Daycare Vs. Preschool = We have a headache

I was offered and accepted the PT position as a Newborn Hearing Screener and Mike and I decided we better line up child care now.

My job won't start really until DEC 7th with only 1 day a week for training for this week and next then 2 weeks FULL TIME then stepping into my normal routine/schedule so its been hard to see where, and when we need care.

I have a close family friend who said she would be willing to keep Daya and that's still a close running but we have to figure travel time, gas and cost of food etc.
With that we decided maybe we would try Pre-School as I know at must she will only need 3 days a week just about 4-5 hours those days tops.

Ha - We have been to every place in the city trying to find a place for our lil roo and only 4 are in our relm of consideration.

Here is our headache :

Do we put her in a scheduled pre-school where she could learn most of the day and have some playtime or do we put her in a " daycare " where she plays most of the day and learns minimally other than through interaction?!
All are about cost wise the same, some just offer more of a structure which we do beleive Daya thrives on.
However is doing that to her all the time healthy?

Weve been trying to weigh this option too.... what about preschool 2 days a week and family care/sitting 1 day a week. Happy medium?!


Oy....

It will really help next week when I know about what the schedule MAY be. There is a chance I won't need to put her anywhere more than 4-5 hours total a week?! We will see ...

Until then we are open to ideas!
( please note that my wages arent much to pay a ton in childcare )