Answered on 29th June 2009:

Our kids always went to daycare. Main reason being my husband's resistance to leave the kid(s) trusting a single person. He prefers the daycare setting where there is overseeing in the care and also parents coming and going at different times. The cost here in Tennessee is $160/ wk for the baby and $100/wk for the 5 year old. It depends a lot on location. When we were in Michigan, the cost for our baby alone was $350/wk in a daycare. The only thing I do not like about daycare is the fact that kids tend to fall sick quite often during intial year +. Luckily after my older one turned 3.5, she has not been sick at all. As far as screening, Tennessee has a state rating for child care centers with 3 stars being best. We went by references as well, we picked a place where friends' kids had gone, my colleague's kid was there before etc...

7 replies