Daycare dilemmas

I am planning to go back to work 3 days a week in early Feb. In late Jan we are moving from Wellington central out to Pukerua Bay which is a 35min train ride or off-peak car trip from the city (not sure on travel time in peak traffic).

I have been offered a place at a daycare near to our new place but after visiting I am not so keen on it. I'm sure it would be ok (as in safe and well-organised) but the staff didn't really seem to have their hearts in it and the children didn't seem especially happy.

It looks like I might be offered another place in a centre I'm much happier with - staff are better trained and more mature, they have a 1:3 ratio with a primary caregiver assigned - but we would have to drive into Wellington and then through to Karori which is out of the way and could add 30-45min onto the travel time in peak hour by the time we double back to work.

Not sure that the Karori one would be a goer but we might be able to find a daycare where we could zip on and off the motorway reasonably quickly on the way to Wellington (e.g. Tawa or Johnsonville) or maybe something at the opposite end of Wellington CBD from where I work. None of the day cares I would be happy with are particularly convenient.

Does anyone have any insights? Is it better to settle for a conveniently located ok daycare or take the extra inconvenience and go for a high quality day care?

An extra 45 min travel at each end of the day adds 1.5 hours to your child's day and yours- is that really feasible?

I refuse to believe that there are only 2 options open to you, perhaps time to do more research...?

If you live a 35 minute off peak trip from work, I'd go for a daycare that's close to your work, rather than your home.

I decided on picking a daycare that was closer to work than home. That way if T was sick and I needed to pick him up, I'm only 5 minutes away, rather than 25. Also, if I get stuck in traffic at the end of the day, then he's in the car with me, rather than me stressing about being late to pick him up.

I would not be happy leaving my child somewhere that I was not confident with. Theyre just too precious. However, I also wouldnt be keen to travel an extra 30-45min to go to a great centre. I'd also look at all other centres in the area, or even at options such as in home daycare etc etc, and try and find somewhere you are happy with that is close to either home.. or work.

In my opinion they btoh have benefits.
Close to home = less travel time for the wee one (we all know those car rides can be nightmares esp if theyre tired or hungry!)
Close to work = if they are sick you can get them quickly (then of course you are faced with the travel home, but at least theyre with you)

Hi Alexmum. I will be working in Thorndon so Leeds street is better than Karori but still out of my way. That place has a really good ERO report though.

Timed the drive to Karori in peak hour traffic and have decided that it will definitely take to long to get there and back. I'm going to see about six different centres this week so hopefully will find one I like which is reasonably convenient and which has a space.

Thanks Happymumma. Daisies is one of the six I'm seeing this week. Their website looks fantastic plus I have a friend using it who is very happy with it. Pretty expensive but I guess that would be because of high ratios and high percentage of qualified staff. Still will have to wait and see if they have a place.

Yes, have also heard good things about Carriganes but they have closed their waiting list