Day care centre vs Family Day care

I will be going back to work 2 days a week in March 09, so getting my name down on waiting lists for care now.
I want to know what people think of the differences between the care types in regard to the personality of your bubs?

My mother has been a FDC mother all her working life (unfortunately lives in another city so I cant put Addie there!) So I am a fan of this home care environment.

My daughter is a social butterfly, outgoing child- hates missing out on the action (to the detriment of daytime naps) She regularly sees her cousins (age 2 and 8 months) , 2 other bubs at mothers group, and I take her to music session at the library. So she gets socialisation.

If I put her in FDC, will she get enough stimulation from only 3 other under school age?
On the other hand, in a day care centre, will she get over stimulated?

I know I am just another confused mum, procrastinating getting her enrolled in care, but I would appreciate any thoughts from other mums!

If you select a good FDC carer of course your child will get all the stimulation and learning opportunities they need! The lady that my DD went to had a weekly schedule of activities, much as a long day centre would, they had regular playgroup outings, outdoor toys, craft, reading, painting and drawing, etc. I also love that my DD can now socialise with a variety of children of different ages and genders, whereas they are stuck with the same age group in a centre.

Re personalities, the beauty of FDC is that you get to chose a carer and a care environment that suits your child's needs and personality, whereas in a centre you're stuck with whoever's working there that particular month. I think you just need to take a deep breath, contact the office and start meeting carers. They won't all be exactly the same as your mum, and it helps if the office knows you're willing to be fussy. But you've got a bit of time up your sleeve if you need to wait until a place comes up at the carer you really want.

My boys attend long day care and they thrive there. They are both active and social and that environment really suits them. We are lucky to have a fantastic centre with brilliant, brilliant staff that the boys are very attached to, and they also have heaps of extra things like visits from the fire brigade (with fire engine, fire safety talk and a carer dressing up in a firefighting uniform), an ambulance, music, dancing and drama shows, hatching chickens, growing tomatoes etc. Even apart from these things, the range of activites in a day or week is huge and varied, so the boys are constantly stimulated.

I also think FDC is brilliant, and works well for most families. As MD says, it means you are more able to choose your carer, and there are likely to be fewer children per adult. So there are definite pluses there.

I think that whichever decision you make, your DD will do well. And if not, you have the option to try something else. I wish you all the best with your very difficult decision, and with starting back at work.

My sister has her kids in FDC and they do really well there - and my sister loves her carer.

I put my kids in child care because I have some issues with FDC - mainly because its only one person looking after the kids - and nobody to keep tabs on them, so who knows what they are doing to your kid when you aren't there... and if something happens to the carer - who will take care of your kids - like if the carer falls down, or has a stroke, heart attack etc.

Yup I'm a bit negative I know, but I would rather my kids have several people taking care of them - and people looking out for other carer's behaviour with my kids etc. Just makes me feel a bit more secure IYKWIM?

But I'm not that trusting of people these days. Like I said, my sister uses FDC and she's a cop - so is less trusting than me!!!!!

I did have my name on a waiting list for DD to go into FDC when I go back to work in two weeks, but there are no places here - so I have no choice but to put her into child care. I only wanted FDC for her cos she will only be 3 months old when I return to work and i felt like I was the worst mother in world by putting her in childcare that early!!

Good luck with making your decision - its a hard one :hug:

I have no FDC where I am but DD attends a parent run, community co-operative childcare centre. I am extremely happy with it and as it is parent run, I am on the board and get to be involved in the running of the centre. If you can't find a FDC that you like have a look for Community Childcare Centres.

My 19 month daughter goes to FDC. She has been going since she was 12 months. She seems to really love it, and the fact that is it in someones home appeals to me over a centre. She isnt exactly shy, but I think she sometimes gets a bit freaked out when there are heaps of people around. She's really tiny and the bigger kids tend to squash her, lol. She is doing really well and seems to be always learning new things at FDC. They do craft, outdoor play, indoor play, reading and other activities. Our carer is part of a scheme and each month they have a special playgroup outing for the carers and children in the area. Each week, someone from the FDC office comes to our carers house and does up a report on that day showing the child mood/behviour, what activities they were doing, where they were playing (indoor/outdoor) etc and we get the report each time.

I love FDC.
Both have been in FDC for a couple of days a week since I went back to work when they were about 7 months old.

My MIL was doing FDC when DD was that age, so she went in with her which was ideal, because she was with her granny :) When MIL retired, I was ready to go back to work after having DS so we put the two of them in with a wonderful lady who had an extensive background in childcare. Both of them absolutely thrived there with her.

When DD was three we decided to move her into a centre - all the other kids at FDC were a fair bit younger than her and at that point we felt she was ready for a larger peer group and more kids her own age. She moved into a kindy room and never looked back.

DS is just turned two and he is still in FDC. He is a much more rambunctious, outgoing child than DD ever was and DH thinks he is nearly ready for a centre environment now - when we go to pick up DD he is all over the playground and he screams bloody murder when we leave :lol: I think though we'll keep him with his FDC mum for at least another six months because I really like the smaller and more individualised attention for babies and toddlers.

I have nothing but good things to say about FDC but it is really important that you find a carer who has similar philosophies as your own and is in it because they're passionate about kids.