Most families face the need to search for childcare when a parent that once stayed home decides to re-enter the work force. This decision can be a painful one, especially if that parent has been the primary caregiver for the entirety of their children’s lives. In order to feel an increased level of comfort, many of these families opt for a private nanny over center-based care; here are ten of the reasons why.
- Level of Experience – Looking over a prospective nanny’s resume and seeing that she has extensive relevant experience is much more soothing than the idea of dropping young children off at a daycare center whose employees may or may not be novice childcare providers.
- Proper Lifesaving and Emergency Management Skills – Having CPR and first aid certification is one of the many things that a veteran nanny has to offer over younger babysitters and even some daycare workers, who may have taken courses but have no practical experience.
- Establishing Trustworthiness – Even high-end daycare centers can be plagued by a high turnover rate, leaving kids with a revolving door of caregivers. One of the most attractive aspects of engaging a nanny is the knowledge that the long-term nature of the relationship will allow both parties to build essential levels of trust.
- Building a Relationship With Kids – Spending time with the same nanny each day allows kids to build a personal relationship, which can soothe feelings of separation anxiety and problems with abandonment after a parent re-enters the workforce.
- Building a Relationship With Parents – Because a nanny and her employers will see each other every day that she works, both before and after her shift, they have a chance to build a relationship of their own that is likely to be missing with workers in a large daycare center.
- Meeting Overtime Demands – Center-based care for parents that work irregular shifts or are frequently required to put in overtime can become quite pricey when late pickup fees are added to the regular cost of care. Knowing that their children will be cared for by a professional and will not face feelings of being forgotten at a daycare center are often just what hard-working parents need to keep their minds at ease.
- Providing Great References – During the hiring process, a nanny candidate will present a list of references that can be easily checked or even a few letters of recommendation. Parents screening a daycare center will almost never get the chance to check the employees’ references, being forced instead to trust a hiring manager’s vetting process.
- Keeping the Household Running Smoothly – Though nannies very rarely perform tasks or run errands that aren’t directly related to the care of her charges, that contribution alone is often enough to keep a household running efficiently during the time that parents are forced to be outside of the home. Knowing that everything is being handled with precision and that their children are in a safe, familiar environment is worth every penny of a nanny’s salary to many parents.
- Meeting All of Kids’ Needs – The sheer volume of children in center-based daycare makes it difficult for even efficient employees to meet the needs of each charge individually. The one-on-one nature of nanny care makes it easier for parents to leave each day with the knowledge that all of their kids’ needs will be met.
- Providing a Daily Update – While an overworked daycare employee might be able to let parents know about major events, the everyday occurrences that make you your child’s daily life are quite likely to get lost in the shuffle. By engaging a nanny and having a conversation with her about the day’s events at the end of each shift, parents can stay updated on what happens in their children’s lives during the time that they’re away.
For some parents, nannies and other private home-based care are the only way to go. Others, however, feel perfectly satisfied with the level of care their children receive at the hands of competent daycare workers. As is true in so many situations, there are no one-size-fits-all childcare solutions; what works for one family may be completely infeasible for another. Choosing the right solution for your family is as simple as examining your needs and those of your children while taking budgeting and availability of care in your area into consideration.
