The decision about which type of daycare situation is best for a particular family can be a hard one. There are several options to choose from. A nanny or caretaker can come into the family home, the infant can go to a daycare home or the infant can attend a formal daycare center.
Daycare Allows Parents to Work
Placing an infant in daycare will allow the parent to focus on his work and job. If the parent works at home, having the baby on premises can regularly interrupt the work day. Placing the baby in daycare will avoid issues in this area. If a parent has a childcare provider come into the home, the parent will feel obligated to provide certain foods for the sitter, and will feel he needs to have the house company-ready before leaving for work. Taking the child to daycare allows the parent to leave with the baby in the morning without having to clean house beforehand.
A daycare situation will ensure the baby is well cared for while preventing interruptions to the parent during his workday. A parent who places his child in daycare can set work hours without worrying about the baby's nap schedule, lunchtime or the general cranky times when the baby wants to be held.
Regular Daycare Hours
A daycare center will offer set hours and will be open even if some of the teachers are sick. In a home daycare situation, a sick caretaker will leave a parent without childcare help. Most daycares have back-up teachers who are called in when the teacher can't work. The parent knows she can count on the daycare to provide the offered care.
The infant in daycare will be with the same teacher for the majority of the day. This helps the child adjust by offering stability and routine. The child will be able to bond with the teacher and can build a relationship for a healthy daycare environment.
Daycare Routine
Most daycare centers will offer the infants in their care a regular routine. Small children thrive in this type of situation. Having the same routine at breakfast, playtime, snack, lunchtime, afternoon nap, play and pick-up will give the baby a sense of comfort. The parents can also benefit from knowing what the child is doing at any given time, and can follow the same routine at home.
Daycare Safety
Most daycare operators are regulated and have to follow specific safety requirements. The caretakers are screened through background checks and fingerprinting. Some daycare centers require their employees to have credentials in higher education or early childhood education. Routine inspections of the premises, fire equipment and safety procedures are conducted on a regular basis. Limits on the amount of children per age are also placed on these regulated daycares.
