Childcare Decisions for New Moms
Arranging childcare can be a daunting task. There are many decisions you must make in selecting someone to care for your baby. Of course, you want to pick the best environment and caregiver for your child. The best way to do that is to know what your options are before you begin.There are many choices when it comes to childcare. Any situation could be right for you, but you must first examine your needs and the needs of your child before you can decide which one to pursue. Below is a discussion of various types of childcare situations. Your options for childcare include in-your-home care by a family relative, in-your-home care by a nonrelative, care in a caregiver's home and a childcare center
In-Home Care
You may decide on in-home care, either by a relative or nonrelative. Having someone come to your home to take care of your child is usually very easy. You don't have to get the baby ready before you go in the morning, and you never have to take your child out in bad weather. It also takes less time in the morning and evening if you don't have to drop off or to pick up your baby.
In-home care is an excellent choice for a baby or small child because it provides one-to-one attention if you only have one child at home. The environment is also familiar to the child.
When the caregiver is a relative, such as a grandparent, an aunt or someone else in the family, you may find it more challenging than you anticipated. It may be more difficult to maintain your relationship with your caregiver while asking or telling him or her to do things the way you want them done.
When the caregiver is a nonrelative, you may find it very expensive to have this person come to your home. You are also hiring someone you do not know to come into your home and tend your child. You must be diligent in asking for references and checking them out thoroughly.
One drawback to having in-home care is the isolation your child may feel as she grows older. Children need to interact with other children so they can learn to share and to play together. While in-home care can be an excellent choice for your baby, as she gets older you may have to make special arrangements to create opportunities for your child to be with other children.
Care in a Caregiver's Home
Taking your child to someone else's home is an option that many parents choose. Often these homes have small group sizes that offer more flexibility for parents, such as keeping the child longer on a day when you have a late meeting you cannot avoid. A homelike setting will make your child feel comfortable, and she may receive lots of attention. In addition, she may get plenty of interaction with peers if the home also cares for other children.
However, home daycare situations are not regulated in every state, so you must check out each situation very carefully. Contact your state's Department of Social Services, and ask about legal requirements. In some places, local agencies oversee caregivers who are members of their organization. Those who provide care must abide by certain standards, such as the maximum number of children allowed in the home (including their own) and the maximum fees they may charge. They must also be certified in CPR and first-aid.
Steps for Finding an In-Home Caregiver
Whether you choose to have someone come to your home or to take your child to another person's home, there are some steps you can follow to find a care provider.
Advertise. Put ads in local newspapers and church bulletins to find someone to interview. State how many children are to be cared for and their ages. Include information on the days and hours care is needed, the amount or type of experience you require and any other particulars. State that references will be required, and they will be checked.
Conduct telephone interviews. You may have to interview a lot of caregivers before you find one you feel comfortable with. Talk to candidates on the telephone first to determine whether you want to interview them. Ask about their experience, qualifications, childcare philosophy and what they are seeking in a position. Then decide if you want to pursue the contact with an interview in person.
Make a list. Note your concerns, including the days and hours someone is needed, the duties to be performed, the need for a driver's license and what kind of benefits policy will be supplied. Discuss these things with the potential caregiver.
Check all references. Have the potential caregiver provide you with the names and phone numbers of people he or she has worked for in the past. Call each of the families, let them know you are considering this person as a caregiver and discuss it with them.
Investigate the situation. After you hire someone, monitor the situation occasionally by dropping by unannounced. See how everything is being managed when you do. Pay attention to how your child reacts each time you leave or arrive; although some separation anxiety is normal at times, your child's reactions can give you a clue as to how she feels about the caregiver.
Responsibilities to Your Caregiver
Your caregiver has certain responsibilities to you, and you have responsibilities to him or her. Be on time when you drop your child off or pick her up. Call if you're going to be late, even if the care is in your own home. Pay the caregiver when fees are due. Provide diapers, formula or expressed breast milk, extra clothes and personal items for the baby when necessary.
You must pay federal, state and local taxes for your care provider, including Social Security and Medicare taxes. If the person works in your home, you may also need to pay Workers' Compensation and unemployment insurance taxes. Contact the Internal Revenue Service and your state's Department of Economic Security for further information.
Childcare Centers
A childcare center is an environment in which many children are cared for in a larger setting. Centers vary widely in the facilities and activities they provide, the amount of attention they give each child, group sizes and childcare philosophy.
