It's hard to find in home daycare from downtown. Wait lists can be long at centers downtown but not always. I recommend goign to a lot. i was shellshocked by my first couple visits. If a nanny or nanny-share is feasible for you, i would suggest it for the first year, or longer. it is hard to see your little one in care where at best the ratio is one to three. That said, my second child went to infant daycare downtown recently.
Here is what i learned. To some extent, many of the daycares seemed similar. Almost all of them have good teachers and some not so good. High turnover can be a warning sign, but not always b/c there are some very burned out and overworked people in daycare. Most people in daycare work for fairly low wages and it can be a tiring job. Sometimes newer, fresher people are great and if turnover is high b/c they hire motivated people on their way to teaching degrees or other things, it can be fine. Sometimes high turnover is a huge warning sign of systemic problems with the center. NYAEC usually translates into a good, safe center but it's not a guarantee.
The way the office/management treats their staff matters and if staff get vacations matters. You won't really be able to tell how staff are treated and scheduled before you get in (unless its obviously bad- in which case, run). Most centers will tell you all the things you want to hear. Again, after you get in, pay attention. Just because they know the right answer doesnt mean it happens. Spend time at the center- as much as you can. Come early for drop off, stay late when you pick up, come by at lunch or a break when you can- see how things are when the parents aren't there. Feed your baby there and keep your ears and eyes open. If things are good, it gives you a chance to form relationships with the teachers, if things aren't good, it gives you a chance to find out.
Good luck.
