It’s t-minus 6 months on the baby countdown and you’re asking yourself the time-honored question so many parents have asked before.

Nanny? Or daycare? 

Good question. But it’s the wrong one. 

The real question isn’t a yes/no waffle between the two choices. Really, you need to flip through a series of questions about what’s on your mind. That will clarify which (nanny or daycare) checks the most boxes. And that will help you decide. 

We have a little primer of some questions lots of parents ask. 

Such as? 

Tips for choosing between a nanny and daycare

1. What will help me get out the door in the morning?
   Good question. The parent routine - wake up, shower (hopefully), dress, rouse baby, change, diaper, feed, pack-up, change clothes (spit-up happens), leave house, drive – can make you feel like you’ve lived a full day before the first cup of coffee. It’s true that daycare provides practice for the eventual days when you must leave the house (hello school-age years!). But for now, handing the baby to the nanny as you go to get dressed? Splendid. 
   

   We can’t argue – this one goes to the nanny. 

2. How will I work at home?
   The fantasy is that a nanny will be able to insulate you from the kids as you hide away in your home office trying to concentrate. The reality is that they know you’re there;  and the first inconsolable sobs make it feel like a losing battle. Don’t even get us started on the sounds of squabbles if you’ve got more than one. Learn from our experience. We vote for coffee and an empty house after drop-off. 
   

   Score one for daycare. Extra points for one caregiver for in-home, in-office, or hybrid.

3. How can I be sure they’ll be ready for school?
   A nanny who’s an ex-teacher could do wonders for things like verbal skills and reading. But storytime with teachers in a classroom is pretty stellar, too. And remember -- future parent/teacher conferences will reference, “plays well with others” as well as three Rs. That requires “others” to play with – something that’s plentiful in a daycare center. We’ve said it before – nothing entertains a kid like another kid. 
   

   Score one for daycare. 

4. I want early learning for my child. How will I get them to preschool during the day?
   You could have a nanny drive. But this one’s kind of a trick question. Because it assumes that daycare and preschool are two separate places. Au contraire. If you look carefully, you can get both – a full day of happy child care and early learning in one place, and so a seamless road from infancy through preschool to kindergarten readiness that won’t require having someone drop everything midday to drive. 
   

   We call this one for daycare. 

5. Last but definitely not least…
   
   What about the item that’s probably at the top of your list -- love and TLC? Nannies are great at this. But so are teachers. In fact, the best daycare centers can make a child care partnership (for you and your baby) feel as personal as a nanny. The key is the interview and visiting process. The day you see your little one run squealing into a caregiver’s arms (“Miss Tanya! Miss Tanya!”) is the day you know they’re not only being cared for; they’re making memories for life. 
   
   

   We call this a tie. With a nanny or daycare teacher who loves your child – you can’t go wrong.