It’s summertime and that means no school, fun evenings with family, and vacations. But you still have to work, and whether you’re working part-time or full-time, reentering the workforce, or working from home, you’ll likely need child care at some point this summer.
So what do you do? Do you hire a nanny to watch your little one? Or do you send your child to a daycare? The decision of choosing between a nanny and daycare is a big one that you may struggle with, and that’s okay. It’s a big decision to make! Ultimately, whichever option you choose has to work best for your entire family.
Let’s take a look at some major differences between a nanny and daycare for childcare.
Hiring a Nanny
Hiring a nanny to watch your child offers the benefits of:
A single caregiver - Having one person for your child to get to know and be comfortable with could better suit your child’s emotional and social needs depending on their developmental stage in life.
Help around the home - As a working parent or guardian, you know you could always use a helping hand around the house. In some cases—and for an extra cost—a nanny can provide that assistance.
A familiar place and space for your child - A nanny will typically come to your home, which means your child can be cared for in surroundings they are comfortable and familiar with.
Minimal germ exposure - With just one other person coming into your home, you can more easily control the exposure to germs and illnesses with a nanny compared to sending your child to daycare.
A totally customizable schedule - Maybe you only need a nanny for a few hours in the morning three times a week. Or maybe you need one for a full eight hours every day and sometimes on weekends. Whatever your needs, you can find a nanny that will accommodate your schedule without a problem.
But there are some downsides to having a nanny care for your child. For example:
If your nanny needs time off or gets sick, you’ll need to find a replacement.
When all is said and done, nannies are often a more expensive option than daycare.
You’ll be responsible for completing and following more employer-related paperwork and regulations, such as paid time off, state mandatory sick time, 401k, parking and transport, and tax-related forms each year since a nanny is a contracted worker.
If you work outside of the home, there’s no real oversight when your nanny and child are left alone together, even with nanny cams in place.
There will likely be no set curriculum or education plan with a nanny.
Some nannies spend most of their time with the child in a stroller, walking throughout the neighborhood and chatting on the phone; while there’s nothing wrong with this, per se, and the child will get a lot of fresh air, he or she won’t get to build gross motor skills and has minimal interaction with the nanny.
Sending Your Child to Daycare
Of course, sending your child to daycare can also present some challenges. In
particular, when it comes to:
Your budget - Yes, a nanny can be expensive, but so can daycare, especially over the course of a year. It’s important to weigh the costs of both options to see which works best for you.
Exposure to germs - Daycare will have more adults and children coming and going than your home will, which means your child will be exposed to more germs and illnesses at daycare.
In general, however, the benefits of having your little one attend daycare can outweigh the disadvantages. For example, daycare offers:
Independence - Young children need interaction with other young kids and even adults to form healthy social bonds with others outside the family unit. This can easily be achieved when your child is in a daycare setting.
A reliable schedule - Children thrive when they follow a daily routine that they can count on. Unfortunately, summertime can disrupt routines for kids who are otherwise used to waking up in the morning and going to school or other activities. If a child attends daycare during the summer, however, their daily routine may only be slightly different than during the school year.
Structured hours - For parents or guardians, a daycare’s structured schedule can be more conducive to a variety of work schedules, especially for those who work full-time or extended hours.
Multiple caregivers - At a daycare, multiple caregivers and teachers are in one setting, allowing for built-in back-up in case one teacher gets sick or has to leave early.
Peace of mind for you - A daycare is required to maintain proper licensing and follow accreditation rules with the state, in addition to being insured. This level of protection is important for the safety and wellbeing of all children at a daycare.
Education - If you choose a daycare that’s also a preschool, you can trust that your child won’t just be set in front of a television or iPad all day; they’ll be part of a structured curriculum that will prepare them for school or foster continued learning throughout the summer for school-aged children.
Immunity defense - Those first few weeks or even months of daycare may be tough and take an emotional toll on parents as children get sick and pass along germs to each other. But the more a child’s immunity is tested the stronger his or her immune system grows and can better fight off viruses and bacteria.
Cresthill Academy - New Jersey’s Premier Daycare and Childcare Center
So is having a nanny better than sending your child to daycare? We’ll let you be the judge of that! But we can tell you that at Cresthill Academy, the safety and development of every child enrolled in our daycares is our number one priority.
Our highly trained and licensed caregivers and teachers are skilled in early childhood development methods, ensuring all children receive education that is appropriate for their age group, in addition to unmatched care overall. Enrichment programs foster even more growth and excitement in young minds, better preparing them for school. Plus, we employ a kitchen staff that prepares and serves 100% organic meals and snacks, and we have incredible COVID-19 safety measures and protocols in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children and staff.
What’s more, Cresthill Academy has convenient locations in Harrison, Hoboken Uptown, Hoboken Downtown, East Hanover, and Lyndhurst, New Jersey, allowing us to serve many families throughout northern New Jersey.
To learn more about us, contact Cresthill Academy today and schedule a tour. We offer a variety of day care programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners.