Deciding to leave your child with someone else is not easy, even if they are a relative. However, this is the reality for many working moms post-maternity leave. Fortunately, there are many child care options available, including in-home daycares.
So what is an in-home daycare?
A home-based daycare operates from the caregiver’s home. Unlike larger daycare centers, in-home daycares have a smaller number of kids. Additionally, most teachers in in-home-based care are less educated compared to those working in traditional daycares. However, most of their child care policies marry with those of most parents. Many in-home child care centers use early childhood education philosophies such as Montessori, Reggio Emilio, and Waldorf.
How to choose a home daycare
1. Research
The first step in choosing a home daycare program is to find the most reputable ones within the community. Do your neighbors, friends, and family have good things to say about the daycare? Does the program have good reviews online? Many parents have found an excellent home-based daycare through referrals, so talk to your circle first before going online.
2. Safety
Once you have narrowed down your list of the best daycares in the area, ensure you go through their safety policies. You can also visit the home daycare to ensure that they follow the safety guidelines required by the state. If your baby is young, ensure the in-home daycare follows the proper sleep safety guidelines for children. Young children should sleep in a see-through crib alone without any toys or pillows. A clean environment is also a safe one for your child so ensure you take time on the tour to see how organized and tidy it is indoors and outdoors.
3. Licensing
Every daycare facility should have a current operational license. The business should also have documentation to show that their house has been declared safe for children by the relevant institutions. Depending on where you live, you should be able to search for proof online. Note that child care workers in a home-based daycare don’t need formal training or certification in early childhood education.
4. Is there outdoor space?
Both indoor and outdoor activity is essential for early childhood development. As you visit various home-based daycare programs, find out if they have outdoor spaces where kids can play and socialize. Outdoor physical activity is crucial for kids to build their gross motor skills. If a daycare provider doesn’t have outdoor space, find out the alternatives they have to ensure kids participate in fun, physical, educational activities.
5. Communication
When you’re at work, you still want to keep tabs on your baby to ensure they are okay. A good child care service will have no issues allowing you to call or drop by any time of the day to check on your baby. Most in-home daycares have an open door policy meaning you or your spouse can pop in at any time. A professional daycare program will also be transparent about their operations and answer all questions you have about their child care center.
One of the best things about in-home daycare is that they take children of all ages, making it a great option if you have multiple children. It’s a great way to enhance sibling bonding, and your kids can look out for each other while there.