Many parents wish that they could do it all. However, we may have heard that “it takes a village”. Part of choosing your village is choosing the right caregivers for your children. There are many factors to consider. For some families, full time daycare or childcare programs are essential. For others, the occasional help from a loving grandparent is enough. No matter what your needs are, there are some important things to consider:
1.) Safety: Above everything, make sure that the person you leave your children with is a safe one. Running a background check on a babysitter, safety/violation check on daycare center, and checking references are essential. It is important that anyone you leave your child with can physically care for them and respond to an emergency.
2.) Values: Do the values of your family align with that of the childcare provider? If your family is trying to limit screen time, it is important that your babysitter is on the same page and will respect your rules.
3.) Age appropriate and developmental experience: While a grandparent or family member may have the best intentions, they may not always have the experience that is necessary in taking care of a child who may have more needs than they are used to. Someone who is caring for your child should be able to play age-appropriate games and activities, nurture your child’s learning and independence, and prepare healthy meals.
4.) Reliability: Even having the best caregivers can be very frustrating if they are not reliable. Ultimately, you need your village to make life easier for you, not harder. If a caregiver is constantly running late or calling in sick, it may not be the best fit, as it is now causing you stress.
5.) Is your child happy? While separation anxiety is very normal and most children prefer their primary caregivers, look for signs when you leave your children and pick them up. Are they happy? Do they seem relaxed? If you have an older, verbal child, ask them, and always clarify with the caregiver if something does not seem okay.
Depending on the needs of your family, different caregivers may be great for different situations. A grandparent may be the best person to help care for an infant who sleeps a lot and goes for daily walks in the stroller, but a childcare center may work better as the child grows up, starts running around, and desires more interaction with other kids. A trusted neighbor or friend can work great in a pinch or for a date night, but a nanny who has experience caring for children regularly will probably be better if you need daily care. No matter what, trust that you know what works best for your family.
All Blogs are written by Professionals in the fields of Nutrition, Human Development and Diabetes.