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Originally Posted by Ceinwen  You know what, this is a little immodest, but I make really decent coin - and there's no way I could afford $2400/month in child care. That's a lot of money.
My dc doesn't have a nanny, but is in a top quality daycare, and we pay about half that much. Now, I'm not trying to compare the two set-ups, but it is a huge difference in expenditure.
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If you had three small children and were paying that in daycare for each one, wouldn't it add up to more than you're paying the nanny? I know the family I work for pays me less than they would pay for daycare for their 3 children who are all under 4.
I know you said you weren't comparing them, but in case you were saying a nanny is charging too much...a center is getting revenue from lots of children, whereas the family they work for are (usually) a nanny's only income. Also, there is a difference between daycare and nannies. Nannies are focusing on your children only, not a bunch of other kids. This means they develop a really personal relationship with them. Nannies can be there even when your kids are sick. Nannies can take your kids places, set up play dates, etc so that they aren't stuck at home (or in a classroom) all day. And I'm not recommending you do it, because it's sort of unfair, but you can change schedules on a nanny in a way you never can with a daycare center. Daycares have closing times, but more than likely, if you really needed her to, your nanny would stay late. On top of that, I know as a nanny I always leave the house and children cleaner than I found them. Depending on what you want for your child, those may be big enough bonuses, or they may not be bonuses to you at all (some parents don't want their children driving around with someone, etc). Also, some centers are exceptionally different from others. There are centers out there who don't max out the classrooms to the state ratios, or who carefully screen their teachers to be sure they really enjoy working with children and aren't just looking for a job. I will say that I have worked in a few, and I have friends that have worked in some who agree, and I have a much closer relationship with my nanny kids and their parents then I have ever had with a child or parent in a classroom. I had 11 two year olds in my class at one center...there was no way I could get down on their level and listen, or hug them, or even talk to the parents, as often and as much as I wanted to. I did what I could but I always felt pulled in a hundred different directions. However, this week, when my little 4 year old guy was sick with a cold, I spent half the day with him in my arms while he slept or watched tv shows.
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I definitely understand what you mean about the advantages to a center! There are definitely pro's and con's to every childcare situation, so everyone just has to find what works best for their family 
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