Daycare or babysitter? It is the eternal doubt that mothers face when their maternity leave ends.
Will the baby’s development be the same? Will she/he socialize with other children? Experts are
divided on which is the best option. We give you the keys to make this important decision.
Choosing between daycare or babysitter will no longer be a problem.
If there is one thing that all parents agree on, it is how a baby changes life. Balancing work
schedules with caring for a child can become a real obstacle course. To overcome the difficult
challenge of reconciling work and family, parents can choose to:
● Take the baby to a daycare
● Hire a nanny at home
● Turn to the help of grandparents
In this article, we provide you with all the information necessary to decide what is best for your
baby. Whether you opt for a daycare center or a babysitter, you should always think about the
specific needs of your family.
Why choose between daycare or nanny?
There are many women who admit to having given up their professional careers after having a
baby. Balancing work life with the responsibility of being a parent is not an easy task.
Faced with this situation, more and more families are turning to grandparents to take care of
their children. In many cases, grandparents spend more time than parents spend with their
children. The solution is the most economical and the one that provides the most confidence to
the family, but it is not always viable.
When paternity and maternity leave ends, opting for a daycare or nanny is the main alternative
for the majority of US families.
Factors for choosing between daycare or babysitting
Not all childcare options are suitable for a family. Therefore, you must first evaluate these factors:
- Advantages and disadvantages of all available options
- Prices
- Schedules
- Know how to recognize a good daycare and a professional nanny before choosing
- What will be best for the child’s development?
- Opinion of experts in early childhood education
- Needs of your family
Daycare or babysitter, pros and cons
Advantages of babysitters over daycare
- The child cannot go to daycare if he or she is sick: If the baby has a fever above 38º, he or she must stay home. What to do when she can’t go to daycare? A babysitter will prevent you from having to miss work or look for other types of solutions.
- Hours: If you work full time, you will need a center that covers more than eight hours during the day. Not all daycare centers have extended hours; a nanny allows greater flexibility to adapt to your family’s needs.
- If your child has not yet gone through the process of leaving the diaper, a nanny at home can be your perfect ally. The child will get used to going to the bathroom alone more easily with the help of a caregiver. His adaptation to daycare will be easier if he has gone through this process before.
- Individualized care in case of disability: Hiring a caregiver for children with special needs is an option for many parents. Caring for a child with a physical or intellectual disability requires greater training and experience for these professionals.
Advantages of daycares over babysitters
- Difficulty finding the right babysitter: You can find a multitude of babysitter profiles online through the Internet. There are also agencies that are dedicated to searching for candidates. However, not all available professionals are trained. And there is no worse thing than choosing a wrong and unqualified babysitter for your little angel.
- Contact with children of his age: Unlike with a babysitter, your child at the daycare center will interact with other babies on a daily basis. This way, he will be with other little ones of similar ages and develop his socialization skills.
- If the babysitter gets sick: what if the babysitter gets sick? Obviously, your plans and work will be compromised. However, in daycare centers, there is a complete team of professionals and if even one gets sick there will be another member to take care of your child.
- When an unforeseen event arises for the caregiver: professionals at daycare centers will be there to take care of your child.
Requirements for a trusted daycare or babysitter
Before choosing between a daycare or a babysitter, it is essential to find out how to identify a
good daycare or a professional that inspires your confidence. Here are the essential guidelines
that will allow you to be correctly informed before making any decision.
How do you recognize a good daycare?
- Ask other parents about their experience. Go to the center at dismissal time, so you can have an objective opinion about the pros and cons of that daycare center.
- Make an appointment to visit the daycare centers. A trustworthy nursery school must have an open door policy, do not hesitate to see all the facilities: the classrooms, the toilets, the cribs where they will nap, the dining room and the kitchen.
- Look at the attitude of the teachers and assistants, they must be patient and affectionate with the children.
- Staff with appropriate qualifications: To be in charge of a classroom, caregivers must have the title of Teacher with a specialization in early childhood education or the equivalent Bachelor’s degree. Support staff need the appropriate qualifications to care for children of this age.
- The daycare center must respect an adaptation period for your little one. In this way, you will prevent the classic symptoms of separation anxiety in babies from arising.
Conclusion to decide between daycare or babysitter
- Be well-informed before choosing between the two alternatives.
- Deciding between daycare or nanny is not easy, consider both options calmly.
- Visit daycare centers in your area by making an appointment.
- Interview babysitters to compare both alternatives.
- Make the decision that best suits your family’s needs.
- Demand all the necessary documentation and be thorough in the selection process.
Which option seems better to you? Daycare or babysitter? If you think that daycare is the best
one, then don’t look further and choose Pooh Bears Hunny Stop. Our professional staff is
highly experienced and certified in Early Childhood Education, so you can rest assured that your
little angel is in safe hands.
