Cheryl sighed as she strapped six-month-old Cameron into his car seat. He was tired and cranky after another day with his child care provider. More and more, Cheryl would find him all alone in a playpen, covered with leftover lunch and fitfully trying to catch the attention of the older children watching cartoons on T.V. She wondered: was there enough infant activity at his current daycare of was it time to change his child care arrangement?
Daycare: Important to Babies' Development
Cheryl, like many parents, may have good reasons to change child care providers. Safety issues, a place that offers too much or too little stimulation, or a new job with different hours all may prompt a change.
At this age, though, babies may find it hard to welcome a new provider. That’s because babies need more sameness in their lives than the rest of us do—especially when it comes to the people who take care of them every day. The more caregivers a child has during his early years, the harder it will be for him to feel secure and to trust the people who care for his needs. Trust is important, though, because it forms the basis for future relationships.
Educational Care: Something to Consider
If you still think a change is worth the risk, try to make this a choice that sticks. One way to do that is to decide before you look exactly what you want from a child care provider. Mother and author Lynn Dean offers the following questions to ask before you start looking.
- What kind of setting are you looking for? Do you prefer a small setting or a larger one? Are you looking for educational care or a place that focuses mostly on free play?
- What hours do you need care? What about the weekends? Do you need daycare after school?
- What kind of extras do you need? Do you need the center to provide transportation for your kids after school? What about sick child care?