Child Care Centre vS Home Daycare: How To Choose

Deciding who will care for your baby when you return to work is a big decision! There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the best type of daycare for your little one. Many parents ultimately come down to a decision between a day care center and an in-home daycare, also called a home daycare. Here is everything you need to know if you are pondering the question – child care centre vs home daycare?

If you are a first-time parent, you may not know the difference between a daycare center versus a home daycare…and that’s okay. When I was a new mom, picking a place to send my precious baby, when my maternity leave ended, was a scary and confusing task.

There are advantages to each daycare option, and your family will have different child care needs than the next. Between my four young daughters, I have experience with both center-based childcare and homecare, so I understand the pros and cons of each.

Here’s is my overview of both types of daycare, to help you make the most informed decision.

What is Home Daycare?

What most sets an in-home daycare apart from a daycare center is the setting. Home child care is provided in a caregiver’s home, rather than a larger child care center.

Parents of infants often prefer in-home child care for its homey atmosphere, and because it can be easier to find one. Home cares often have smaller caregiver-to-child ratios – allowing the caregiver to provide more individualized attention to each child.

All four of my girls attended a licensed home daycare when I returned to work after my maternity leaves. Personally, I found comfort in knowing my baby was with a small group of children in someone’s home. I was fortunate enough to find a wonderful childcare provider who developed a tight bond with my girls.

In-home child care programs usually offer a mixed age group with a combination of infants, toddlers and preschoolers, so it’s more like a family than a preschool. There are government regulations regarding how many children of each age one provider can have in their home – to ensure children receive the care they require.

For example, in Ontario, childcare providers must follow the rules set out in the Child Care & Early Years Act. There are two types of home-based child care in my province of Ontario:

Home-based Child Care Options

• home child care providers overseen by a licensed agency
• unlicensed home child care

Here is a summary table of the main features of licensed versus unlicensed home daycare.

Licensed VS Unlicensed Home Child Care Comparison

Home Care Option	Number of Children Allowed	Responsibilities of Child Care Provider
Licensed Home Daycare (overseen by a licensed agency)	Up to six children under the age of 13	Count their own children if they are younger than four years old Maximum of three children younger than two years old Meet the regulations outlined by the licensed agency, as directed by the provincial government
Unlicensed Home Daycare	Up to five children under the age of 13	Count their own children if they are younger than four years old Maximum of three children younger than two years old Can’t operate in more than one location Inform parents in writing that they are unlicensed by the Government of Ontario (or other) Keep proof that parents are aware of unlicensed status

Read: 15 Items Your Child Needs For Daycare (for babies & toddlers)

What is a Daycare Centre?

Parents often choose a daycare centre for what they consider to be its social and educational advantages. It’s like an early introduction to the kindergarten classroom – with larger groups of children in a preschool setting.

Qualified caregivers care for kids who are grouped by age, from young infants all the way to children about to attend school.

Daycare centres have a larger staff of early childcare professionals and are made to follow strict rules and regulations. They are licensed by the province and qualifications vary across the country. These regulations establish caregiver-to-child ratios, health and safety requirements, as well as rules related to training, certifications and background checks for employees.

Daycare centres are often run by organizations such as churches, schools or municipal governments. These centres may also operate before-and-after school programs, summer camps, early years programs, preschools, and can be independently owned or part of a chain.

Read: How to Choose Between the 12 and 18 Month Parental Leave

Child Care Centre VS Home Daycare: Pros & Cons

Daycare Centres

Daycare centres provide childcare out of a facility, such as a community centre, church, or school. Although I’ve never enrolled any of my daughters with a daycare centre when they were babies, my 2-year-old daughter now attends one and she loves it! I decided to move her from her home daycare to the centre because It is conveniently located at the school where I teach.

Here are some of the main advantages, and disadvantages, myself and others parents have found with having your child attend a centre-based child care program.

Pros

Consistency – Daycare centres are open weekdays during set hours and there is always staff available. So even if a daycare worker calls in sick, you know you still have child care.

Social – Daycare centres have a larger number of children enrolled and divide kids up by age groups, so your child will be able to socialize with more children his/her age, as well as more teachers.

Safety – Daycare centres are required to follow provincial daycare regulations, such as passing regular health inspections, hiring staff with CPR & First Aid training and obtaining comprehensive insurance. There are usually locked entrances and security cameras onsite.

