your neighbourhood.

For suggestions, ask coworkers and friends about their favourite places to visit or if they could connect you to someone in your neighbourhood. Find a parenting listserv within your area, as well as search for the local groups for parents on Facebook.

Remember that it's not an end in itself when you can't get personal suggestions. To become licensed, most daycares must undergo regular state inspections. If something isn't right, parents may (and can) submit complaints to state regulators. You can always look up previous inspection reports to understand what concerns the centre may face and if there are any.

If it seems like only negative reviews or poor experiences, remember that daycare centres, including the largest ones, usually are home to less than 100 children. It's why it's challenging to obtain reliable reviews - just a couple of angry customers can be enough to alter an online company's reputation if this is of a size. It's different from the restaurant that has hundreds of customers every week.