Advantages and disadvantages of baby sitter and childcare center

Type of Care	Advantages	Disadvantages
In-Home Care	Child remains in familiar environment	Expensive
	Child receives individual attention	Child can be deprived on peer socialization
	Provider available if child is ill	May have no substitute if provider is ill
	Reduced exposure to illness	Provider may leave with short notice
	Hours can match needs	Parents are responsible for background checks
	Child does not have to be transported	Provider may have no training in child development
	Convenient for parents and child	May be required to pay social security and medicare taxes and federal unemployment taxes for employee
Licensed Child Care	Usually less expensive than in-home	Quality varies greatly
	Usually more flexible hours than centers	Operating times/days may change
	Smaller group of children than centers	Home may be open to visitors while children are on premises
	Usually one constant caregiver	Illness or vacation may cause shutdown
	More places to choose	Children may not have playmates of same age
	Some day-dare homes offer developmentally-appropriate educational activities	May not take sick children
	May take infants and toddlers along with older siblings	test
	Not subject to paying social security, etc.	test
Center-Based	Developmentally-appropriate educational programs	Hours/days may not match parents' needs
	Age-appropriate games, toys and other equipment	May not care for mildly ill children
	Providers often trained in child development	May not take infants and toddlers
	More staff ensures greater dependability	May require toilet training before admittance
	Centers regulated and inspected to meet health and safety standards	Usually more costly than family day care
	Special services and events may be offered	text

Reference from : ¹Colorado State University Extension human development and family studies specialist, human development and family studies. Reviewed by A. Bruce, Extension specialist, human development and family studies. 6/98. Revised 4/09.