Child Care: Finding the Right Fit for Your Baby – Part 2

Today, in part 2 of our series on child care (to read part 1 click here), we’ll share some important questions to ask when researching child care programs.  Choosing a child care program is an important decision that will shape your child’s development. We’ve talked in the past about positive caregiver-infant interactions, and this is not only important for parents, but for other caregivers taking care of your baby on a regular basis. In another past post we shared tips for choosing a childcare provider (LINK), and now we’ll share some more specific questions to ask. The best way to answer many of the questions below is by observing the child care setting itself. Here are a few things to consider.

• Are you welcome to drop in at any time?
  
• Do caregivers talk to the infants? Do they sing and read to them?
• Are caregivers flexible enough to help with adapting your baby's feeding and sleeping schedule to their own, or to find a compromise? Can you find out these schedules before your baby starts child care so that you can begin transitioning your baby?
• Are caregivers patient with babies’ needs?
• Are the babies’ needs met in a timely manner?
• Do the caregiver’s feeding style and beliefs match your own?
• Is the caregiver flexible enough to let you provide input on your baby's naptime routine?
• Does the caregiver seem to enjoy working with children?
• Would you feel good about leaving your child there?
• What training do caregivers have in infant development?
• Do caregivers watch for and feed babies based on hunger and fullness cues or on a tight schedule?
• Are babies fed by a caregiver or left to drink a bottle alone?
• Does the caregiver make eye contact with the babies? Do they hug and cuddle them?
• What does the caregiver do when a baby cries?

We hope you’ve found these questions useful! Next time we’ll explore more about the transition from home to child care.

For other questions to ask when choosing child care that we gathered in a past post, click here.

 

Child Care: Finding the Right Fit for Your Baby – Part 1

Today we’ll be starting a series on child care about finding the right fit for your baby and easing the transition from home to the child care setting.  First, we’d like to share some tips on matching your baby’s specific temperament to the right type of child care. This information is based on the handout “Matching Your Infant’s or Toddler’s Style to the Right Child Care Setting” by Zero to Three, a nonprofit organization focused on early child development. We spend a lot of time finding the right caregiver for our babies, but do we think about what setting is the best fit for their personalities? While we realize that your choices may be limited for child care options, especially if you live in a small town, here are a few things to consider about your baby’s temperament when choosing child care.

• Personal Style: How would you describe your baby? Is she adaptable/flexible, cautious or intense? If your baby is adaptable, she will probably do well in a large group setting with lots of social interaction. If your baby is more cautious, look for a smaller group setting that’s less stimulating. And if your baby is very intense in her emotions, whether the setting is large or small, make sure she has a primary caregiver that will get to know and understand her specific needs (of course, this is best for all babies!

• Sleep needs: Does the setting allow individual schedules, separate sleep areas, and a quiet sleep environment? Since in reality this is not always possible in large centers, it’s important to find out if the provider will work with you to facilitate ease of transition in your baby’s sleep patterns. Find out ahead of time what the center sleep schedule is and you can gradually transition your baby closer to their schedule.

• Social vs. slow to warm up babies: If your baby is very social she’ll do great in a group setting that allows her many opportunities to play with others. On the other hand, if your baby likes to take it slower and tends to be shy around strangers, find a setting that allows your child to gradually transition from alone play to playing with one other child or a small group as she warms up. Responsive caregivers will be sensitive to your baby’s temperament and support her in slowly warming up to her new environment.

• Tolerance to change: If your baby is sensitive to changes and challenges, a setting with children the same age as her will be more comfortable.  A baby that adapts more easily to change will do well in either a mixed-age or same-age setting.

We realize that you may not always have a choice as to what type of child care setting you choose. You may live in an area with only large centers, or you may live in a rural area with no large centers. Either way, it’s important to consider your baby’s personality when choosing a caregiver and child care setting and find the best fit that’s feasible for your family.

