If you’re choosing childcare for a baby under 2 in Tauranga, you have three main models to pick from: a licensed centre, a home-based educator, or a nanny. They’re all valid. They suit different families for different reasons. This is the honest comparison we wish more centres would publish — including the parts where home-based and nannies win.
The three options in one paragraph
Daycare centre: licensed group setting, multiple teachers, dedicated babies room with cots, regulated ratios (1:5 for under-2s), Te Whāriki curriculum, fixed hours. Home-based educator: ECE-qualified educator looking after up to 4 children under 5 (max 2 under 2) in their own home, coordinated through a licensed service. Nanny: one carer in your home, employed directly by you, fully flexible, not licensed or ECE-regulated.
Ratios and individual attention
| Option | Under-2 ratio | Reality |
|---|---|---|
| Daycare centre | 1:5 legal min, 1:3–1:4 at quality centres | Group setting, multiple teachers, shared attention |
| Home-based | Effectively 1:2 for under-2s (max 2 under 2 in a home) | Most intimate group setting available |
| Nanny | 1:1 (or 1:2 if you have a sibling) | Most individual attention possible |
If raw 1:1 attention matters most — for example, a baby with medical needs or temperament that struggles in group settings — a nanny wins. For most babies, a home-based or quality centre ratio is more than enough.
Cost in Tauranga
Rough weekly cost for a full week of care for a baby under 2 (these change frequently — check current rates):
- Daycare centre: $290–$420/week depending on the centre and day combinations. Under-2s pay full fees (no 20 Free ECE Hours until age 3). WINZ Childcare Subsidy available based on income.
- Home-based educator: $250–$350/week. Same WINZ subsidy applies.
- Nanny: $25–$32/hour for an unqualified nanny, $30–$40/hour for an experienced or qualified nanny. A 45-hour week is roughly $1,200–$1,800. ACC, KiwiSaver, holiday pay, and PAYE are also your responsibility as an employer. WINZ subsidy doesn’t apply unless the nanny is registered through an agency.
Daycare and home-based are roughly comparable for working families. A nanny is significantly more expensive and usually only stacks up financially if you have two children under 2 or if your work has unusual hours.
Social development for under-2s
A common worry about home-based or nanny care: “Will my baby miss out on social skills?” Honest answer: not really, not at this age.
Babies under 18 months engage in parallel play rather than collaborative play. They benefit from being near other children but don’t yet play together. The social skill that matters most in the first 18 months is secure attachment to a small number of trusted adults — which all three options can deliver.
Between 18 months and 3, group play starts to matter more. This is when families using home-based or nannies often add 1–2 days of centre time, playgroup, or Plunket coffee groups to give baby the broader social mix.
Sick days, holidays, and reliability
This is where the trade-offs are sharpest.
Daycare centre:
- Reliable hours regardless of staff sickness (other teachers cover)
- Fees usually charged even when your baby is home sick
- Centre is closed on public holidays and over Christmas (you pay holiday hours or specific closed days, depending on contract)
- No backup if the centre closes (e.g. illness outbreak, building issue) — rare but possible
Home-based educator:
- Less reliable if the educator is sick (some services provide backup, some don’t)
- More flexibility on educator’s holiday timing — but you have to fill those weeks
- Fees usually charged for the educator’s leave as well, depending on the service
Nanny:
- Completely dependent on one person
- You pay sick days and annual leave (4 weeks/year minimum in NZ)
- You provide a backup plan when nanny is unavailable
- You can negotiate flex around your work travel and shifts in a way no other option allows
If predictable, reliable hours are non-negotiable for your work, a centre is the safest bet. If you have flexibility and a backup network, home-based or nanny can work.
What happens when baby is sick
All three options have sick policies, and they matter for under-2s who get a lot of bugs:
- Centre: clear exclusion rules (e.g. fever, vomiting, certain illnesses for set periods). You’ll need to keep baby home and pay regardless. Expect ~15–25 sick days in the first year.
- Home-based: usually similar exclusion rules to a centre, since other children in the home are exposed.
- Nanny: entirely up to your agreement. Many parents have the nanny work through mild illness, which only works if your nanny is willing.
The intangibles
What people often don’t say out loud:
Daycare wins on:
- Specialised babies-room environment (cots, change spaces, dedicated sleep room)
- Multiple teachers means baby builds trust with more than one adult
- Structured exposure to other children, music, art, outdoor programs
- Predictable hours and structured fees
- No employment relationship complexity
Home-based wins on:
- Tighter ratio (1:2 max for under-2s)
- Home environment, fewer transitions, less noise
- One consistent educator
- Often more flexibility on day-to-day timing
Nanny wins on:
- True 1:1 (or 1:2 sibling) attention
- Baby naps in own cot at home
- No exposure to centre illnesses
- Maximum flexibility for shift work or unusual hours
- Help with sibling pickups, light housework around child care (depending on contract)
What suits which family
These are rough patterns, not rules:
- Two full-time working parents, predictable hours, one child: centre usually fits best
- Two full-time working parents, shift work or unusual hours: nanny or share-care
- Twins or two under 2: nanny often financially comparable to two centre spots
- A child with medical needs or significant sensory needs: home-based or nanny often suits better
- Family wanting strong early social exposure: centre
- Family with flexible work and a strong backup network: home-based often works beautifully
Hybrid options
Plenty of Tauranga families combine. Three common patterns:
- 2-3 days centre + 2 days home-based or grandparents. Best of both — social exposure plus quieter days.
- Centre full-time with nanny on call for sick days and school holidays.
- Home-based for under 18 months, transition to centre at 18-24 months. Lets baby do the very early months in a quieter environment, then move to a centre as group play becomes valuable.
None of these are second-best. They’re often the most considered choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is home-based childcare better than daycare for under 2s? Neither is universally better. Home-based offers tighter ratios (max 2 under 2 per educator) and a home environment. Daycare offers specialised infant infrastructure and exposure to more teachers. Both can be excellent.
How much does a nanny cost in Tauranga for one baby? Around $25–$32/hour for an unqualified nanny, $30–$40/hour for an experienced or qualified nanny, plus ACC, KiwiSaver, PAYE, and 4 weeks paid annual leave. A 45-hour week works out to roughly $1,200–$1,800 plus on-costs.
Will my baby miss out socially if I use a nanny or home-based? For babies under 18 months, the social skill that matters most is secure attachment to trusted adults — which all three options provide. Between 18 months and 3, families using home-based or nannies often add 1–2 days of centre time or playgroup for broader social mix.
Can I claim the WINZ Childcare Subsidy for a home-based educator? Yes — if the home-based educator is registered through a licensed home-based service. WINZ subsidy doesn’t apply to a private nanny unless they’re registered through an agency.
What’s the most cost-effective option for under 2s? For one child, home-based and daycare are roughly comparable. For twins or two children under 2, a nanny often becomes financially comparable to two daycare spots.
Considering a centre for your baby? Our babies and toddlers centre in Welcome Bay offers a specialised under-2 space with better-than-minimum ratios. Get in touch if you’d like an honest conversation about whether we’re the right fit for your family.