Inquire about the training required for each childcare provider or teacher. Some facilities expect more from a care provider than others. In some cases, a facility hires only trained, qualified personnel; in other cases, the facility provides training.
You may find some childcare centers do not accept infants. Often centers focus more on older children because infants take a great deal of time and attention. If the center accepts infants, the ratio of caregivers to children should be about one adult to every three or four children (up to age 2). For older children, one adult for every four to six 2-year-olds and one adult for every seven to eight 3-year-olds is considered the maximum.
You want the facility you choose to offer quality childcare, but don't be fooled by a state-of-the-art center. The cleanest, brightest place is useless without the right kind of caregivers. Check out the center thoroughly; visit it by appointment, then stop in unannounced a few times. Meet the person in charge and the people who will care for your child. Ask for references from parents whose children are currently being cared for there. Call and talk to parents before making a final decision.
Caring for an Infant
Babies have special needs that a preschool cannot meet. Be sure the place you choose for your infant can meet those needs. A baby must be changed and fed, but she also has other needs. A baby needs to be held and interacted with; she needs to be comforted when she is afraid. She needs to rest at certain times each day.
When searching for a place, keep your baby's needs in mind. Evaluate every situation according to whether it meets those needs.
Finding Childcare for Your Child
You might find it difficult to begin your search for someone to care for your child. Where do you start? There are many things you can do in your quest to find the best care situation for your child, and there are many ways to find out about childcare. Use the following suggestions to help you find someone to care for your baby.
- Ask friends, family and co-workers for referrals to people or places they know about. Talk to people in your area. Ask at your church about any programs they may sponsor.
- Call a local referral agency, or contact Child Care Aware at 1-800-424-2246 for a local childcare resource.
- If you're interested in hiring a nanny to provide care in your home, contact a referral agency; they are usually listed in the yellow pages.
The Cost of Childcare
Paying for childcare can be a big-budget item in your household expenses. For some families, it can cost 25% or more of their household budget. The cost of infant and toddler care (through age 3) is the highest-it can range from $100 to $200 (or more) a week, depending on where you live and the type of care you choose. In-home care can be more costly, with placement fees and additional fees you negotiate based on extra tasks you want the caregiver to perform.
Public funding is available for some limited-income families. Title EE is a program paid for with federal funds. Call your local Department of Social Services to find out if you are eligible.
Other programs to help deal with childcare costs include a federal tax-credit program, the dependent-care assistance program and earned-income tax credit. These three programs are regulated by the federal government; contact the Internal Revenue service at 1-800-829-1040 for further information.
When to Start Looking for Childcare
Finding the best situation for your baby can take time. Start the process several weeks (maybe several months, particularly in special situations like twins) before you need it. Often this means finding childcare before your baby is born.
Some situations may require getting on a waiting list. There is a shortage of quality childcare for children under age 2. If you find a care provider you are comfortable with, but it's not time to leave your baby, ask if you can put down a deposit and set a date for childcare to begin. Keep in touch with the care provider, and plan to meet before you place your child in daily care.
Special-Care Needs
In some situations, your child may have special-care needs. If your baby is born with a disability or a health problem that needs one-on-one attention, you may have a harder time finding appropriately qualified childcare. In these special cases, you may have to spend extra time to find the right situation to meet your child's needs.
Contact the hospital where your child has been cared for and ask for references, or contact your pediatrician. They may be in contact with someone who can help you. If your child has special needs, it may be better to arrange for a care provider to come to your home.
Caring for a Sick Child
All children come down with colds, the flu or diarrhea at some time. Today, there are ways to deal with your child's illness if you can't take time off from work to stay at home with her. In many places, "sick-child" daycare centers are available. They are usually attached to a regular daycare facility, although some are connected with hospitals. A sick-child center provides a comfortable place where a child who is ill can rest or participate in quiet activities, such as story time.
This kind of facility is often headed by a registered nurse who can administer medication when necessary. Fees for this type of service run from $25 to $55 a day.
Some cities have "on-call" in-home care providers who come to your home when your child is too sick to be taken anywhere. The program is usually run by an agency that deals with childcare, and these caregivers normally charge by the hour. You may have to wait a day or so for a provider, but this service can be an excellent way to care for a child who is too ill to be taken away from home.
When you return to work, ask for a change in hours or a change in your work load if you feel it would help you ease back into your job.
Copyright © 2002 by Glade B. Curtis and Judith Schuler. Excerpted from Bouncing Back After Your Pregnancy with permission of its publisher, Perseus Books Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
To order this book visit perseusbooksgroup.com.