Many parents find it difficult to choose between a nanny or daycare. Both have their own set of pros and cons. Before you make a decision as to whether you should use a nanny or daycare for your children, you’ll want to know what those pros and cons are.
Nanny: The Pros & Cons
1. The Pros
First, your children will receive custom care because you can leave your nanny specific instructions and tasks they need to do when they care for your children. You can also change those tasks and duties when necessary. Also, nannies are flexible when it comes to schedules, so you can even hire a nanny to take care of your children on the weekends. Many daycare centers are not open on the weekends and if they are, then you might have to pay even more money to send your kids there on weekends.
2. The Cons
One of the downsides to hiring a nanny is that they can be expensive. Different nannies charge different rates. Also, if you hire a nanny through an agency, then you could end up paying even more. If you’re looking for nannies in Miami, you could be paying a different amount than if you lived across the country or in a more rural area. However, if you look hard enough, it shouldn’t be difficult finding a nanny you can easily afford.
Another con is taxes. There will be a lot of tax-related paperwork when you hire a nanny. You have to make sure you deduct their taxes from them and pay them minimum wage and things of that nature. Unless you hire via an agency, there will be a lot of tax stuff you have to deal with.
Daycare: The Pros & Cons
1. The Pros
With daycare, the hours are set. You will know that the daycare is open at specific times and days. Not only that, but your children will be going to a structured environment and they’ll have the chance to interact with other kids.
Another good thing about daycare facilities is they are vetted. They have met certain requirements and criteria too. Daycare are licensed and insured, which should provide you with additional peace of mind.
2. The Cons
Daycare centers tend to have a rotating staff, so your kids will likely not bond with staff members or get used to seeing the same people over and over again. Also, the scheduling isn’t flexible because you have to bring your kids to the center when it is open. Remember, not all daycare centers are open on weekends, so you will likely be better off hiring a nanny if you need your kids taken care of on the weekends.
Daycare centers can be expensive. Some daycare centers cost just as much as a year in college. In other words, you can easily spend thousands of dollars every single year on sending your kids to daycare.
As you can see, there are pros and cons to using daycare or a nanny for your children. Feel free to take a bit of time to weigh the pros and cons of each. After you do that, then you can decide which one to use. Ultimately, it all boils down to what your needs and situation are.
