What do u think is safer a childcare provider out of a home or a daycare center?

Question

my son is 13 months and im going back to work i dont know if i should go with a in house provider /family member or a child care center....with ones have been known to have more accident rates ,deaths or cases of shakin baby syndrome...im very stressed about this and also does anyone know of recomended daycare centers in rochester n.y....im thinking of going with one called jack and jill.......please any advise also has there been any reported deaths or accidents in daycares centers in rochester n.y...i know theres been a few in home care

Answer 1

My mom used to own her own daycare center out of our home and she had a lot of success with it. She was able to provide more attention to each child since there were so few there. Many people feel that their children have a more educational and personal experience through a home care provider than with a larger center. Either way, it would be important to check with other customers and see if they were happy with it, and maybe even a background check on the caretaker. You can never be too sure these days.

Answer 2

I have worked in both environments and had my daughter in a center as well as in my home daycare.  I can honestly say that I would never put my child in a center again.  There may be more eyes watching over what is going on but that doesn't mean anything is being done about it.  I have seen instances where a teacher has ost their temper with a child and no action was taken by the director except to convince the child it didn't happen.  I also have seen providers misunderstanding each other and as a result a child was given food they should not have had.  I am not saying stuff doesn't happen in a home daycare.  You have to be careful either way.  Make alot of visits to places you are considering and go with your gut.  Do not however use a daycare that is not state licensed.  Licensing is 1 more way to make sure your child is being watched out for since background checks have been done on licensed providers.   The licenser can also drop into the daycare at anytime unannounced to check up on things.

Answer 3

There are definitely pros and cons to both.  You really really have to evaluate your comfort zone.  Centers might be "safer," but you sacrifice that one-on-one nurturing and a child's sense of stability of always having the same caregiver.

For infants, I tend to think that a center is "safer".  There are always eyes watching over what is going on, not much can happen that someone else isn't witness to.  This is especially important for those too young to speak for themselves.  However, that doesn't not mean that the level of care and nurturing is better.  But even in the best of in-home day care, infants can easily be hurt by accident by other older children.  It happened in my own home with my own kids, so that doesn't speak to the quality of care, just the facts of having mixed-aged kids all together.

However, as children get older and more likely to be exposed to other children, I think in home is a better environment.  There are fewer other kids that they have to cope with - and trust me - these young ones are having to often cope with some very difficult "friends" in day care.  Also, there tends to be a more nurturing environment, less structured and routine - which I think is healthier for a toddler.  They can't be expected to always be the round peg that fits into that round hole.  

But you must be very very diligent when choosing an in-home center.  The good ones, in my opinion, are better than the best centers, but the bad ones are worse than the worst centers.  .

But that is just my opinion.

Answer 4

I have worked in centers and I, presently, have my own family child care.  Like I told another individual... there are great centers and there are awful centers... and the same goes for family homes...great/awful.  Do your research (as you are doing now :-)) find out if there are any connected to your school district...ask a lot of questions regarding philosophy and procedures.  

Did you know you can check online and see the results to inspections of licensed homes and centers?  This may give you a little comfort.

Another thing that may give you a little comfort... well at least in MI, the licensing requirements have changed and I would expect that NY would have even more requirements...but my point is that there amount of required hours of training is on the rise and most providers are required specific trainings such as shaken baby and CPR/First Aid, etc.

Go to different places and visit with your child...once your child is enrolled... stop in unannounced and spend a bit of time... if the facility...whether be a home or a center...does not encourage or approve of this... find somewhere else to go.  Good luck!

Answer 5

A difficult decision, but one that only you can decide on I think. You will have to check the ones out that you are considering, try to get references from people who have used them in the past. Visit often before and after your son is enrolled and do not announce your visit. Lots of wonderful child care people but our children are our first concern. Good luck!

Answer 6

I eould say daycare since you might never know what they could with your baby at their house, there are many scary stories of what they do, unless you know them its safe.

Answer 7

I personally prefer the home daycare.  If it's a person you can trust you always know who is watching your children.  Child care centers you have no power over who is filling in if someone's sick, quits, etc.  If you find a good home daycare, you will always know who is there with them and if something happens to your child (injury, etc.) you only have one person to talk to.

Answer 8

I think that centers are safer because there are more people.  There are more staff and parents.  This keeps staff in check and also gives staff a chance to walk away so that can get out their frustrations.  People are always watching in a center how you are handling the children.  This is important.  Also in a center there is a need for more staff, so they probably work less hours and are fresh.