When you have to go back to work after maternity leave, you have a few child care options. A lot of books recommend keeping your child home until the age of 3. Some parents find, however, that their child needs some social interaction from a younger age.
Questions to help you determine what type of child care will work best for you:
- How much do we have to spend on child care?
- Does my baby have a poor immune system? Premature babies might have to be kept at home longer.
- Is there any play schools in our area with which we are impressed?
- Will someone be able to drop our baby off and pick him/her up?
- Is there a family member who would like to look after our child?
- Where will my child stay when he/she is sick and unable to go to school.
The difference between an Au Pair and a Nanny
An Au Pair usually:
- Is someone that still studies.
- Has a driver’s license to drive kids around and take them on outings.
- Can help your child with homework.
- Looks after older children.
- Becomes part of the family to some extent.
- More expensive than a nanny or play school.
A Nanny usually:
- Is well suited and trained to look after babies or small children. They would have done specific courses on baby stimulation, routines, feeding and general care.
- Has infant and toddler CPR and choking training.
- Also has some domestic responsibilities.
Advantages and disadvantages
Crèche
Advantages
- Social interaction with children from the same age.
- A routine of play and sleep time is established.
- Age-appropriate stimulation.
- When the teacher is sick another teacher can assist with their class.
Disadvantages
- Limited one-on-one interaction.
- Some schools don’t have a holiday programme.
- Set hours.
- Kids get sick more often.
- Some schools have under qualified staff.
Nanny
Advantages
- One-on-one attention.
- Opportunity for your child to become fluent in another language if the Nanny’s mother tongue is different from your own.
- Your child stays in their familiar environment.
- You don’t have to take your baby or toddler out of the house on cold mornings.
- They get sick less often.
- Your nanny can help with domestic chores when your baby/toddler is taking a nap.
- Your child could miss out on important stimulation if your nanny is under qualified.
- When your nanny is sick you will have to make a plan with your child.
- Domestic chores could take priority over your child’s care.
- No or limited interaction with children from the same age.
