Infant child care - what to look for (1087)

When you place your baby in the care of someone else, be it family child care, a center, a relative or friend, the key to your peace of mind is trust. The more you trust the caregiver, the more secure you will feel.

Here are some questions to ask:

DOES THE CAREGIVER ...

- Have child-rearing attitudes similar to yours?

- Have training to understand what children can and want to do at different stages of growth?

- Spend time holding, playing with, and talking to your baby?

- Have enough time to look after all the children in care?

- Welcome visits from parents at any time?

- Support your efforts to keep breastfeeding?

DOES THE HOME OR CENTER HAVE ...

- A license?

- Only a few children?--Remember, infants do better in small groups.

- Does the center have a clean and comfortable look?

- Equipment that is safe and in good repair?

- Nutritious meals and snacks, if provided?

- Food handling away from the diapering area?

- A policy of babies being held while they are being fed?

ARE THERE CHANCES FOR CHILDREN ...

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

Feel free to forward, post or reprint any of the "Solutions" in their entirely, but please credit http://www.solutions.psu.edu/ as the original source of information, and please do not change the content.