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8
Tips for Choosing Child Care
How to size up a child-care situation and pick the best one.
Whether you choose
a formal child-care center, family day care, or in-home care, there
are some basic things you should know and insist upon. To help you
make this all-important decision, we've talked to mothers and other
experts who have been in the child-care trenches. Here are eight ways
to size up a child-care option:
1. Look down. When you're visiting a potential site, pay attention
to how the staff interacts with the children. Ideally, a caregiver
should be on the floor playing with the kids or holding one on her
lap. In their early years, babies need close, loving, interactive
relationships with adults in order to thrive. That's why it's especially
important that babies' first caregivers be warm and responsive, and
that even in group care, infants and older babies get a healthy dose
of one-on-one time. (Though individual states set their own staffing
ratios for child-care facilities, the American Academy of Pediatrics
specifically recommends a ratio of one adult for every three babies
up to 24 months of age.)
2. Ask for a
commitment. Babies need consistent, predictable care. It helps them
to form a secure attachment to their caregivers, according to Debra
K. Shatoff, a family therapist in private practice in St. Louis. If
you're looking at an in-home caregiver, request that the person you're
considering make a one-year commitment to the job. If you're considering
a center, find out how long the current caregivers have been working
there and how much turnover the center usually experiences.
3. Do a policy
check. Find out whether you share parenting philosophies on topics
such as discipline (Do the caregivers use time-outs, scoldings?);
television (Is the TV on all day or used sparingly, if at all?); feeding
(What snacks or drinks are provided for older babies?); sleeping (When
are naps offered? How are fussy babies put to sleep?); and so forth.
Inquire about the sick-child policy (What symptoms prevent a child
from attending?). Also ask whether there's a backup plan should the
family day-care provider or in-home caregiver get sick and be unable
to work. The more questions you ask early on, the less likely you
are to be unpleasantly surprised later.
4. Drop by and
spy. While word-of-mouth referrals from other parents or trusted resources
are important, you need to look at a place for yourself to assess
whether it meets your needs. Of course, any child-care environment
should be kept clean, childproofed, and well stocked with sturdy books
and toys that are age-appropriate. Other details to consider: When
older children share the space, toys with small parts (choking hazards)
should be kept away from younger babies. Ideally, infants and babies
should have their own area where they won't get "loved"
too much by older toddlers. A room or separate area dedicated solely
to swings and bouncers may look appealing at first glance, but keep
in mind that growing babies need plenty of floor time to develop and
strengthen their muscles. If possible, try to visit the same centers
at different times of the day to get a sense of how the staff interacts
with the children and what the routine is. You may want to consider
popping in unannounced a few times after you've enrolled your child,
just to see how things are going. Sometimes your visits will confirm
that the place is right for you, but sometimes they'll be a real eye-opener.
5. Keep talking.
Until your baby can talk, you will be relying on what the caregiver
tells you about your child's day. Make sure you can communicate comfortably
with each other. When you first hand off your child in the morning,
you should tell the caregiver how your little one slept the night
before, if he is teething, and whether he ate breakfast. At the end
of the day you'll want to know similar information, such as the number
of diapers he went through, when he napped, and if he seemed happy
overall. It's always preferable to speak to the caregiver in person.
If that's not possible, ask if there's a convenient time to phone,
perhaps at nap time.
6. Problem-solve
pronto. It's inevitable that you'll experience conflicts with your
caregiver, both large and small. Address problems right away rather
than ignoring them until they grow out of proportion. Some issues
can be resolved quickly; others may require more discussion. Whatever
the conflict, treat the caregiver in a respectful manner, but don't
be afraid to speak up, says Deborah Borchers, MD, a pediatrician in
private practice in Cincinnati. When broaching a difficult subject,
ask the caregiver's opinion, and hear her out. As the parent, you
have the final word with an in-home caregiver, but you're more likely
to elicit cooperation if the caregiver knows she has been heard. For
example, instead of demanding an earlier nap time to make bedtime
easier, ask the caregiver if she has ideas about how to adjust your
baby's schedule so he won't grow so overtired in the evening.
7. Trust your
gut. Every parent knows when something doesn't feel quite right. You
may be turned off by a center everyone in town raves about or clash
with a highly recommended sitter. If that happens, keep searching.
Babies deserve, and thrive under, good, nurturing care. If something
just doesn't feel right about your situation, investigate other options.
8. Be open to
change. You're not married to a particular person or situation, and
if things don't work out, you can always make a switch. Yes, you want
consistency for your baby, but that doesn't mean you can't alter arrangements.
Babies are resilient; as long as they're having a positive experience
with their new caregiver, they'll be just fine, points out Dr. Shatoff.
No matter what
your work hours, you are still your child's essential caregiver--the
most consistent source of love and support in her life. Under your
care and guidance, along with the help of your well-chosen caregivers,
your baby will flourish and grow into a happy, healthy child.
Your
should know:
The
information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes
only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical
advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose
or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your
pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any
questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's
condition.
Rebornne Baby. American Baby
