Daycare close to work or close to home?

Seta - posted on 05/26/2010

My daughter goes to a daycare centre close to our home. I think it's very convenient, since it's almost literally around the corner from where we live. Dropping her off doesn't take very long, and it's easy for one parent to fetch/drop if the other has to be at work earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon/evening. I would have problems if my daughter went to the daycare at my work, since I'd have no one to fetch her if I am delayed at work for whatever reason.

Danielle - posted on 05/25/2010

i'd say have them closer to where ever you or your husband are for the majority of the time. you don't want an emergency to occur with your child and be an hour away. i personally would place my child in a center closer to my work so that in case of an emergency i can get to her asap.

Sarah - posted on 05/25/2010

I think better close to home. Its hectic for baby in the one hour drive, your husband is close too so he can pick and take care in case you delayed, provided the quality of care in the day care centres are both good, leave your baby closer to your home. Good luck.

Bobbi - posted on 05/21/2010

Close to home definitely. Keeping your kids strapped in the car seat for an hour each way is cruel.........and if you have a day off or are sick you won't have to spend an hour getting them to daycare. And......your husband should be sharing this responsilbilty with you!

Sasha - posted on 05/20/2010

Close to home which is close to dad through out the day as well if Im correct

Tiffani - posted on 05/20/2010

We pondered this one, too, when I went back to work. My husband and I work equal distance from home in different directions. We decided to get daycare close to home, so that either of us could easily respond if our son needed us to come home for some reason. Also, we can use the daycare on days that one of us is home and the other is working, like if one of us is sick. If he went to daycare, say, close to my work, it would be too far for my husband to go and get him there.

Donna - posted on 05/19/2010

I work in day care and would say although that means they are in day care for slightly longer one near home is better for servual reasons.
1. A child who spends an hour in a car before their day is coped up and fussrated.
2. You can drop and pick up your child in a relxed way. What if their is an unexpected traffic promblem? You and your child is stressed and drop off becomes rushed.
3. Sharing pick up drop off means the staff know all your family.
4. If you are sick/have time off your child doesnt miss out on their routine.
The only reason to be near work is if its inpossible for someone to collect your child in an emencery.

Tina - posted on 05/19/2010

Close to home- No need to put your kid at an increased risk of being in a car accident by taking him/ her for a 2 hr drive every day.
If DH is close than you have a back-up in case DB gets sick....

KATHY - posted on 05/18/2010

I would say close to work,because if any thing happens you can be there fast.

Connie - posted on 05/18/2010

I agree with Chrissy, Close to your work is better. Especially if there is an emergency you can get to your child more quickly. I have had daycare close to work and one close to home. So far I am favoring the close to work. I am always racing the clock to get there before you go over your time. So closer to your work is optimal. They also say it is more time you can spend with your child if your ride together longer.

Jessica - posted on 05/18/2010

I would want my kids close by so I can show up for surprise visits daycares can be very scarry. Its hard to find a good one. Get one that has web cams if you can. Web cams help to make sure your kids are safe.

Izelle - posted on 05/18/2010

Closer to home is defenetly the best option in my case, although I only work about 10 minutes away from home. The thing I enjoy most of it, is I come home at 4 start dinner, run her bath and then walk accross the street to fetch her. There's no rushing in the morning getting her ready, I drop her off when ever we are ready and then I'm off to work.

Jodi - posted on 05/17/2010

It there one of equal quality between the two? That would be easiest I would think. I'm a parent and also works at a preschool. These are all good points about if your child is sick and you have to pick up. It might be easier to share drop off/pick up responsibilities with your husband. Also, your child probably will be tired after a long day and the long drive home might be hard on them. They just want to go home and spend time with you. One of the factors either way should be the place that you are happiest with and provide the best care possible.

Joanne - posted on 05/15/2010

hi sarah. I work in daycare and have parents who do both. I would advice that you should decide betweeen you who would be able to leave work easier should the need arise which it can often do usually within the year, the day care you choose should also be well thought about, times open etc that it would suit both your needs. Hate to mention schoo at this time but this should also be a consideration for later.

Carol - posted on 05/15/2010

Have you thought about affordable live-in childcare? This can be less stressful for everyone concerned. Check out www.aupairinamerica.com. I grew up with an Au Pair and it was a wonderful experience. All the best, Carol :-)

Joy - posted on 05/15/2010

I've done both. I had an hour commute and took my son with me. It was great when he got sick at daycare. Daycare was right across the street. I could get to him immediately. The drive was stressful. He slept through it 99% of the time, but when the weather got bad and it turned into a 2 hour commute it sucked. And I worried more about his safety driving him through the snow. Now I have two little ones and daycare is across the street from our house. It's a little stressful to get back in time before daycare closes, but I love being able to drop them off on days I don't work and can have a day to myself.

Michelle - posted on 05/14/2010

Close to home, especially if your husband can help with drop off/pick up, unless there are not any good ones around.
I enjoyed having that 45 minutes a day to read a newspaper, collect my thoughts and then when I picked her up it was all focused on her time.

