Child
Care options
One of the most difficult decisions you may have
to make as a parent is which childcare option is best for you, the baby
and your finances. Since you're viewing this site, you've probably already
made the decision to re-join the millions of working moms that go back
to work.
So, which options do most people choose and
which options are there for you?
Primary Child Care Arrangements Used for
Preschoolers by Families with Employed Mothers (Source: U.S.
Bureau of the Census):
Care in child's home
33.0
By father
18.5
By grandparent
5.9
By other relative
3.5
By nonrelative
5.1
Care in another home
31.3
By grandparent
10.4
By other relative
5.5
By nonrelative
15.4
Organized child care facilities
29.4
Day/group care center
21.6
Nursery school/preschool
7.8
School-based activity
0.2
Mother cares for child at work
5.5
Other arrangements
0.9
Total Percentage
100.0
Total Number of children
10,228
Numbers in Thousands. Statistics
for 1994.
Types of Childcare
Options
The Nanny is
an American, private caregiver who cares for your child in your own home.
They may live in or out of your home, may do some light housekeeping, and
can care for children of any age. The AuPair
is a young European adult who lives in, doesn't provide housekeeping services,
and will care for children over the age of 3 months.
Pros
-
Your child gets to stay in the comfortable environment
of their own home
-
Maximum personal attention and flexibility
Cons
-
No backup if the Nanny is sick or on vacation
-
No interaction with other children
-
Can be one of the more expensive options. The
Nanny typically costs between $200 - $600/week. The AuPair is less expensive.
Relative Care
is the environment in which you have a relative care for your child while
you are working.
Pros
-
Maximal personal attention
-
Can be one of the most affordable options
-
There is a level of trust that doesn't have to
be developed
-
This person typically will always play a role
in your child's life
Cons
-
Potentially can cause tension with a family member
if you don't see eye to eye
-
May feel indebted to the family member
Family Daycare
is an environment in which a woman cares for up to 8 children in her home,
including no more than 2 infants.
Pros
-
Often more affordable than other types of child
care
-
Nurturing, family-like environment
-
Personal attention for your child is maximized
Cons
-
Often, the caregiver isn't licensed or formally
educated
-
No backup If the caregiver is sick or on vacation
Institutional Daycare
is an environment in which staff care
for large groups of children in an institutional setting. If you chose
this option, you should spend time observing the site, inquire about its
licensing status, judge its goals and values, and ask others about its
reputation.
Pros
-
Center is licensed and staff is usually well-trained
and educated
-
Provides your child with much chance for social
interaction
-
Sometimes your place of employment may have its
own daycare center on site
Cons
-
Not as much personal attention for your child
-
Centers usually have a set schedule that children
follow
-
Usually one of the more expensive options
-
Children tend to be exposed to more illnesses
Work-at-Home Parent
Care.is for those parents who have the flexibility of working
from home or telecommuting. However, the work hours must be flexible (or
someone must be there to be help you care for your child) for this option
to truly work, given the fact that it would be nearly impossible to give
your child your undivided attention while fully concentrating on your work
at hand.
Pros
-
Affordable option - you earn an income while saving
on childcare costs
-
Your child will have maximal personal attention
-
You may feel better about spending quality time
with your child, watching them grow, and developing a special bond with
your child.
Cons
-
You may have difficulty finding a job that permits
telecommuting
-
You may miss that adult interaction that is found
in the office
-
You may find it difficult to balance caring for
your child and doing your work at the same time
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