Choosing Childcare

Some parents prefer to leave their little ones at home with an experienced nanny, while others like the idea of a daycare. The best choice will be what feels right for your family.

Here are some tips for making the transition easier when you go back to work:

A nanny

• When interviewing a potential nanny, find out about her experience and training: Has she done a First Aid course? Does she know how to feed Baby while you’re at work? How does she handle a crying baby?
• You may want to leave your nanny with a simple form to fill in daily (What times did Baby nap? How many times did he need a nappy change? Any unusual behaviour today?), so you’re kept up-to-date on what’s happening with your child
• If you’re anxious about what’s happening at home while you’re away, ask a family member to pop in and report back, or look into getting a nanny cam

A daycare

• Look at daycare options with low child-to-caregiver ratios. Young children need a lot of personal interaction to develop well and happily
• Ideally, visit potential daycares unexpectedly at different times of the day so you can see what happens when parents aren’t around
• Whoever looks after your child must be able to provide the best physical and emotional care. Check that all daycare staff are trained in First Aid, and ask what their policies regarding potty-training and medicine use are. Be sure to enquire how they handle crying or difficult behaviour. If you don’t like the daycare’s policies, find a different option

Find more tips on choosing a daycare or managing illnesses caught at daycare.