What, if any, childcare do you use?

[NonnyMouse]

Just curious really. I thought I'd see which options are more popular from birth to school aged (or I guess Prep in your state).

Poll coming... multichoice.

With DD I worked full time so had her in daycare, then steiner preschool, then school, so we never used kindergarten or a nanny etc.

If more than one apply, feel free to elaborate in a post. :-)

Ooops - MODS can you please add "preschool" to that poll?

[Pina Colada]

I am a SAHM, so child care isn't necessary.

However, DD1 attended a child care centre for 8 months last year, for at first, 1 day a week and then 2 days.

She is now in a C and K Kindergarten 3 days a week, and we both LOVE IT!

DS and DD2 have never been in childcare, but I think DS will go 2 or 3 mornings a week next year, and then C and K kindergarten the year after.

[Cicho]

I did work and DS went to daycare 3 days a week, now I am on maternity leave he still goes 2 days a week and really enjoys it :yes:

[mummydreamer]

my kids are going to a pre school/long day care at the moment. my son is 4 and i was sending him to a local pre school, but it was turning out to be too expensive for me, $30 a day, with no money back, and it was only 9-3 which was very limiting to me coz we live rural.

the place they are going too now takes children from aged 2, so my daughter, who is 3 in a couple of weeks, could go as well, and its costing me $7 a day per child, and i get half of that back every 3 months. that was my reason for sending them. plus they are open from 6am-6pm, which helps me out. not that i send them there for that long :laughing: but it means its very flexible for when i can pick them up. it means i don't have to stress about getting back up the mountain by a certain time, etc, like i did with the local pre school.

they also have a 'step-up' program that kids do the year before they go to school, which my son will be doing next year which will be good.

[NonnyMouse]

not that i send them there for that long :laughing: but it means its very flexible for when i can pick them up.

I get ya. :-) That was the hours of DD's care too, only some days I dropped her off at 8:00 and picked her up just before 6pm. Next time I'll choose somewhere closer to work than home (duh me!) cause the problem was the drive from work to get her.

[tootiredtosleep]

My eldest goes to daycare 2 days a week and my little one goes 1 day a week.
I also use the creche at our local gym once or twice a week for about 2 hours, they love it.

[mummydreamer]

Next time I'll choose somewhere closer to work than home (duh me!) cause the problem was the drive from work to get her.

yep that's where mine is. i work for my hubby 1 day a week, so their child care is about 10mins from his work. makes it so easy. means on the days im not working i have to drop them off, go home, then come back down to pick them up, but hey...they love it, its cheap, and i don't mind the driving. we live near nothing except cr@ppy tourist spots, so i have to drive to get anywhere anyways :laughing:

plus there's always the option of hubby picking them up sometimes too :D

[TripleTime]

Trip's go to the MIL's when i have one or 2 that have a Dr.'s appointment. Im trying to get them into a centre one half day a week so i can have a breather & find the house.

[nothanksbye]

Hmm not too much.

We dont have any family here and there is NO way they will ever go to daycare.

We are in NSW and both of the older 2 went to prep ( preschool attached to a school) the year before school starts and that is all.

[Areca]

I'm a SAHM.
DD1 goes to an awesome daycare one day a week which she started at the beginning of the year. She was three when she started. Next year she'll go two days a week, because she'll be 4 and I want to get her ready for 5 days of school.
I always said no daycare ever but this centre was a far better option for us than a pre-school.
DD2 is two and she'll go to the same daycare centre one day a week as her pre-school the year after she turns three.
DS isn't even born yet but he might go one day a week from when he is two...will depend on when I want to return to work.

I also use a gym creche. DD2 goes twice a week, DD1 goes one day a week. They are in there for 1- 1/2 hours each day.

[Mrs Nietzsche]

DS goes to daycare 3 days a week, from 10.30 ish to 2.30 ish (if he has a morning nap) or else if he is full of energy he goes earlier and has a midday nap there (transitioning to 1 sleep)

He started when he was 1 because I was feeling desperately tired.

I am a SAHM but also do full-time uni.

I never thought I'd put him in daycare this young but good grief I'm so glad I have - he absolutely loves it and I now have no idea how I managed without it.

[delirium]

Other. DD is in preschool this year.

[Myztiks#1Fan]

we have used daycare centre since coop was about 7mths old and his current centre is great. i plan on keeping coop there until he starts prep as well.

[mum2bubba]

Hayley goes to kinder and Skye goes to occasional care, I will put Nathan in in a few months maybe.