Choosing the Right Caregiver

Choosing a person and place to care for your child when you are at work is one of the most difficult decisions to make as a parent. There are so many things to ask yourself and your caregiver before making the decision. The biggest question of all the questions you will ask is ‘Can this person love your child as their own?’ I believe this is the key ingredient to finding the right person. This applies to nannies, daycares, and Montessori care.

There are many other questions to ask regarding hours, pay, experience, references, education, etc. The answers to these questions can be good, but still not enough to make you feel comfortable if the answer to the biggest question is no. How do you know if someone is capable of loving your child as much as you do? Is it even possible? I can’t tell you if anyone else could possibly love your child as much as you do. A mother’s love is unlike anything else in the world, that’s no secret! I can tell you that there are people who have the ability to love someone else’s child unconditionally and with a passion. There are people who will treat your child with respect and be understanding of their struggles and frustrations. Finding someone who truly desires to aid in the healthy growth of your child and love them unconditionally is not easy.

How do we find these people? How do we know they will be compassionate and kind? Without cameras to record and report how your child’s day goes, it would seem there is no way to know. My best advice would be to spend as much time as possible with the person who will be caring for your child. Find out what their passions are, what their goals are, how they handle difficult situations, how they react to difficult children, and ask any other questions that would reveal their true nature and personality.

Feeling comfortable with your decision to work while your child is in someone else’s care is crucial to being a happy parent. Children sense when we are anxious or frustrated, especially if it involves people they are with a lot. So don’t be afraid to try people out before committing. Be picky, dig deep, you have the right. Think about how much research we do before buying a house or car. Isn’t childcare far more important? After choosing your caregiver, stay close. Keep in regular touch with her and remain updated with how your child and your caregiver are doing.

Being a working mom is becoming the norm and with that comes a huge demand for childcare. This of course brings people into the field who don’t necessarily want to be a full time childcare provider. Many children are put into these people’s hands. Chances are that these children will be relatively safe and given social interaction with other kids, but that might be all they get. I often wonder what the future of this generation will look like because of this.

Your child wants and will thrive best with a full time mother figure. Finding someone who can best replace you while you are away is the most ideal situation for your young child. Find someone who will cuddle, hold, and give affection to your child whenever needed, someone who will respond to your child’s needs in a positive way. Leave your child with someone who can answer ‘yes’ to the big question, “Can you love my child as your own?’