With the previously stated increase in working parents, the
demand for child care has increased as well. With this increase
more and more families are discovering there are many options
available to working parents in terms of quality care for their
children.
One such option is in home care.
When considering in home care, there
are a few very important factors to consider.
Choosing a caretaker
Price
Time
Peer
Interaction
Attatchment
Issues
Who should you pick?
Since your nanny or au pair will
be spending a great deal of time with your child in a period
where cognitive, social and physical development are crucial,
it is very important to pick the right person to care for your
child. Not only should you interview your prospective emloyees,
but to also check their references or even have background checks
done. On top of that it is important that you the parents get
along with this individual as well since oftentimes the nanny
will be living with your family in the home. Websites such as
4nanny.com may prove helpful in findding the right agency for
you.
Can you afford a nanny?
Obviously nanny's are not cheap.
In fact, basically the only people that hire nanny's are the
same people that can afford maids or butlers. The hourly wage
of a nanny can be anywhere from eight to sixteen dollars an hour.
If you can afford to spend a few thousand dollars a month on
in home child care, then perhaps the employment of a nanny is
right for you.
Time?
One of the most attractive aspects
of hiring a nanny would be the flexibility parents are given
with time. Since the nanny is already at the house prepared to
care for the children, there is no rush to get your children
to a center by a certain time. By that same token, there is no
set time to pick your children up. If both parents need to work
late, it does not present a problem since the nanny is with the
children at home. There is also no need to implement a complicated
schedule between two working parents to make sure their child
gets to a daycare center when the care is provided at home.
What about peer interaction?
One of the main worries parents may
have concerning in home childcare is whether or not their children
will miss out on interacting with peers. While many children
go to daycare and learn about sharing and making friends, children
at home with a nanny may miss out on such oportunities. However,
young infants do not need peer interaction immediately, and older
babies or toddlers could reach this interaction through set play
dates.
Will the nanny replace me as "mommy"?
Another question parents may have
about nannys has to do with attatchment. With all the time that
the nanny spends with your child, it may make you worry that
your child will grow closer to the nanny than with you the parent.
An important thing to remember here is that parents are irreplaceable.
However, it is still important to spend as much quality time
with your children as possible. Also, establish activities that
are reserved for parents only, such as reading a special book,
or playing a special game.
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