2. In-Home Child Care
In-home child care involves either
someone coming to your home to take care of baby or you taking baby to
someone else’s house. With in-home care, the care-giver can be a
relative or nonrelative.
When you have someone come to your home,
it makes things easier for you. You don’t have to get baby ready in the
morning. You never have to take your child out in bad weather. If she’s
sick, you don’t have to take time off from work or try to find someone
to stay with her. It takes less time in the morning and evening if you
don’t have to drop off baby or pick her up.
Care in your own home may be an excellent
choice for a baby or small child because it provides one-on-one
attention (if you only have one child at home). The environment is also
familiar to the child.
Taking your child to someone else’s home
is another in-home care option. Often homes have small group sizes and
offer more flexibility for parents, such as keeping the child longer on
a day you have a late meeting. They may offer a home-like setting, and
your child may receive lots of attention. In a group-home situation,
there should be a maximum of two children under age 2.
Whether you choose to have someone come
to your home or take your child to another person’s home, there are
some steps you can use to find a care provider. Following the
suggestions below can help you find the best caregiver for your child.
Advertise 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, experience you’re seeking and any other particulars.
State that references are required and you will check them.
Talk to people on the telephone first to
determine whether you want to interview them. Ask about their
experience, qualifications, child-care philosophy and what they are
seeking in a position. Then decide if you want to pursue the contact
with an in-person interview. Make a list of all your concerns,
including days and hours someone is needed, duties to be performed and
need for a driver’s license. Discuss these with the potential caregiver.
Check references for anyone you’re
considering! Have the potential caregiver give you the names and phone
numbers of people he or she has worked for in the past. Call each
family, let them know you’re considering this person as a caregiver and
discuss it with them.
Care for an Infant
Be sure the place you choose for your
infant can meet her needs. A baby must be changed and fed, but she also
needs to be held and interacted with. She needs to be comforted when
she’s afraid. She needs to rest at certain times each day.
When searching for a place, keep in mind
what will be required for your child. Evaluate every situation as to
how it can respond to the needs of your baby.
After you hire someone, drop by
occasionally unannounced. See how everything is when you do. Pay
attention to how your child reacts when you leave or arrive. This can
give you a clue as to how your child feels about the caregiver. Do this
for any type of child care you choose.
3. Child-Care Centers
At a child-care center, 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 child-care philosophy. Day-care centers usually
provide care to many children.
You may find some child-care centers
don’t accept infants. Often centers focus more on older children;
babies take a lot 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).
Inquire about training required
for each child-care provider or teacher. Some facilities expect more
from a caregiver than others. In some cases, a facility hires only
trained, qualified personnel, or they train them and provide additional
training.
4. The Cost of Child Care
Paying for child care can be a big-budget
item in household expenses. For some families, it can cost as much as
25% or more of their household budget. Public funding is available for
some families. Title EE is a program paid for with federal funds. Call
your local Department of Social Services to see if you’re eligible.
Other programs that can help with
child-care costs include a federal tax-credit program, the
dependent-care-assistance program and earned-income tax credit. These
programs are regulated by the federal government. Contact the Internal
Revenue Service at 800-829-1040 for further information.
5. Special-Care Needs
In some situations, your child may have
special needs. If your baby is born with a problem and needs one-on-one
care, you may have a harder time finding child care. In these special
cases, you may have to spend extra time seeking a qualified care
provider.
Contact the hospital where your
child has been cared for, and ask for references. Or contact your
pediatrician. The office staff may be in contact with someone who can
help you. It may be better for a child with special needs for the care
provider to come to your home.
