Jennifer Reynolds, Editor in Chief - Canadian Family, gives us the steps to take when finding a caregiver for your kids. From daycare to homecare to hiring a nanny, the costs and the pros and cons.
Watch
this segment in Episode 117.
Daycare
Is the more mainstream option.
It's for parents who want the caregiver to be completely accountable.
Has a more rigid schedule than the other two options.
It's a system that has many different age groups - infant - toddler - school age care, so the children are grouped with their peers.
Staff includes trained ECE (Early childhood education) workers.
ECE workers mean that the children are getting pre-school experience.
Daycare will pick up or drop off the children to their schools (they're often located in schools).
Parents should visit prospective daycares to get the feel of it. You can get recommendations from and listen to your friends but its an individual decision.
Pros:
Never have to worry if daycare worker is sick - they'll call in a replacement.
Have a lot of regulations so you know what the rules and guidelines are.
Guaranteed a certain amount of ECE workers - who will work on progressing your child e.g., get going on things like potty training.
Cons:
Child gets less individual attention.
Homecare
More flexible than daycare.
They're licensed and must have a visibly displayed license. Inspectors will drop by without scheduling an appointment to make sure that the homecare is it clean and tidy. Parents find homes through an agency - and they'll try to match you up with the appropriate home.
Ratio - five children per worker.
Pros:
May have a person who suites you more - with daycare you have to go with the staff they've hired.
Less rigid, amore go with the flow attitude.
More flexibility re amount of days per week.
Cons:
Less regulated - you dont know what's going on all of the time.
No backup care - if caregiver is sick youll have to scramble to find alternate care.
Nanny
TWO OPTIONS - LIVE IN AND LIVE OUT
Good option for parents who want flexibility and one-on-one attention for their children.
Good option if youre a working mom and/or traveling a lot.
Start looking for a Nanny early - at least six months before going back to work The best way to begin your search is to check out agency websites. Usually parents make contact with the agencies through their websites and then follow-up with a telephone call to get a feel for the agency. Prepare questions ahead of time; ask about fees and costs. If they seem knowledgeable you can move onto the next step.
There's usually a placement fee that can run from $200 to $2000 depending on qualifications, e.g. if nanny is local or international, has a drivers license, etc. That fee will also cover the paperwork if they're bringing the nanny from another country. Ask if the fee comes with a guarantee - they must find new nanny if the placement doesnt work out. Remember - you're not sponsoring the Nanny; you're employing them.
Checklist
Compatibility - primarily with child but you need to feel comfortable with them too.
Expectations - you must have realistic expectations about the Nanny and be aware of your obligations - this should be worked out through the agency.
Discipline with the child - make sure they understand what you consider acceptable and unacceptable discipline.
Pros:
Flexibility!
Care is on home turf.
Cons:
Not a lot of accountability on an hour-to-hour basis.
Costs
Daycare (per month)
Low end (small cities) $500-700 a month for children 0-3
High end (large cities) $1,300-$1,600 a month children 0-3
Quebec, many parents pay under $10 a day, so about $160 a month.
(Prices go down as children get older.)
Home Daycare (per month)
Smaller cities, $25-30 a day or $400-$600 a month
Larger cities, $40 a day or $800 a month
Nanny
$1,200 to $2,000 a month depends on where you live and obviously what you are willing to spend on care.
It is not per child like home cares or daycares.
A Canadian ECE-trained nanny will cost much more than one from abroad.
