It is a really tough choice. When I was pregnant I swore that I would put my child in a daycare centre. I saw the daycare centre as safer, less chance of molestation and lots of 'eyes' watching what was done to my little one.
So...when it was almost time for me to go back to work we started going around to centres to look and that changed my mind. The centre 'baby' rooms seemed crowded and sort of like the child would be left to their own devices too much. Lots of stuff was being constantly bleached to get germs off and I worried about my child inhaling the bleach fumes afterwards. It just seemed cold and unfriendly for little ones - not to mention expensive.

So then I found a neighbour who was willing to take my son when I went back to work since she was starting a home daycare. That was a big relief.

It was a few months later where we moved and bought a house in another city and then I felt comfortable to try a home daycare with someone I did not know. I researched, interviewed and read reviews and references of the person we went with and I was really really happy with that decision.

Finding a good homedaycare can be challenging. There are a lot of questionnable ones out there. The third time I needed daycare for my second child I was really panicking because I could not find anyone good that I had a good 'feeling' about and whose environment I felt would be safe, clean and good for my child.

In fact I interviewed one lady who said that she would discipline naughty children by locking them into a dark room for 20 minutes. . You have to ask all the questions and see who shares views that you feel comfortable with. Luckily I did find the right person I needed.

I never thought back then that I would enventually be a provider but life is funny that way.