A second advantage to the at-home arrangement is flexibility. With some limited exceptions, most daycare centers open at around 6AM and close at around 6PM. If you show up to pick up your child after 6PM, you are often subject to a late charge and a per-minute fee for the extra time. Under ordinary circumstances, if you are more than 15-30 minutes late to pick up your child, the center will contact the police. This may seem harsh, but centers must protect your children and their own legal interests. Most at-home providers will provide you with more flexible hours. If you ask in advance, at-home providers will usually work around your schedule. If you need second or third-shift daycare, however, you will need to search a lot harder for an at-home provider who will accommodate you.

A third potential advantage of at-home daycare arrangements is continuity. Daycare center employees do not make much money, especially considering the importance of the job they do. As a result, there tends to be a lot of employee turnover at the average center. As a result, your child may have several different teachers during the course of a single year. At-home providers, if they remain open, do not have turnover. If you like the way that your at-home provider interacts with your child, you can usually count on that interaction to continue.

Daycare centers also have several key advantages over at-home daycare. First, employees at centers tend to have better training than at-home providers. Many centers require at least one person in each room (a room leader) to have early childhood education training. Several of the employees will likely have current CPR and first aid training as well. The center director will have established emergency procedures for just about every situation. As a result, daycare centers tend to be more equipped to deal with unanticipated situations if they arise.

Daycare centers also tend to have a better curriculum than do at-home providers. With an infant, this is not that important. However, as your child gets older, it will become increasingly important to make sure that your child spends their day in an educational environment. While my daughter was at a daycare center, she was able to take computer and dance classes, as well as educational and fun field trips. Usually an at-home provider will have fewer of these opportunities available for your child. In addition, daycare centers tend to have large play areas for your child to enjoy. At-home daycare is often more limited in terms of play equipment.

Finally, you can usually be confident that your daycare center will be there when you need it. Though daycare centers are less flexible than their at-home counterparts, they are also less likely to close. Like many small businesses, the failure rate for at-home daycare providers is relatively high. Many at-home providers are surprised by the expenses involved in running their business. In addition, stay-at-home parents who start daycare businesses often move on to other professions when their children are old enough to attend school. There is also the issue of sickness and vacation. If your at-home provider is ill, it is possible that you will have to find alternative arrangements for your child on that day. Most at-home providers also ask for at least two weeks of prearranged vacation time. Often, that vacation time does not fit with your family’s schedule. During these periods, you will also have to locate alternative care for your child or children. Most daycare centers are only closed on major holidays. Many parents have these vacation days as well.