Honestly, getting sick more often in infant care is quite real, a few mums I know shared that their babies were down with high fever, runny nose, and cough almost every month, and some even ended up hospitalised for things like croup cough or influenza A, so that part is not exaggerated. On the other hand, some mums feel it is actually a blessing overall because the babies build immunity earlier and the teachers are trained to handle development at each stage, which elderly caregivers may find harder to keep up with even if they mean well. Someone in my mum group mentioned the key difference is really how robust your baby's health is going in, and whether you have the bandwidth to take urgent leave when the centre calls, because they will call, especially in the early months. So it is less about infant care being "safe" or "unsafe," and more about weighing your baby's current health, your in-laws' physical capacity, and your own work situation honestly. If your in-laws are quite frail, infant care with a good hygiene track record might actually be the more stable option longer term, even if the first few months are rough.
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