I would have had such a hard time putting my child into daycare. I am blessed to be able to stay at home with my son. Some daycares can be really great, however there are a lot that are not so great (especially in my area). Sometimes its hard to know which ones are which.

thats exactly why I am a stay at home mom. i picture my daughter lying there crying uncontrollably and no one giving her attention. my heart would hurt if i found that out. i know i can give her more attention here at the house but i would miss her if she were at daycare!
http://momsjustwannahavefun.blogspot.com

Anyone who doesn't have daycare issues is either extrememly blessed to have wonderful childcare or to be a SAHM (which I know has its own struggles). I've had 2 of the most amazing daycare providers on the face of the planet (just started with one this week), but I've had 3 not so good ones - they weren't terrible, but they weren't what I wanted for my child either. Expensive often does equal better (not always). Losing things is really no issue at all, to me anyway, especially when you have experienced so much worse. Hope you can get back to the better place.

Your story is the exact reason that I hired a nanny. The price was pretty much the same for daycare as it is for my nanny and at least I know my daughter is getting one on one car by an excellent provider. You may want to look into a nanny. It really isn't more expensive than daycare and enables you to pick the person who is watching your child everyday.

I am having an excellent experience with my daycare. Its on the same property as my job and I am able to go at lunch and spend time with my son. I also get a discount because I am employee which has been really great. The caregivers at the daycare are really loving and have been great with him. I also get to see at lunch that they really make an effort that each baby gets one on one attention. I hope this helps you in the fact that a lot of mothers do have to work and not all daycare is bad.

My son is only in daycare for 3 hours a week but so far they have lost so many parts to my Dr Browns bottles! They're expensive so that is annoying. There is also a worker there who seems very hostile towards me, as if she looks down on me, I can only imagine this is because of my age, but I always dread picking George up and dropping him off. But I feel the benefits of my child socialising with other baby's outweigh these things, and he seems to have fun :)

Thank you for all the feedback! It helps to know I'm not alone. I considered personal care but also wanted my baby to develop socially. I also have strong trust issues. When I think about personal care I think about my baby in the crib with a bottle propped and someone sitting on my couch watching TV all day. If I could afford all the nanny cam eqp and what not it wouldn't be an issue but I can't so I'd rather go the daycare route.......Two days till I find out if she can go back to the better place, I'm a wreck!!! I picked her up today and there was a boy in the infant room playing with the babies, he was 7 maybe 8. Is it just me or is that just sooooo scary I could puke my blood pressure is so high! The director asked me how I was feeling about the place and I just avoided to question, I have to wait till I know if she can go back to the other place before I say anything. I dread addressing the issues, I have a real hard time confronting and criticizing or disapproving of what other people do. It's been a real reality check since it's not just me that is affected by not taking a stand for what I think is right or wrong. I'm going to have to get over it. It's just that I feel like if I have to say anything to someone about dust on a door or leaving a baby on a changing table no matter how nicely it's said I or how wrong it actually is I feel like I'm putting them down and it's awkward for me. Anyway time to do dinner and dishes, laundry and play. Thanks again for all the support.

I'm glad you longer take your daughter to that daycare! Just recently in Australia, a 3 year old girl was killed and her 18 month old sister was in critical condition after being left with a babysitter at a house with 4 dogs. The girls were playing in the yard when for no reason, the dogs attacked them. From what the locals had said, the dogs were really placid.

I won't put my daughter into daycare for many reasons. I used to be a live-in nanny. I have seen the difference between a child who has spent their youth in daycare and one who has had a lot of one-on-one contact. I also have a little experience in daycare- I don't even know how some of the people get hired there in the first place. Also, I've found that kids that have hopped on the daycare bus, so to say, pick up foul language and bad morals.

My good mate is due to have a baby in early June. I gladly offered to take care of her child when she has to go back to work- free of charge. I remember being raised in a similar way. Neighbors and friends of the family would take turns watching us kids. Whatever happened to that sort of life?

I do but like you I know if I change the new place could be way worse than the place he is in now. My issue is that it is a home provider who doen't smoke around the children but in different rooms form the infants. Well it is still on her clothing. And the second thing is that NANA "Daycare provider" said that Logan kept getting her towels of her oven door and she said she tapped his hand to teach him no. Now I know that No child has ever been damaged from a little spank on the hand but I just didn't like it. When she told me this I just let her know that we don't do that. We tell him no and if that doesn't work we tell him No again and move him from the situation.

I have had no problem with my daycare and they are nt even expensive, we pay $5 an hour and it is bring your own food.
My sister went there also and absolulty loved it!
The teachers are all really nice and all the kids love them. My neighbour is actually one of the teachers there.
Not all child care teachers and centres are bad, I am doing a course in early childhood education and care and I love being around children and teaching them new things etc..

The first daycare is not able to take her back but I have managed to fine on that will work better. It was highly recommended at work, affordable, right around the corner and they provide the food, it's staffed well, the environment is much more conducive to her development, the're open for 12 hours a day!!. They don't have a spot for a week or so. I don't consider that a long wate. Thank you again for the feedback, my daycare drama is about to come to an end.

This is why we don't do daycare and I stay at home. I shop at consignment shops for the babies and alternate the same four pair of sweatpants for myself to wear each day. We have found that we are saving money by me not going to work everyday. You might consider this . . .

DH and I toured a few different places, the one we ended up taking our daughter to is the most expensive but we always had a good feeling when we went there. The director knew all the childrens names and all the teachers were friendly and open. We just started taking her the last few weeks and still feel positive. Noone can give her what I can but I'm paying well to get good care. A lot of the places we toured were so so, and one was downright scary. I live in Michigan and there is a state web site where you can view the licensing info and if the facility has had any complaints. I didnt tour a few after reading some of the issues that they've had. I like the idea of a group daycare, that way if one teacher has issues my hope is that other teachers would be able to report them. Taking her to some individuals home scares me, the caregiver might be great but who do they allow into their home. I would suggest looking for licensing info, it helped me.

I adore my daycare! They are such nice people. I've come unannounced early sometimes (I suggest you do the same if you can) to see what they REALLY do with her, not just when you're about to come.....I saw her getting a massage with lotion, and once she was being rocked, bottle in her mouth and the provider singing a song to her. They have playtime music, and are overall amazing people. I'm very blessed. I toured other daycare's and they were horrible!

if they are expensive anyway, you might be more satisfied finding a stay at home mom who babysits other ppl's kids for a little extra cash. its more personal, less expensive.