I remember taking my first child to a daycare in 1995. It was a major process just to find a person I could trust and then work around their schedule as much as possible. Also, the amount of money I spent on childcare was unbelievable. Since I have paid for childcare for about 21 years, here are a few things I have learned.
First, the stress of finding quality childcare is immense and affects everyone involved. Like running a business, it can take a lot of time and effort to find adequate childcare. Finding a facility that you feel comfortable with involves meetings, interviews, and visits to big daycare facilities or private in-home sitters. It’s important to consider how much money for childcare will fit in one’s budget. There is also a great deal of trust that goes into allowing your child to leave your arms and stay with a stranger. Luckily, there are various options for childcare which can fit your budget and preferences.
Daycare Facilities
Using a daycare facility was popular when my children were young and it’s still a viable option for parents today. The costs back then was pretty steep and today is no different. The price varies from state to state, but on average costs about $180-200 per week ($9000 per year).
Like most parents, I had concerns with leaving my child in the care of other people. I didn’t know the members of the staff or the other children that my child would be interacting with. Does the staff smoke, do drugs, use profanity? Would they pay proper attention to my child? I wasn’t sure what they would feed my child, if the other children would be mean, bite (yes, they bite), or if anyone would do inappropriate things to my children.
Back then these establishments lacked transparency, leaving parents guessing. Today, most facilities require staff background checks and will make them available to you. Many companies require staff members to be in school for or have already completed a degree in early childhood education. There are usually staff profiles with pictures on the company’s websites so parents can see who’s going to be around their children. Also, technology is playing a bigger role in the everyday operations of these types of establishments. For example, some facilities have installed webcams so you can check-in on your child throughout the day. There are also apps and websites the staff use to post updates on the different activities your child is doing throughout the day, keeping you informed in real time.
The best thing to do before picking a facility is to do your own research. Ask questions, do a walk-through, and ask if it’s possible to get contact information for parents who’s children are already attending the daycare. Lastly, you can always do a Google search on the facility and read the reviews from other parents.
In-Home Daycare
With this option, the owner typically has fewer children, depending on their state license and personal preference. Sometimes, they have one child, but it’s possible there could be eight or more. While a smaller setting decreases cost and reduces some variables, it’s still necessary to know if they smoke in the house, have pets, and plan to drive your child without telling you. Will they allow screen time or will they play music in the house? If so, will it be appropriate? Are they certified and is their house safe for children?
There are many great In-Home daycare options out there, but there are also many that are illegal and unsafe. It’s important to research and ask questions just as you would for the bigger commercial daycare facilities. Do web searches and read the reviews about the daycare. Make sure they have the proper licensing and speak to parents who have or had children attend there. Also, try to ask friends for referrals, it may give you peace of mind knowing that someone you trust has had a good experience there.
Nannies
With my youngest child, I was able to do this once he turned about five. I realized that I could either pay the daycare a weekly rate or I could offer the same amount of money to a person, such as a college student and have my child stay in my house. I had a rigorous interview process and each year we were fortunate to find an elementary education college student who met or exceeded our standards. This option was important to me because it allowed him to sleep in and have the one-on-one attention I wanted him to have. His nannies were allowed to drive him to pre-approved movies or outings, had a list of what television shows and music that I deemed appropriate, and I knew what he would be eating because I bought it.
If you have the means, I highly recommend this option. A nanny will generally charge by the hour (usually $15 or more per hour), but some are more flexible and can offer a weekly or monthly rate. It’s much more work to screen the applicants and find the right match, but it was well worth it. Today, there are websites which can help with the process. We used Care.com to find each nanny and some of them are still very close to our family today.
Friends and Family
I asked my best friend from high school to watch my two daughters when they were very young. However, I found this put a strain on our relationship. I was very particular and wanted certain nap times, feeding times, and diaper changes. I also wanted an educational curriculum included in their day. Although I paid her for the work she was doing, I just didn’t feel comfortable with this option after a few months because it changed our friendship into a business transaction.
Also, I tried leaving my daughters with my grandmother on a full-time basis. She took care of me when I was a child and I trusted her entirely. The best part was she didn’t charge. However, she was already in her 70’s and I didn’t understand how much energy it took to watch children all day. My words of advice on this situation are to be careful not to take advantage of your family. Many grandparents love to watch their grandchildren (or great-grandchildren in this case) but keep this arrangement in perspective. Is this arrangement doing a disservice to the child-grandparent relationship or even the child-parent relationship?
Luckily, I was aware enough to acknowledge that although my grandmother was able-bodied and more than willing to help, I was taking advantage of her. I couldn’t allow her to watch my children full-time because they were my responsibility and I needed to parent them. This would allow her to be their great-grandmother and not their babysitter. There is a difference.
Working from Home
Some moms will bring in a nanny or some type of help during the day, so they can work without too many interruptions. This option allows you to see and hear what is going on with your child. I have decided to leave my corporate job and stay home with my son while I’m building my own business. This arrangement can be challenging because keeping a balance between work needs and family needs can be difficult when they occupy the same space. I want to ensure I give my son the attention he needs while attending to the demands of my business. Although it will take a lot of planning and flexibility, I believe this option can be an answer to childcare for those people who have the ability to work from home.
Childcare is not only important for the child, but for the entire family. There are many options out there but the decision can be stressful. It’s imperative that those involved in making the decision sit down and make a list of the pros and cons of each option. When considering the various daycare options you must:
- Find what fits your budget
- Check credentials
- Ask any and all questions you may have
- Use online resources to research facilities and staff
- Ask for references or speak to other parents who have had children in that daycare option
- Pick the one that your most comfortable with and works best for you
Don’t be surprised if the right choice is using multiple options to varying degrees. Sometimes, finding out what works best may just be a matter of trying different combinations. I know you can do it! It truly can take a village to raise a child.
I’d love to hear from you about your experiences and what a working parent really wants from their workplace. Please complete my survey. Once the series of articles on Experiences as a Working Mother is complete, I will run an updated article with your feedback.
