Daycare vs. private daycare/babysitter (home, business, price)

[Encinitas]

Pretty soon I will have no choice but to place my 2 yr. old to a daycare. Any input on "TutorTime?" I grew up with my aunt as my nanny. Stayed home with my first born. Iam a childcare/babysitter virgin. And almost 3 months in phoenix.

[LayLin]

I did a lot of research on the big chains and home care etc when I had to put my son into one. Here is what I decided. They big chains are WAY overpriced (Tutortime, Childtime, Sunrise, Kindercare etc) of them though, Tutortime had the best training and programs. (It was also the most expensive and unbending in allowing me to take time off for summer or holidays without paying) I started looking into small business daycare centers. Same services as the chains, but frendlier, smaller and in most ways the same foundation as the big chains. I personally have a hard time with home daycare because its a little too casual for me, and I'd like more structure, more like a classroom. We attend Valley Child Care which is a small chain throughout the valley that we love! They have a website if you google them or look in the phone book. We only pay when we attend, the teachers are consistent and friendly, good food...it's nice. I know this is a terribly hard decision; good luck!