Structure – Centres offer regular programs and activities for kids such as craft time, outdoor play time, story time and sing-a-longs. Many centres also take the children on daily walks, to the park, or on field trips to a petting zoo or apple orchard.

Education – Centres are more likely to have an educationally enriched curriculum, that teaches literacy, language development, and social & emotional skills – all of which are helpful for preparing your child for kindergarten.

Employee Training – The staff are educated & trained professional caregivers, such as early childhood educators

Read: Newborn Baby Essentials on a Budget

Cons

Cost – Daycare centres are more expensive. Private daycare centres will typically charge more to cover things like rent, staff salaries, insurance, utilities and food. To save money, look for one that is not-for-profit or government subsidized. To give you an idea of the price difference, I paid $37 per day for my daughter to attend her former home daycare. I now pay $50 per day at her daycare centre.

Inflexibility – Many daycare centres charge an extra fee to parents who are late to pick their children up or need to drop them off early. Centres may have less flexible policies – requiring you to pay for days your child is ill, for government holidays, and for vacation days.

Large Groups – Many daycare centres provide care to large groups of kids at once, separated into infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. This may not be right for you if you’re looking for a more intimate setting for your baby.

Illness – When your child starts daycare for the first time, they are bound to catch several colds in the first year. In a larger centre, there are more children, therefore more germs floating around.

Staff Turnover – At a centre, your child will have 3 to 4 different caregivers in his/her classroom, depending upon enrollment. This could affect their ability to form a close bond with one caregiver.

Read: How To Teach Your Kids French At Home

Home Daycares

Home daycares provide childcare out of a care provider’s home. The background and experience of the caregiver should be an important factor when choosing a provider. For example, the wonderful woman who took care of my girls was a former kindergarten teacher. That gave me lots of confidence in her ability to teach and supervise my children.

Pros

Small Groups – There are provincial regulations that strictly limit the number of children homecare providers can care for at once, meaning your child will have plenty of individual attention.

Flexibility – Home daycares are often flexible with pick-up and drop-off times, and some providers won’t charge you for holidays, sick days, or vacation time.

Family Atmosphere – Home daycares are similar to sending your child to stay with an aunt or grandma for the day. This was my reason for choosing this option when my kids were little. My girls formed a bond with their caregiver and a few other “friends” they played with at her home.

Close friendships – The smaller number of children attending a homecare can create close friendships between the children. Often the care providers are parents themselves who have their own young kids at home. My daughters became good friends with our providers own girls, often inviting them to their birthday parties or playdates outside of daycare hours.

Costs – Home daycares are often less expensive than child care centres. As mentioned above, I’m currently spending about $300 more per month sending my daughter to a centre than I did at a home daycare.

Fewer Illnesses – There should be fewer cases of illness since your child is exposed to fewer children.

Read: How To Save Money For Maternity Leave

Cons

No Backup – If your child care provider falls ill, goes on vacation, or has an appointment, you’re left without childcare unless you have family to help you out.

Safety – It’s up to you to verify if the setting is safe for your child if you place him or her in an unlicensed home daycare.

Space – The space available for your child to learn and play is dependent upon the size of the caregiver’s home and yard. Caregivers must have a dedicated space in their house set aside for the daycare, as well as a quite place for the children to nap.

Less Structure – The quality of the educational curriculum depends upon the desire and abilities of the homecare provider. Look for one who understands early childhood education, and can prepare enriched and engaging activities for your child to do each day.

Read: How To Make A Budget For A Big Family

Is a Home Daycare Or Daycare Centre Best For Your Child?

Placing your child in someone else’s care when you return to work is a heart-wrenching time for moms and dads alike. I remember, all to well, the worry and guilt I felt at having to leave my baby during the day for the first time…it just didn’t seem fair!

But, be reassured, that all will be well. There are both wonderful homecare providers and child care centres that offer high-quality care for children.

Since every family is different, you must decide on which type of care is best for your child. Regardless of whether you decide on a home daycare or a child care center, look for a program that is licensed, has low teacher-to-child ratios, offers an educationally appropriate curriculum, and has experienced caregivers who will bond with your child.

Do your research, check references, and reflect on the pros and cons mentioned in this article to help you make your choice.

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