Child Care Choices

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

There are many options for child care for your new baby. You will want to start thinking about this while you are still pregnant to give you time to find a good situation. Consider your priorities when you start looking for a child care provider. Do you want one on one care or a group of children? Do you want care near your home, near work or at home?

Family members may offer to care for your baby at home. This is often a grandmother or aunt. Some will do this for very little money. Other family members, often grandparents, will offer to watch the baby for free. This can be very helpful, especially if money is tight.

A family member can be great for peace of mind as well. What's better than a trusted family member to watch over your baby? However, if your parenting styles don't mesh, this arrangement may not work. If your mother believes in letting a baby cry it out at naptime and you rock your baby to sleep, you may not like the arrangement. It can be difficult to approach the subject with family.

An in home care giver will watch your child in your home. This can be a nanny, au pair or babysitter. This can be great for both you and the baby. The baby will be in a familiar environment and get to take naps in her own bed. It is also more convenient for you. You will be able to go to work and come straight home without having to pick up and drop off the baby. You will also have more control over the care of your child.

In home child care is generally more expensive than group care. You can find a nanny through an agency or hire a private baby sitter. An agency will perform background checks on the person for you. If you hire a private sitter, you will want to have a background check done for your peace of mind.

Family day care providers care for children in their homes. They generally watch children in addition to their own kids. They are licensed by the state. Family child care is less expensive than center based care or a private nanny. The groups are smaller than in a day care center. This type of care is often more flexible with drop off and pick up times.

There are generally children of many different ages in a family day care situation. Check out the home as you would a day care center. Ask about the feeding and sleeping schedule to be sure it will work for your child. Check out the daily schedule and activities. You don't want a provider who uses the television as a babysitter.

Center based day care is licensed by the state and subject to an annual inspection. There are requirements for training and education of the providers. Ask about the training the staff has received. Children are generally grouped according to age. Also, ask about the ratio of children to staff members. The lower the ratio, the more individual care your baby will get.

With a day care center, you won't have to worry about back up if the provider is sick or on vacation. You will need to have an alternate plan if your child becomes ill. The more kids that are in the center, the more germs will be shared. This can become a problem. Some day care centers have more rigid schedules for feeding and sleeping. Make sure this will work for your baby.

Choosing a day care situation for your new baby can be very stressful. Your emotions about leaving your new baby can make it even more difficult. Starting your search early will give you plenty of time to make the best possible decision for you and your new baby.

Learn more about Pattie Hughes

Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University.

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