If you are thinking about putting your baby in daycare, here are some things you need to know, from downsides, benefits of daycare to questions you should ask. Moreover, you may also want to check out the facility. But, how do you begin? The thought of leaving your baby with someone for the entire day, away from you, disallows you to leave the baby in the first place. And, if this is you, you’re not alone. We know it’s a big decision, keeping in mind how much is required for daycare.
However, if you’re planning to go back to the routine job of nine to five, considering some daycare options is what you need to look out for. Remember, nearly 70% of the caregivers work outside your home. This also implies good daycare facilities, from babysitters to nannies and many more you are not aware of. Moving on, one best option for you is a day care center, either through a home daycare or group center.
It is also essential to know that many centers offer exceptional services concerning care with trained, licensed caregivers in a surrounding where your baby will receive helpful socialization with kids of their age. Here is what you need to know. Keep reading!
Types of day care centers
A daycare center is a facility where parents tend to drop their children off, typically for the entire day. Given below are a couple of options.
- Group daycare: Such centers are run similarly to a school and state-licensed. These institutions or centers have kids of varying age groups.
- In-home daycare: When it comes to such a type, it gets run out of the provider’s house. However, not every state needs such day care providers. Since these providers do not need a license, you need to check the regulatory requirements.
Benefits of daycare
One should know that daycare programs can provide your child with considerable benefits.
- Education: Daycare centers follow an organized program geared to your kid’s growth and development.
- Continuous care: Know that several childcare centers provide various types and forms of care from the early months of infancy.
- Cost: A daycare center is inexpensive than hiring a nanny for your kid. And, at the same time, you can travel to your office, work, and it’s effective if you have multiple children.
- Socialization: Your baby will meet different little ones and learn more about socializing from an early age.
- Specific to group daycare: The staff at daycares is licensed and trained. Moreover, there is more than one caregiver. So, even if a specific one does not turn up, there will always be a substitute.
- Reliability: Several centers tend to stay open for up to 12 hours to serve parents’ schedules.
Downsides to daycare
- Cost: Even though such programs are less expensive than private childcare, it’s still costly.
- Exposure to illnesses: Since your kid is exposed to many people at the center, they might get sick or catch an uninvited infection. However, early germ exposure happens to toughen the kid’s immune system.
- Specific to group daycare: Unlike an informal setting, you won’t get flexible scheduling at a daycare. If the center follows a public calendar, it may be closed.
- Specific to home daycare: Most providers do not have the license and require special childcare training, meaning they are not regularly checked or inspected. Moreover, if it is a religious center, they may not adhere to the group size, activities, child-to-caregiver ratios, and materials.
How to choose a suitable daycare?
Irrespective of where you reside, you may have to select a suitable daycare center for your child. It is ideal to start looking for a minimum of two months before planning to get back to work. Here is a quick rundown of what you need to know:
- Do your research – Try getting recommendations from various parents, and do not forget about the pediatrician.
- Interview centers – Screen in-home daycare providers and centers over the internet. If the center’s staff is not forthcoming or the operational hours do not suit your schedule, scratch it off.
- Check the center physically – If you have narrowed your choices, try visiting the center yourself and see if it matches all the basic requirements. Here, you need to trust your gut before sending your child.
- Ask about their accreditation – When it comes to group day care centers that meet the standards, you should know that they should meet even higher standards, like matching a suitable ratio of adults to babies and philosophies that promote health, safety, and development.
Questions you need to ask a daycare center
- What’s the entire cost and schedule?
- Does the center have a waiting list?
- What’s your accreditation?
- How many kids will you care for at once?
- What’s your childcare philosophy?
- What experience and qualifications do you have?
- What are the center’s policies concerning immunizations?
Featured Image Credits: Pixabay