No matter what your baby’s temperament, it’s important to find a caregiver that is willing to adapt his or her approach to meet your child’s needs.  Responsive caregivers treat each child as unique. While all babies show similar cues, they each have individual temperaments and personalities. For more information about temperament read these posts:

Babies with Personality! How Temperament Influences Babies' Relationships (Part I)

Babies with Personality! How Temperament Influences Babies' Relationships (Part 2)

Next time we’ll cover important questions to ask when researching childcare programs.

Reference

Matching Your Infant’s or Toddler’s Style to the Right Child Care Setting” by Zero to Three. http://www.zerotothree.org/early-care-education/child-care/matching-your-infants-child-care-setting.html

  

Choosing a Child Care Provider

According to the CDC, nearly 66% of infants in the United States are cared for by someone other than their parents on a regular basis, half in child care centers and the other half in home-based care (child care provider or family member).  In the past, Kerri has written about her experience going back to work after the birth of her daughter, Jen B has provided tips for deciding if you should bring your baby to work and tips to make working with baby easier, and Jen G posted information about secondary caregivers of children in various countries around the world. Given that so many babies in the US are cared for outside of the home, the majority of parents must take on the important and daunting task of finding a child care provider whom they trust with their young child. It can be hard to know where to start when making such a significant decision. What questions should you ask? What should you look for when seeking a trustworthy caregiver or daycare center?  In today’s post, we will examine some vital questions to consider while searching for a childcare provider or center for your baby.

• Don’t wait too long to start looking for child care for your baby. Many centers have a lengthy waiting list that could be a year or more in length – though it may seem premature, getting on the wait list while you’re still pregnant is necessary for some centers.

• If you are pregnant or have a newborn and are considering childcare for your infant it can be helpful to make a list of questions and important things to look for before touring the centers.  A list can help ensure you don’t forget your questions!

• Before committing to any center, tour it without your baby so you can observe the teachers without getting distracted by your own baby.  If possible, arrange to visit during a snack or lunch break - pay special attention to how they accommodate younger babies who are not yet eating solids while the older infants are eating.  If you feel comfortable with the provider, go back with your baby one more time and plan to spend at least an hour to observe.

• If you are breastfeeding, you will need to find out how breast milk is handled at the childcare facility.  Many centers require you to bring the milk in bottles, and other centers may accept it in bags. Ask if the milk can be brought frozen or just refrigerated. Also make sure to inquire about how the milk is heated (milk should be heated in warm water, NOT in the microwave because it can cause hot spots that can burn the baby). The center may have specific ways they would like the milk to be labeled so that there are no mix-ups! 

• For breastfeeding moms, find out if there is a private place for you to nurse your baby at the childcare center. If you work nearby, you may decide to come to the center at your lunch break to drop off more milk or to feed the baby yourself.

• Ask the providers how they know when to feed a baby.  Do they only use strict schedules or use crying as a sign of hunger or do they look for other cues? How do they determine when a baby is full or finished eating? Also, once you choose a provider, don’t be afraid to tell them how your baby shows hunger and fullness cues. 

• Ask about how the facility handles multiple babies’ feeding and napping schedules.  Do they want the infant to conform to their schedule, or does the center adapt to each infant’s schedule?  This may be an important aspect that contributes to your decision choose a provider or to keep looking.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be put to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. During your visit, pay attention to how other infants are put to sleep and discuss how babies are positioned to sleep with the provider to be sure that this recommendation is followed.

• Help your provider by sharing how you know your baby is drowsy or overstimulated. This will make the first few weeks easier until the provider gets to know your baby and can pick up on the cues herself. 

• Ask about the provider’s policy about parents calling to check on their babies.  There may be some times that are better to call than others and just a quick over-the-phone confirmation that your baby is doing well can ease your mind. 

Remember, there are many childcare centers; if you don’t feel comfortable at one, keep looking.  Don’t feel like you need to settle on one because it’s convenient or close to your home or work. There may be other options available that more closely meet family’s needs. 

Placing your infant in childcare can be a difficult transition for both you and your baby.  Working with your childcare provider ahead of time can make the process easier for everyone!