Hi MegMeg,
I think there is no one "right thing."
For some kids, all that one-on-one would be stifling; for some it would be perfect. You only get to parent the child you have, not some hypothetical child with hypothetical needs-- which means you'll watch her for signs of whether the situation is producing the kind of growth you like. You know her best, so you'll notice it.
If you start to see that the situation with the babysitter isn't adequate for any reason, you can change it up a little or a lot. Other posters have had good suggestions (mom's clubs, play dates, library storytimes, parks and rec...).
You can certainly get onto waiting lists and check out schools in the meantime. Because of the recession some good preschools around here still have open slots-- and slots do open regularly as parents lose their jobs and pull their kids
. Maybe that's the case where you are too. Doesn't hurt to be on the list at schools you think could work.
Balancing the finances vs. the nap sounds like the toughest aspect. I hope Hanni will be resilient and you will be at peace with what you decide.
If you end up hating what you decide, you can change it up again. There are usually some costs to making a switch, but it's not the end of the world.
DeeDee
