WWYD? Love your opinions!

[robynholly]

Would you send your 20 month old DS to your nanny's house to play with her and her 17 month old DS or would you keep your 20 month old DS at home with a nanny that comes to your house and there are no other children? Both nannies are great!! I know there are pros and cons to both, but which would you do....which do you think would work better?

[akind1]

If you like how the nanny that has a child is raising hers, then I would do that; I'd like the idea of my baby having an age-mate to grow with and play with. Also, even though I never nannied exactly, I did do a lot of babysitting and occasional all-day and weekend care for families, and often found watching 2 or more simply more enjoyable than watching one child (for me, it gets kind of boring, and since I don't like to have the tv on or use it much, it is just kind of dull - with more than one, they help entertain eachother, and there is just more to do)

also I suppose, do you approve of the nanny's house as a place to keep your LO? is it safe, where will your LO take naps, etc?

there is an advantage to having your LO at your own house, as you don't have to add time to your workday to go by nanny's house for pick ups and drop offs, OTOH, baby is out of your house most of the day so your house is more likely to stay neater! (unless nanny helps with housework?) I don't know, I just don't like people in my house when I am not there - if they do help clean, they don't do it like I do, or put things where I think they should be or want them to go . . . there are pros and cons either way.

[jdg]

I agree with Katrina. If nanny-with-child has a parenting style with her own child that you are comfortable with, then I like the idea of a built-in age-mate. It's easier on everyone. Though I would want to make sure that your child is the only one the nanny means to take on, or else you could end up being the first client in what is essentially an in-home daycare. (I'm not knocking the in-home daycare option, but I am assuming that it's not what you want if you are hiring a nanny.)

However, if there are things in her parenting style that you'd rather not deal with, then go with the nanny in your own home - without another child around, you can have a bit more control over exactly the way you want your child cared for.