Choosing Childcare

Once you hold your little girl in your arms and take in that sweet smell, you’ll probably wish you never had to leave her side. But, returning to work shortly after the birth of the baby is a hard reality for many new moms. When that’s the case, finding good childcare is a top priority. Finding just the right type of care can take much effort, but when you make arrangements that you trust, the peace of mind you get in return is well worth the time spent making the right choice. Here are some guidelines to help you select the child-care arrangement that will be best for both you and your daughter.There are several types of child-care arrangements to choose from. These include in-home care, home-based care, and day-care centers. I have used all three at different times while raising my children and have found each has its good and bad points. So think about the pros and cons of every option before making your decision. In-home Care: In-home care allows your daughter to stay in her own home with a sitter, which may be a family member, a nanny, or an au pair. This type of care gives you greater flexibility—you can accept overtime at work or attend late meetings and not worry about childcare arrangements. In-home care is also usually more personal and allows your daughter to stay at home without the jostling and inconvenience of being carried to and from another location in all sorts of weather. Another bonus is that your caregiver will likely take care of your child even when she is sick, which is usually out of the question at day-care facilities. There is a downside to in-home care. It’s usually the most expensive option (unless you’ve hired a family member). Also, if your caregiver becomes ill and cannot take care of your daughter, there’s no backup. Finally, if you opt for a live-in nanny or au pair, you and your family may find that you lose some privacy at home. Home-based Day-care: Home-based day-care provides care for a child in the caregiver’s home, often with one adult supervising several children. The benefits include: small group size (usually), a more homelike setting, and flexibility of hours for the parents. Often it is less expensive than other options.On the other hand, home-based day-care is not as strictly regulated as day-care centers are, and the laws on licensing differ from state to state. Also, many caregivers are not formally trained, although they often have young children of their own. And, if the caregiver is ill, parents are left without backup arrangements for their children. Day-care Center: Day-care in a center, preschool, nursery school, or provided by your workplace, offers several advantages: It is more likely to be run in accordance with state regulations that set minimum standards for staff-child ratios, group size, staff training, and building safety. Additionally, day-care centers usually take children from six-week-old infants to school-age. Day-care providers usually have training in early childhood development, and a staff illness doesn’t affect the reliable care of your daughter. The disadvantages of day-care include: There are often waiting lists because of a limited number of licensed centers, they usually have a more structured environment for your child because of the focus on regulations, there is frequent turnover of staff, and you may encounter inflexible pick-up and drop-off times.While considering the types of childcare, remember there are different guidelines depending on the age of your daughter. For infant care, finding a completely trustworthy caretaker is critical because your daughter cannot tell you if she is being subjected to neglect or abusive behavior. If you’re thinking about an out-ofhome arrangement, visit the facility and look closely at these factors: Are all infants fed in the upright position as they should be? Are bottles propped up on pillows for feedings? Are all infants put to sleep lying on their backs? Are the caretakers engaged with the children—not sitting around just watching them (or the TV)? Are the children given lots of smiles and approval? Are infants separated from the older children (who might accidentally hurt them)? Is there an open-door policy on visits from parents? Are sick children mingled in with the rest? If you’ve opted to hire an in-home caregiver such as a nanny, be thorough: Interview the applicants at least twice. Ask for several references and check them all. If the caregiver will be driving with your child, check her driving record. Outline all expected duties: hours, salary, paid vacation, and sick leave.