Curious to get some other perspectives on this. I’m in planning mode for childcare for my boys (3 and 2) for the next year and I’m stuck.
I’ve made a spreadsheet comparing our top two options: a traditional daycare center and a licensed in-home daycare. On paper, the costs are almost identical once I factor in everything (center has more closure days, in-home has a slightly higher weekly rate but fewer kids so maybe less sickness?).
Pros for the center are the structured curriculum and more kids for socialization. Pros for hte in-home are the smaller group size and a calmer environment. I feel like I have a solid list of pros and cons for both, but I’m in total analysis paralysis because neither is a clear winner financially or logistically.
For those who’ve made a similar choice, what was the one thing that tipped the scales for you? Was it a gut feeling? A specific policy? I’m trying to figure out what intangible factor I might be missing.