Household Employment Blog | Nanny Tax Information

A Nanny v. Daycare Center: What is the Best Option?

Written by Kathy Webb | 2/14/11 2:12 PM

Nannycare is expensive, and families often wonder, shouldn't we just find a good daycare? HomeWork Solutions reached out to Marc Lenes, the owner of Wee Care Nanny Agency, a household staffing agency founded in 2001 and based in Stamford, CT to make the case for nannycare. Marc has many years of experience talking families through the various childcare options.

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In our opinion (at the risk of sounding self serving), there are several reasons to choose a professional nanny over a childcare center.

First, the children will receive much more individualized attention from a dedicated and nurturing caregiver of your choosing, allowing them to build relationship skills and form close bonds.

Second, they will have a more secure and safe environment in a home setting. A professional nanny can impart a lot of intellectual stimulation that overburdened, understaffed childcare centers may not be able to provide.

Third, a nanny can teach your children a second or third language, engage them in art projects, and even create a "daycare" environment by inviting over other children to play and learn.

Fourth, children cared for at home tend to get sick less often than those placed in childcare centers.

Fifth, on a practical side, having a nanny come to you is far easier than packing up your children every morning and driving to a center (especially during inclement weather), and you get the added benefit of having someone to help with the light housekeeping.

Lastly, if you have two or more children, a nanny is less expensive than even a moderately priced childcare center. We believe the choice is clear, but we are admittedly (based on our experience), somewhat biased.

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HomeWork Solutions established NannyNetwork.com in 1996 to help inform and educated families and nannies about the nanny profession, and to connect families with nanny employment resources in their community. We suggest that families consider agencies who are members of the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies or the International Nanny Association.