Simone - posted on 05/14/2010

If I were you I would definetely prefer a School close to your house, so the baby will not stress on the car for too long and the fact that you can share the responsability of pick/up the baby is even better.
Good luck!!

Michelle - posted on 05/14/2010

Close to home! I am a single mother staying with my mom at the time, fortunately she only works 4 hours a day-so my daughter dosn't have to spend over 6 hours @ daycare because she picks her up, but even though my commute is an hour out as well-I like knowing that a family member or freind close to home can help me in case of emergency.

Felicia - posted on 05/14/2010

Yes, close to home would be the smartest idea. It's very helping when you're sick or just takin some time off from work. Good luck on your decision.

Lola - posted on 05/14/2010

I wanted to say close to work but after reading your peculiar situation, home is definitely better, your husband is close to the place,but what about feeding her or is the baby not breastfeeding? for me, their daycare is close to my work so i can attedn to any emergency, there is no family close to home when am not there and i cant afford to drive to the place during the day cos its quite some distance, i think the choice is really what the situation of each person is.

Elizabeth - posted on 05/14/2010

I live a little bit off town and my kids attended and still attends school/ Daycare closer to the house than the office. Sometimes, I might not get to go to work so those days do not pose any difficulty in terms of picking or dropping them off. Sometimes though my husband and I are at work and there is a need to get across to them at those times it might not be too convenient but the rarely happen so we can manage at those times.But all in all, I think their being closer to the house is better for us at least.

Karin - posted on 05/14/2010

In my opinion, a daycare close to home is better. I have done both. My daughter commuted with me for 2 years. The commute was 45 min-1 hour. She was fine until she hit 6 months, and then she started crying the whole way home. It was terrible. I would get home & be super stressed. Also, if I was home sick, she was home with me b/c I didn't want to drive an hour just to drop her off. It was rough. Of course, there were benefits, It wsa nice getting to her so quick.
Now, we have a 3 year old & 1 year old & our daycare is 5 minutes away. My husband drops off & I pick up. If I am sick, I am home alone. If I need a day to clean the house, I send them to daycare, and I take the break. There are so many pluses to the option. I absolutely love it.

Louise - posted on 05/13/2010

I say close to home.for a few reasons. I do most if the drop/collecting for us and it can be really tiring. Our daycare isn't near either work or home as we had moved house but where they were was amazing.
Also a child that sleeps on the way home in the car for an hour is going to be impossible to get to bed.
Ultimately it will come down to which day care you find that's better!

Sandra - posted on 05/13/2010

My daughter is in childcare close to home. This works for us because - my husband works relatively close to home and we can share drop off/pick up. Also is closer to the extended family so in a special situation or emergency they are able to get to her quickly and easily if we cant. This has also provided an added benefit for her that her poppa now chooses to pick her up early once a week to spend some time with her. Also I hope some time in the future not to work so far away from work - although she will probably be in school by then!!
I think it really very depend on the indivdual circumstance.
All the very best with your return to work.

Bernadette - posted on 05/13/2010

My son is at a daycare closer to my work- it's about a 5 minute drive from my office and I'm able to go over there during my lunch hour to nurse and cuddle with him. It's a great way to break up my days and it helps boost my mood to see my baby during the day.

Alicia - posted on 05/13/2010

I've done both...definitely close to home. Shorter drive on those early mornings for the kiddos and those afternoons when they're tired.

Sandra - posted on 05/13/2010

I would go for close to home. It makes it a lot easier if you're not feeling well. It also makes it easier for your husband or another family member to pick up the baby if you can't make if for any reason. Another thought, my kids day care takes school agers before and after school so my kids already knew a few kids when school started and they didn't have to adjust to new caregivers on top of school.

Kelly - posted on 05/13/2010

Close to home, and within the bus zone for whatever school your wee one will be going to. That way, if you're lucky enough to be able to stay with the same care provider for the next few years, you won't have to worry about the school issue when the time comes.

Anita - posted on 05/12/2010

daycare near home, so dad can assist with picking up if you are running late

Kathie - posted on 05/11/2010

closer to home- for all the reasons below but also think about school (i know it's 5 years away) but do you want to uproot him from his daycare when he is starting kindergarden?

Stephanie - posted on 05/11/2010

First I would check out to see which area had the better daycare with the more trusting adults. If they were equal then It depends on your work situation. If your child gets sick and must come home how likely will it be that you are able to leave work right then and pick them up? It would not be ideal for your husband to leave work drive an hour to pick up your child and drive another hour back to get home. I would say whoever has the most flexable schedule should be closer to the childcare location than the other parent. I would also take in consideration of my child. Do they like riding in cars for long periods or would they be happier going straight to daycare instead of a car ride. If both parents have a felxable schedule and the daycare places are equal in quality I would ultimately choose closer to home. Sharing the responsibilty gives both parents a chance to spend time with your child and be apart of their life. It also makes it a lot less stressful for you who would be picking them up and dropping them off day after day.

