Daycare vs. nanny vs. further disruptions

[nkintzel]

Ok...I need help!
We had an in-home nanny for our son and daughter starting when my son was 18 months and my daughter was 3 months. Then, the nanny left us (it was supposed to be temporary, but she never returned) so we put them in daycare. The daycare is very good, nationally accreditied, they don't feed chicken nuggets or hot dogs and do a pretty good job with fresh fruits and veggies, low ratios...anyway, its a nice daycare.

It took my son a LONG time to get adjusted. He would cry and scream and beg not to go. Then one day, BOOM he just fell in love with his teachers and his friends.

Now that we've discovered that our nanny isn't coming back...we're trying to decide if we should hire someone new or keep the kids in daycare.

Here are some of the issues:
1. Daycare is in another town about 20 minutes (each way) away. So, I have to drive 40 minutes to an hour in the morning and my husband has to do it each afternoon
2. Daycare is SOOOO expensive! We would pay a nanny a few hundred dollars a month less

Those are the big ones. I'm concerned about another disruption to my son's life. (my daughter is a year old and she is as easy-going as they come, I'm not too worried about her adjusting)

I'm also not thrilled about the idea of packing the kids up in the car in our nasty Indiana winters and driving them to another town every morning, though. Plus, almost my entire check goes to daycare. It'd be nice to at least be able to have some extra cash at the end of the month.

But, on the positive side, the daycare is VERY good and they do a LOT of education, outdoor stuff, walks, nature....all sorts of good things.

What do to? My son is 2.5 and my daughter just turned a year.

[cdmommie]

Generally, the fewer disruptions the better. However, daycare teacher turnover is SO high that it may end up being just as bad keeping them there since teachers will come and go so much (plus switching classes at the age limits will be rough).

Personally, I would recommend finding a nanny with a stable work history (ie worked for the same family longer than 1 year)

[nkintzel]

Yeah, we've interviewed a few really good nannies. Actually, the teachers in his class have been there for a long time. Its pretty much the only reasonable daycare around and I think they get paid fairly well compared to most.

But that is a good point, even when he switches classrooms that will be a change, too. I hadn't thought of that!

[Minxie]

Originally Posted by nkintzel

2. Daycare is SOOOO expensive! We would pay a nanny a few hundred dollars a month less

Have you actually investigated what a nanny for two would cost? I am assuming this is full-time? I find it hard to believe a nanny would be a few hundred dollars a month less than what you would pay a daycare, even for two.

According to this report (http://www.naccrra.org/randd/data/docs/IN.pdf); daycare rates in IN would average about $19k for two infants for one year. Daycares often offer sibling discounts from 10 to 25% so that would bring the total to a range of $16.5 to $18k. Can you find a nanny for two children AND pay her employment taxes for less than $18k?

If so, AWESOME for you and I would try to go that route. If not...perhaps discussing a transition time with the daycare. At my son's daycare, they have a transition period when moving into a new class. For up to the first month, they visit the new class during the day returning to their class in the afternoon. Additionally, one of the teachers from their class rotates to the new class with them for that month. Maybe a program like that would help your son better acclimate to a new room.