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Parents always have a heightened sense of concern when it comes to their babies. That’s a good thing. We know that the decisions we make on their behalf will have a great impact on their well being and development. This is no less true when determining the best child care situation for them.
No one can care for your baby the way that you do. That is a given. You understand what each cry means; you know when they will be hungry. You now must find the situation that best mirrors the care you provide your baby.
In finding child care you must look at the basics of your needs.
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When do I need the care?
What hours and days? Is this full time or part time? Know that part time care for infants if very difficult to obtain.
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Time of Day ... or Season matches the hours of care you will need with what might be available. Be sure to get clarity before choosing a particular child care setting.
- Full time care is considered a full week, at a minimum of five hours a day in most settings. Part time care could be just a few days a week or a few hours a day. School-age care is before and/or after school, and some settings don’t offer both so it’s important to ask.
- Most family child care homes and child care centers offer care between approximately 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, but some options exist beyond those hours; including evenings, overnight, weekends, and special summer camp programs.
- Some settings offer options such as occasional or drop in care, 24-hour care, or temporary or emergency care.
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Where do I need the care to be?
If you are nursing, close to work might be an option to consider. Other parents choose care closer to home because they don't want to drive long distances in traffic with their baby.
Is a home or center best?
Since infants require more individualized care, many parents choose home care as it typically offer smaller numbers overall some centers, especially those that are accredited, offer lower ratios as well.
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What is care going to cost?
Know that infant care is higher because of the individualized attention that they require.
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Financial Considerations will certainly be part of your decision. Care for school-age children, for example, will be less than care for toddlers and infants. Quality child care is expensive and so is the cost of providing quality care. Overhead costs for child care providers include maintaining up-to-date materials and environments, insurance, salaries, and professional development; as well as additional expenditures if they are working toward accreditation or further academic credentials.
You could be eligible for financial assistance, depending on your income, through your local county Department of Job and Family Services. Many child care centers, homes, and school-age programs participate in subsidy programs. Other options to help offset your costs include the possibility for no-cost health insurance through Healthy Start! or taking the child care credit on your taxes.
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Does my baby have any specific needs? Are there any allergies to certain formulas or to pets, smoking, etc?
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Specific Needs of your child will also be part of your decision-making process. These needs could be health-related, such as allergy to pet dander or cigarette smoke, or they could be related to physical, cognitive or emotional needs that require special accommodations. If your child has special needs, it will be beneficial to be up front when interviewing potential child care providers. The provider’s response can often help you decide whether or not to proceed with the next step of setting up an onsite interview.
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Decide what needs must be met in what ways. Then decide those that are negotiable. Make a list. Now that you have sorted out your needs, think about how a particular setting will meet them.
More . . .
What to Look For
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