Day care centers may have as few as thirty children or as many as several hundred. Some are nonprofit programs run by churches, community centers, local government, etc. Some corporations run their own on-site day care programs — others outsource child care to another organization. There are also for-profit day care programs. Who “owns” the day care program is less important than how it is administered. There are advantages and disadvantages to using a day care center.

ADVANTAGES TO DAY CARE CENTERS

• Coverage. Many day care centers have longer hours than family day care, and you don't have to worry about staff absenteeism. If a caregiver becomes ill, it's up to the day care center to figure out coverage.

• Standards. There are clear licensing requirements for day care centers. According to a survey by the AAP, day care centers “have better regulations for health, safety, sanitation, and nutrition than family day care homes.” But keep in mind that the licensing requirements are usually the minimum standards that are professionally approved. Preferably, any center you choose should exceed those standards.

• Training. Day care center workers, especially directors and teachers, have more training in child development and more opportunities for training.

• Backup. There is some research to suggest that day care staff are better able to cope with a larger number of children than an in-home sitter or family day care operator because they have backup in case of an emergency, or if they are simply stressed out.

DISADVANTAGES TO DAY CARE CENTERS

• High turnover. The pay is low and the hours are long, so is it any wonder that more than 40 percent of day care staff will change jobs each year? Ask the director what the turnover rate is for her staff and what she does to retain them. Ask how the director helps ease the transition for the children when there is a turnover. It's a good sign if you find a center with a low turnover rate.

• Institutional feel. The day care center may feel less like a home. It may be busier and have the strict rules necessary to make the program run smoothly.

• Group size. Your baby may be with other infants, which can be a wonderful source of stimulation for him, but can also mean not as much one-on-one, adult-baby interaction. Experts recommend a maximum of six babies in a room, with a 3:1 child-to-staff ratio.