Childcare/Babysitters

Childcare/Babysitters Finding the right person to take care of your baby can be difficult and stressful. Our tips and resources can help.

Choosing and Using a Babysitter
Planning time away from your new baby means that you will need to find a trusted babysitter to care for your baby like you would. That may seem impossible, but knowing what qualities you need in a babysitter will help you to find the best person to take care of your child. The National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) recommends taking the following steps to familiarize a new babysitter with you, your baby, and your home. Also, we have provided a Babysitter Checklist to remind you of the information the babysitter will need while caring for your child, such as numbers where you can be reached in an emergency.

Tips for Familiarizing a New Babysitter with Child Safety and Your Home
Safety/First Aid:

Familiarity with your House:

The following Web Sites have more information on first aid for babysitters:
American Red Cross Babysitter's Training Course
Baby Sitter's Handbook
Visit the National Safety Council Web Site for more information on Baby-proofing your home.

Choosing and Using Child Care
Many moms today work and rely on child care for their children. Relatives or family members sometimes take on child-care duties, or children are enrolled in child-care programs. All parents wish the best start for their children. Child care is more than just a service that allows parents to work. It is a world that will affect a child's development in many ways - physically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially. Finding quality child care that is affordable can be challenging. Many parents need inexpensive or cost-free day care where they know their children are safe and are being helped to grow and develop. Parents can contact their local social service agency (listed in the phone book) for information about government-sponsored programs such as Head Start and Early Head Start and other community programs. The National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) recommends taking the following steps to choosing quality child care. Also, we have provided a Child Care Provider Checklist for evaluating possible child care providers.

Steps to Choosing Quality Child Care:
Look.
Visit several child care homes or centers. Visit the home or center more than once and stay as long as possible so you can get a good feel for what the care will be like for your child. Continue to visit even after you start using the home or center.

Listen.
Make sure the place is cheerful and not too quiet, which can mean not enough activity. Happy-sounding children means they are involved and busy.

Count.
Count the number of children in the group and the number of staff members caring for them. The fewer the number of children for each staff member, the more attention your child will get.

Ask.
Adults who care for children need knowledge and experience. Ask about the background and experience of all staff that will have contact with your child in the home or center.

Be Informed.
Find out more about efforts in your community to improve the quality of child care. Ask if the home or center is involved in these activities. Consider getting involved yourself.

Source: The National Women's Health Information Center
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office on Women's Health



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