Even though I love every bit of parenthood, sometimes, it can become challenging to commit to being a stay-at-home, full-time mother. I went through the most challenging time of my life when I had to decide how to take care of my baby right before my maternity leave came to an end. I was in a difficult position and had to decide whether I should hire a nanny or find a daycare for my child. I am pretty sure that most new moms go through this same situation, which is why I am here to help you make a better decision by weighing the pros and cons of both options.

Pros And Cons Of Hiring A Full-Time Nanny

Pros:

1. Individual Attention

The nanny you hire will be 100% attentive to your child’s individual needs. In fact, he/she will entirely focus on your child’s development.

2. More Parental Control

With a nanny at my home, I have significantly more control over what my baby is exposed to, what she eats, where she goes and what her schedule is. My nanny also gives brief reports of the day and sends me pictures of my child when I am at work.

3. Highly Convenient

Since I have hired a nanny for my girl, I do not have to prepare for the day as it is my nanny who takes care of my child’s scheduling.

Cons:

1. Conflicts In Parenting Style

Initially, there were instances such as sleeping and discipline, among other parenting issues, in which my nanny and I were not on the same page. However, after discussions and meetings, we have finally found a middle ground in terms of parenting style.

2. Expensive

Hiring a nanny costs significantly more than daycare centers, and may or may not be tax-deductible. The costs of your nanny may differ depending on how many kids you have, your location as well as other factors.

3. No Coverage

Whenever my nanny calls in sick or takes a personal day, I have to stay at home if I fail to find backup care.

Pros And Cons Of Daycare

Pros:

1. Enhanced Social Skills

I sent my elder son to daycare near my office where he was exposed to group activities, thereby learning and growing with other children.

2. Cost

Daycare is certainly a more affordable option and can be tax-deductible.

3. Several Teachers

The daycare where I sent my son had a few excellent teachers who have been working with young children all their lives. They have seen it all!

Cons:

1. Inflexibility

Daycares usually operate during specific hours, so whenever I was running late in picking up my son, I used to be charged extra for that or I absolutely had to stop what I was doing to go get him.

2. Accidents

A few falls or bites are a common occurrence in a daycare. With so many children, it can be a little difficult to focus on all of them at one time, thereby resulting in more bruises and bumps, and sometimes, you have no idea what happened.

3. Germs and Illness

Germs are inevitable with so many children sharing toys, eating food together and whatnot. Your child is bound to catch a cold, or other common viruses.

For both my children, I hired a nanny in their first 18-24 months because naturally, young children need more attention as opposed to those above 4 years old. I personally love using Hadley Reese for its unparalleled nanny and caregiver services in Montreal. They have always found me incredible help at the house! If you are looking to hire a nanny, they might just be the one for you. Call them today. Ask to speak with Rita. She will take care of you.