As a caregiver for the past 18 years, I have learned a lot about what to look for when it's time for you to return to work. Babies require special care and you want to make sure you select the best you can for you and your child. Here are some things you will want to look for when you are choosing the type of care for your baby.
TYPES OF CHILD CARE
There are various options you can choose when you decide it's time to allow your baby to be cared for by others. Some of these include, but are not exclusive to, child development or daycare centers, family day care, church or religiously affiliated child care, nannies or care from someone outside your family, and being cared for by a relative. Each has benefits and possible drawbacks. For this entry, we will exclusively discuss child care centers.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CENTER
Some centers are labeled as "daycare" centers while others may be "child development centers." While the terms are sometimes unchangeable, most professionals in the field will prefer the term "child development center" as the goal of these centers is not just to watch your child while you are at work or school but instead they work to provide your child with developmentally appropriate activities to help him or her meet their current goals of development. "Daycares" can do this also and many child development centers are coined "daycare" because it is a familiar term to adults. You will want to know what to look for to make sure the center is working hard to ensure your child's optimal development.
When you visit a center, you may see babies of various ages in a classroom. Some centers view "infants" as babies up to 12 months old. Others may be up to 14 months, 18 months, or same may have a infant and young toddler classroom with children up to age two or more. Depending on the philosophy of the center, your state's regulations, and other factors such as space, each of these options can be acceptable if children are able to be kept active and programming meets the specific needs of the children enrolled.
The staff of the program should, at a minimum, meet the requirements put forth by your state. Most states require at least a minimum amount of education or documented experience for someone to work in a childcare center. I recommend that there be at least one teacher in the classroom who has a minimum of an Associates degree, though a Bachelor's degree is preferred. Many centers will hire people who have just experience, perhaps someone who has been a babysitter or nanny for a year or possibly someone who has raised their family and wants to now work with children. While these caregivers may be knowledgeable on care giving, they will not know how to plan for your child's development like someone who has been educated in Child Development. The staff of a child care program is the CORE that makes a program either top-notch, average, or fighting to stay above water.
I can't stress enough that you will want to check your state regulations to see what the ratio of infants to teachers must be! I have heard stories from parents who have had their child cared for by one adult who is by far out of state ratios. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the predominant professional organization nationwide for early childhood practitioners. They recommend a ratio of one teacher for every three infants (when infants are age 12 months or less). Here in Pennsylvania, the ratio is 1:4. When you start to get higher ratios than 1:4, you risk not having enough time to hold babies, talk to them one-on-one, or care for them as individuals. Babies need individual care and lower ratios help ensure caregivers are able to interact with each child throughout the day.
HOW DO CHILDREN LEARN?
Children learn through play and play is considered children's "work." You should see babies actively playing, on the floor with toys, having "tummy time," and being held and spoken to by adults. There may be crying (they are babies after all!) but a crying baby should be picked up for comfort, held by an adult, and comforted. When babies are awake, they should not be in cribs, playpens, swings, or other items designed to keep them in one place! I can't stress this enough!! Babies need to move about and explore to grow their brains and they can't do that if they are left in one place without the opportunity to see what their world has to offer. I know at home it may be commonplace for you to put your baby in a playpen so you can get dinner cooked or in the crib while you get your shower. That's fine for you, you have work to get done after all! But in a childcare center, their job IS your baby!
WHAT WILL THE ROOM LOOK LIKE?
While a six week old has very different abilities from a 14 month old, you should see activities that meet the needs of both age groups in the infant room. Caregivers are educators and it is their role to provide activities that meet the needs of children in their care. There should be rattles, instruments, books, mirrors, balls, blocks, and plenty of room for your baby to move and climb when ready. You should see shelving that is low enough for children to make their own toy choices when ready. Teachers should be down on the floor or low to the ground so they are able to interact eye-to-eye with children for much of the day or able to hold children at eye level so they can speak to them face-to-face. There should be a rocking chair so your child's caregivers can rock him or her when feeding, comforting, or helping them go to sleep. Cribs, cots, or mats should be available for rest times. Music and art should be available and you should see children's art decorating the walls of the classroom, some of it low enough that the children can see what they've made! The classroom should be clean and there should be a bin, basket or sink to put toys in as they get dirty so they can be cleaned at a later time. Overall, the classroom should be warm and welcoming and you should have a good feeling about the atmosphere!
NEXT WEEK: PART 2
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