Questions & Answers

It's not really a matter of not trusting a day care or thinking they are bad, just that I don't want to pay other people money to do something I am perfectly capable of doing on my own- plus my fiancé had a bad experience with daycare, so that's part of the reason he's uncomfortable with it. We have been doing some looking around and all of the places we have talked to so far (just asking about rates, not touring or anything yet) are so expensive I would be losing money by sending my child there, which defeats the aspect of making money and contributing to the family. I'd be contributing more by staying home lol. So it looks like its a night job or staying at home for this mama.

I am really uncomfortable leaving my child with daycare. We would much rather take care of it ourselves. I know my fiancé is very against daycare but I just don't think we have any other option. I think if I get this second job (as in not returning to my current day job after baby is born) that that is what we'll do. That way I watch it during the day and he watches it for a few hours at night. I think we could live off of just his income, but he works construction and may be getting less hours in the winter, which is when I'm due. If that's the case we won't be able to afford daycare so I would have no choice but to stay home or get a night job. It's just frustrating I guess. I wish there were other options.

1 of 2: I own my own child care center. Not every child care center is bad, there are a lot of good child care centers. I would look for a small center which can give more one on one with your child and where you can have good communication with the staff and director. I would ask other parents where they take their child and get references. Some advantages of putting your child in daycare is that they learn to play with other children, children can be on a good schedule, learn to follow rules. Where I am located we have to do a lesson plan so the children learn lots of things. I would prefer a licensed center over a nanny any day. You at least know that your child's teacher is being supervised and that the state checks in and makes sure they are running a good child care center, and your child isn't just sitting watching tv all day. Make sure you take a tour, and ask lots of questions. Look at how the teachers are interacting with the children, is the center clean, is there a director

Have you thought of a mommy swap??? another mommy who might have a part time job on the days you don't?? Trade the baby sitting on your off days?? It can be tricky but I've heard of it working for some. I've only used the idea for date nights so I can't speak from experience, but it's a thought! Good Luck!

That sounds kind of cool. I Would deff have to look around to find someone. I had never thought of that before though.

Everyone is different and it totally depends on circumstances, some women feel like they need to work others don't, others don't have a choice and need the extra money.
I left school with no qualifications and the only jobs I could get wouldn't really cut the mustard, money wise luckily my partner has a really good job so I am able to be a stay at home mum and where I am from I get a top up of tax credits and for some reason I am better off not working than actually working :/ I know it doesnt make sense the system is all wrong, an I haven't sat on my mum for years, I have done a 2 year diploma in baking and cake decoration and a 1 year starter course in classroom assistant and a 1 year level 2 teaching, those times I was lucky enough to have my mum mind the kids on the days she was off work. like I say depends on circumstance and personal choice.

And if daycare is uncomfortable for u, how about a nanny/babysitter?

That sounds kind of cool. I Would deff have to look around to find someone. I had never thought of that before though.

Unfortunately you really just have to look at what's best for your situation. Have you budgeted to see if you can afford living on one salary with a child?

I can only tell you what my DH and I are planning on doing. We both currently work full time. We do not want to put our child in daycare as we are strongly for raising our child at home, and don't want to have to pay someone else to watch our child. Once our boy is born, I am going to work part time, and remotely (from the house) a majority of the time. He will also work from home a few days a week to help/watch him when I need to go to the office. We plan on moving to a house with a smaller mortgage and paying off credit cards/car so I can stop working altogether and be a stay at home mom. This is important to both of us, and while we can't afford it right now, we will be working towards this in the next year and half or so.

I guess you just answered your own question. :)