Babysitter or daycare for 3 month baby

[samaira_mom]

Hello Moms,

Although this discussion has been posted quite a number of times, but still I would like to seek opinion from all experienced mom here once again based on my current situation.
I need to join back work from march'14 and totally confused what will be the best option for my DD who will turn 3 months by then. I have researched a lot about daycare and nanny services, both of them have its own pros and cons which include babycare, expenses, rules, privacy etc.
Considering that I'm able to shell out max upto $S2K per month for baby but want good baby care, time flexibility, privacy (live-in nannies in such cases), playing and making baby learn when I'm not around, start with my prescribed solid food for the baby and my monitoring of baby from time to time. All these requirements incline me to hire a live-in maid but then issue comes with my own privacy!!

I have below queries:
1. How good are day care (coz I've heard that one babysitter gets assigned to 6-8 babies at the time!!!). Do they allow time to time check, flexible timings to put and take baby, can I ask them to feed my baby special food prepared by me, what about if baby falls sick..do they have ad-hoc docs there? How much does a good daycare cost?
2. Would want to know more about the services of agencies providing nannies, heard lot of them take money/deposit in advance and then we need to stick with nannies we dont like! Do nannies need separate room or they can adjust in hall if they r living-in. How good are the options of living-out nannies? Which are the good nanny agencies who are not money minded and offer good and genuine nannies? How much does it cost per month to get live-in/live-out nanny?

Many thanks
Samaira_mom

 

[eve0513]

hi Samaira_mom,
Just like what you mentioned, each option has its pros & cons. Regardless of whichever option you choose later, you need to trust the caregiver.
1) The ratio at infant care is 1:5. The cost is about $1300-$1600/mth(Sg citizen can get $600 subsidy).Extra subsidy will be given to those household income below $7500. Of course, there are more expensive infant care too. The timing normally is 7am-7pm. You are allow to bring the medication to infant care & ask them to feed per the timing if is not fever. If child is having fever, they are not allow to enter the center.
2) No idea about agency. But live in nanny cost is around $1,500. Baby-sitter (live out nanny) cost is about $750-$850. They will cook the solid for kids when they are ready to eat.
Just my opinion, teaching kids are parent responsibility. It is bonus if nanny helping to teach but no obligation. Normally day care will get to teach more but child is more exposure to higher chance of sick.

 

[samaira_mom]

Thanks @eve0513 & @missyqiqi for prompt response....certainly sending to daycare will make my gal more independent.....and i agree teaching child is parents responsibility...
@missqiqi do u have any good childcare list around ang mo kio ave 6 (i stay here) or raffles/maxwell road (my office)....I dont want to experiment...would prefer word of the mouth from fellow mothers... thanks much

 

[samaira_mom]

Thanks a ton.. Will start search this weekend itself

 

[samaira_mom]

Good idea.. Can do coz still on maternity leaves