Is child care ok for babies (1088)

Placing babies in childcare is very common today. But is it good for babies? The answer is yes, if it's good childcare.

First, no one has ever expected one or two parents to raise their children all alone, without help from anyone. Good parents have always counted on family, friends, neighbors and churches.

Today, the paid child care provider is another person in the community who helps parents. If you want to stay home to raise your baby and you can, then you certainly should. You and your baby will benefit from your time together. On the other hand, if you want or have to work outside the home, then staying home with baby might be mistake.

There are two important questions to ask yourself before you decide on a caregiver. First, does she or he enjoy your child? Babies need lots of loving and attention. Second, will she or he be there during the hours you need in the months to come? Babies need to form close bonds with people and can suffer if they have too many caregivers.

Children do best when their parents are happy and when they have a caring, sensitive caregiver at home and at the child care center.

Research on employed parents shows that the number of hours per day you work away form home is usually less important than what you do with your baby when you are together. For example, babies usually form their first strong attachments to fathers and mothers during the same months, even when one parent works full-time and the other is home with baby.

From your baby's point of view, the important thing is to have quality care all day long, whether at home or elsewhere or with a parent or a child-care provider.

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

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