Choosing childcare as a stay-at-home parent preparing to return to work is likely one of your top priorities. Finding the right childcare match for your children, parenting style, and the job is critical for your professional success and the well-being of your family.
So, how do you find the best childcare for your needs? Consider the benefits and drawbacks of each type of childcare to help you decide.
How to Select the Most Appropriate Childcare Recruitment Agency
Daycare
Daycare centers are facilities for group childcare. Your child is placed in a group of children of similar ages and is cared for by someone who has been trained to assist your child with their educational and emotional development.
- Pros
Your state typically licenses daycare centers. In some cases, your employer may provide on-site childcare or a subsidy for using this type of childcare. To accommodate working parents, most of these facilities are open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and many offer full-day, half-day, or even drop-in options.
There is usually more than one caregiver present in daycare facilities. This ensures that not only does your child receive appropriate care, but that if one caregiver becomes ill or goes on vacation, there are others to fill in and keep the facility running.
- Cons
This type of childcare may not be flexible enough for you depending on your schedule. Drop-off and pick-up times at daycare centers are usually strictly enforced. Furthermore, some daycare centers are closed for holidays or teacher training days. You’ll need alternative care or take a vacation day on those days.
Your child will also become ill. And, while some parents see this as a benefit (your child’s immune system gets a good workout), it can also be a disadvantage because you cannot leave a sick child at daycare. Even if you work from home on those days, you’ll need backup childcare.
Childcare Recruitment Agency in the Home in form of daycare
In-home daycare is similar to traditional daycare in the sense that you leave your child with a caregiver and a group of children while you work. The difference is that the daycare facility is located in someone’s home rather than in a separate facility.
- Pros
In-home childcare groups are smaller, which may mean more personalized attention from the caregiver. It also means less germ exposure. Furthermore, in-home daycares are frequently less expensive than traditional daycares.
- Cons
In-home daycares are not required to be licensed by the state, but they can become licensed. Even though the class is smaller, your child may be grouped with children who are older and/or younger than them. While this may be acceptable, it may indicate that the caregiver’s attention is being divided unequally or that your child is not participating in developmentally appropriate activities.
Because there are fewer caregivers in this type of childcare arrangement, if someone becomes ill or decides to take a vacation, the daycare center may close for unscheduled days off, necessitating the search for backup childcare.
Nannies
Nannies are excellent if you have a consistent but irregular work schedule. They’re also a good option if you work from home and don’t want to leave your child at daycare.
- Pros
When you hire a nanny, your child will receive a lot of one-on-one attention. Furthermore, because everything takes place at home, your child can follow their schedule, which means they can nap and snack when it’s convenient for them, rather than when the daycare says it’s time.
A nanny will expect to work a set number of hours per week, but they may be more open to a flexible schedule.
- Cons
Nannies are generally much more expensive than group daycare options, and you are responsible for paying your nanny’s employer’s side of the taxes. Furthermore, many nannies expect 40 hours per week, so if you only need a nanny for part-time hours, you may have a more difficult time finding a nanny willing to work for you.
You should also have a backup childcare plan in place in case your nanny becomes ill for an extended period.
Nanny in Childcare Recruitment Agency
If you don’t require a full-time nanny, consider a nanny share. In this arrangement, the nanny’s time is shared by two or more families.
- Pros
When you don’t need a full-time nanny or can’t afford one on your own, this is an excellent option.
- Cons
A nanny share is only effective if you partner with a family (or families) with a different work schedule than you. If there is even one day per week of overlap, the arrangement may not work because the nanny may not be willing to watch the children at the same time without additional pay, if at all.
Childcare Placement Agency
Childcare co-ops, which are less common than other childcare arrangements, are when you share childcare duties with other families. It’s like sharing a nanny. It is, however, distinct in that you are expected to contribute time as a caregiver.
- Pros
This can significantly reduce childcare costs while also allowing your children to stay with a smaller group of children from families with whom you and your children are familiar. In addition, your child is close to home in case something happens.
- Cons
A childcare co-op can only function if all parents contribute equally and consistently. This arrangement is ideal for people who work a consistent schedule and have the same day off each week to care for their children. Furthermore, if one family becomes ill, you may require backup childcare or someone may be required to work double shifts that week.
Make the Best Nanny Staffing Agency Decision with us!
Choosing the right childcare often boils down to money and schedule, but there are options for every situation.
