Is Child Care Okay for Babies?

Placing babies in childcare is very common today. But is it good for babies? The answer is yes, if it's good childcare. Child Care Source can be a good resource for you in choosing child care. They can be reached at 913-573-CARE.

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.

Also see:
XPLOR Guide Sheet gh 6233 - Finding and Selecting Good Child Care: A Guide for Parents Returning to Work

Nina Chen, ChenN@missouri.edu
Regional Specialist, Human Development
Jackson County, Missouri
University of Missouri Extension