NB News
Merry Christmas! It’s true! We have another turkey in the oven! Due date: June 23, 2012. Marshall was apprehensive at first, but he has warmed to the idea and is pretty excited about it now. It’s also looking likely that we’ll need a bigger home (at least a different configuation) to accommodate this crazy nonsense!
Has been moved to its own page (see sidebar) or here: Grover’s diaper test!
We are going to be taking some more tours and everything depends on what space is available. But I am curious to know what some of you think.
Would you choose a place 2 blocks away from your office for … oh around $620/month or a place that’s 5 minutes from your house by car for around $540/mo? All things being equal I mean. Keep in mind that house and work are about 20-40 minutes by car/bus from each other depending on traffic.
Do they charge fees if you are late picking up? Most places do.
That is an excellent question! Something Carla brought up to me just the other day as well. I hadn’t thought of that one.
Adding that to my list of questions to ask, especially if there’s a storm or traffic or whatever. Also, having something close to work would reduce the lateness, or actually, I think I would never be late because they are so close!
The other reason we like close to the office is because the hospital and our doctor’s office are all in the same area. If he’s sick or has an immunization due, I’d hate to drive back to Dartmouth to pick him up and take him back over to Halifax for an appointment.
Although he would be closer to you in Halifax, the price is more expensive to begin with but I’d assume you’d then take your car to work, right…which you will have to factor in for bridge toll and parking (unless you get it free). You do take the bus now so the cost of the passes may balance out anyway.
Hmmm. However, if he was in Dartmouth there’s always the high speed bus to get you home to get the car quickly. But then again you’d have to drive him there in the morning and pick him up in the afternoon so unless you’re thinking of giving up the bus either way I think the bus would be a pain…driving him there, getting the bus…coming home by bus, getting the car. A lot of extra planning…then what happens if the buses are late, etc?
My gut instinct says the one closer to you at work. It would give you more peace of mind. However, if it were me I’d seriously try finding someone to come into your home. He’d be a familiar environment, have the caretakers undivided attention and he could sleep in his own crib/bed and it woudl be much easier to keep him on a schedule. As well he’d be less prone to catching “whatever is going around” the daycare.
Once he is a little closer to school age you could put him in a pre-school/daycare environment where he gets more interaction with children.
Home childcare would be cheaper too I’d think.
My 2 cents 
Yeah… I should have also mentioned that there is no way I’m taking the child on the bus in rush hour 
hah! I have seen that and it’s not pretty.
I should get free parking here, or if not, Rick will get $ towards it – part of his perks. They pay for his bus pass right now but yeah, it will cost us a bit more…
I just wouldn’t want to take the bus and keep him in Dartmouth because of the extra time and hassle involved to get to him if he needs us. Especially where the difference is only $120/mo – although that is a bit of a chunk.
We have been crossing our fingers regarding our neighbour who is a retired nurse and was a nanny until the 3 boys she was sitting started going to school. We ran into her last night and she was really excited about our new baby. Like REALLY excited. I had mentioned to her that maybe she could look after ours if we have some … back when we moved in 2 years ago and she thought that was just great.
I kind of figured no one would come into our home for less than $10/hour which works out to a LOT more than daycare, alhtough I would have the flexibility to work 4 days a week which is what we want.
I don’t mind paying a bit extra considering that it would be so much better for him at home while he’s so young, and we are looking into a nannyshare situation … I have at least one lead on that (although she’s planning on going back to work in January – ugh) Besides, she might do the floors or some other minor housework too so it would be worth the extra heheh.
I’ve done childcare over the years. From ’94-’95 I did it for $20.00 per day and in ’95-’96 for $25.00 per day (same child and took care of him from 16 months to 3 years of age) in Liverpool. In ’98 I did it and got paid $7.00 per hour (8 hour day) in Dartmouth for a boy who was just under a year old. In both cases I did laundry, cooked, cleaned a little, etc.
It is definetely a case of shopping around but it the lady next door is willing then she seems like a good fit for you.
wow – you were cheap!
I guess it will be 9 years since you did it, so I can figure on $10/hour anyway.
We’ll need someone for probably June 2007.
I suppose since my friend is going back in January, I could just look after her baby for her until June, and then we can share the nanny maybe. Wow – then I can make up some of that lost cashola. HM! Interesting!
I need a double stroller! hehehe
I personally would do the day care that was close to the house. Get the baby settled and then catch the bus to work. Otherwise you’ll have to drag all the baby stuff with you all the way to work. Might even end up being spit upon your work clothes during the trek.
Monday night we attended our last pre-natal class. It consisted of 3 hours on the subject of labour and delivery. Luckily, I found it quite interesting and the time passed quickly. Tamara didn’t feel so good at one point, which may have had to do with the videos we were watching. I think our next step will be to get some books on breathing techniques and relaxation poses. We have our hospital tour in just under 2 weeks, so that should also be interesting. Hard to believe it’s only 3 months away now.
I didn’t find the videos that graphic actually. I think it was when she was talking about c-sections and the cut they make, and the staples and the tape… and leaving 3 days after the surgery with just tape holding your insides together… that might have been it.
Combined with what I think was a hot flash.
I started to feel like fainting for some reason.
As some of you know, we have been flirting with the idea of using cloth diapers. Most people we have talked to who have kids think we are INSANE.
Friday, we toured the Allegro child care centre (see links), and were told they don’t do cloth diapers. I’m guessing that pretty much no child care place will due to the amount of diapers and poo. So. I guess that pretty much makes our decision for us, because what is the sense of getting cloth diapers, only to switch to disposables after 11 months?
We would love to have someone come into our home and take care of our little guy (which would mean we could do the cloth diaper thing), but we’re not sure we can get someone, and just how expensive it would be. I am still crossing my fingers about the woman (retired nurse turned part time nanny who currently has no nanny gig) next door. I would love to work a 3- or 4-day arrangement and get her in. Child care facilities only take 5-day arrangments (so we could always pay for the full 5 days and only take him 4 days but ouch.)
Hi guys!
I totally want to do cloth diapers someday. If you’re partly doing it for environmental reasons, wouldn’t the 11 months before childcare still have an impact?
The environmental aspect is a difficult one, because while disposables are bad for landfills, cloth ones use lots of water and detergents (although we do have high efficiency laundry). Further, the early months are more condusive to disposables because of the frequency and nastiness of the subject matter. Whatever we decide, I think we will have to stick with it. The investment in cloth is so high up front that doing both would be very expensive.
Backup babysitter right here!
I have no official childcare qualifications, but by all accounts I’m more than OK at it.
Backup backup babysitter behind Rhia! I was a total nanny once!
Lana is discussing. 
Mom, 
wyndancyr and one other person are discussing. 
Eden, 
rhiameah, and 
rick are discussing.
Lana 8:57 am on December 26, 2011 Permalink
Lots of new babies for the Dunn family this year….congratulations!