Siyanda - posted on 05/11/2010

Close to home so that if there is anything happened to you or your baby u call ur neighboures to help or pick him or her from daycare so close to home is the best

Krista - posted on 05/10/2010

It probably depends on your work and if you ever have to travel or work evenings. I picked daycare close to work, because there WERE no daycare options close to home. But I have to travel sometimes for work, and so it's a pain in the ass because I'd have to leave home, bring him an hour to daycare, and then backtrack in the opposite direction to get where I'm going. Or, if I have to go to a work event that evening, it won't work, because the sitter only keeps him to 5:30, and it's too far for his father to come get him. Fortunately, my MIL keeps him on those occasions. But knowing what I know now, if I'd had the option, I would have definitely picked daycare close to home.

Catherine - posted on 05/10/2010

I would say choose closer to home. It's more likely that you would get a different job before you would move to a different house right? So that would make me want to stay closer to home!

Pam - posted on 05/10/2010

We send our daughter closer to home. Where we live it cost twice as much if we sent her closer to work.

Elizabeth - posted on 05/10/2010

I'm in the exact same situation - and close to work is best for me - but I take the train so it's 2 hours of play with my girl each way that I'd otherwise miss out on. Also, my daycare is more than close to work - it's in my building, so I can visit her throughout the day, which is nice (though you have to be careful because it can be distressing for them to have you come and leave depending on your child's personality).

Also, my husband works about three blocks from me, so we can share pickup and drop off. That is invaluable, so if your situation doesn't allow that, I'd think it'd be a big factor.

With regards to emergencies, if both you and your husband work, and neither work near the childcare centre, you're probably better off being nearby and doing it workwise - not just for emergencies, but because children can be sent home for illnesses too. Also, it's easier to ensure you pick your kid up on time (as mentioned earlier), which is very important. If you're serially late, the childcare center has the option of calling the police and leaving the kid in their custody, which can be very awkward.

Marcy - posted on 05/10/2010

Closer to home. As long as one of you is within a 10-15 drive in case of an emergency or if you child gets sick (which they will and you will get the call). An hour each way is a long time for a child to spend in the car and it will seem even longer if they are crying. Also, I loved my old daycare and my son loved going there. The company I worked for went under and while the daycare was a 5 minute drive from my office it was 35 minutes in the wrong direction from my new place on employment. If you husband can pick up your child after work and they can spend that hour playing or bonding its much better than an hour in the car. Good luck...

Chrissy - posted on 05/10/2010

I think the daycare being close to work is ideal, well for me anyway. My son has such a long day at daycare (eight hours + is such a long day for any child- being away from mom or dad) that I want as much time with him as I can get, even if its traffic just bring a snack and juice/milk/water in a sippy cup for the ride home, IT HELPS! :)



You must also keep in mind that if traffic gets bad or you have to stay late -with daycare being close to work, you have a better chance NOT getting there past the time they close, therefore not getting charged late fees and having your child being the last one picked up...that is never any fun. These are just the reasons why I have him close to me, he is almost 2.5. Hope this helps.

Amy - posted on 05/10/2010

Honestly I would say close to home for a few reasons. First you can share the pick up if you have a late day at work. Second my commute is my only "me" time, and I won't give that up for anything!

Jen - posted on 05/10/2010

close to home. work is NOT your base! home is.

Mandi - posted on 05/08/2010

One of the things I would be considering is how close is her pediatrician's office is to either location. If it's closer to where dad works and dad can get off work to take her to the MD (you will probably have to go to unexpected MD appts due to sudden illness, rashes, etc) then I would probably pick one close to him. On the other hand if it is closer to where you work then I would consider having the baby closer to you and having dad share with household responsibilities (maybe he can cook/start dinner, help more with laundry, help get everything ready for the next day, etc).



My mom in law keeps my daughter 2 days a week and then another friend keeps her. My mom in law lives 5 mins from where I work so it is very easy to pick her up and take her to the doctor. Although the other girl keeping her only lives 15-20 mins away it makes a big difference. My daugher had an abscess on her leg recently and required surgery and we have had several unplanned MD appts within the last couple weeks and it's a lot easier to get her from my mom in law because I don't miss so much work.

Jane - posted on 05/06/2010

Based on your husband working close to the daycare which is close to your home, I'd go with the one close to the home. For me, I had my kids close to home even though both my husband and I worked about 30 minutes away but my mother lives with us so in an emergency, she could have gone to get them. My kids are now 20 and 16 so this was a while ago. IF it were that your hubby was not close to the daycare, I would go for closer to your work even though the ride would be longer for the baby.

Kytama - posted on 05/06/2010

I would say close to home!
There might be a day that you're sick and then you don't have to drive an hour to bring you kids (and believe me, being sick and taking care of children isn't a nice combo).
And you probably wouldn't like to drive an hour with a tired, hungry or grumpy baby in the car.
If there would be something wrong, your husband is close to the daycare and can pick them up, while you're on your way home.
One more reason; if you ever change jobs you won't have to switch daycare.
Good luck!