Deciding on which type of childcare is best for your family can be challenging. There are many factors to consider when making this decision and there are pros and cons for each option. Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny offers a variety of services to parents.
Professional Nanny
Many families choose to use a professional nanny to care for their children. These caregivers often develop a close bond with the children they care for and can be a convenient option for parents since they come to your home. Some families choose to use a live-in nanny, while other families choose a live-out nanny. If you are looking for a nanny, BBN&N can help. We provide families with live-in and live-out nannies to care for their children.
Live Out
Pros:
- No commute to childcare center
- Comfort of own environment
- One-on-one care
- Can provide for a sick child
- Trust
- Flexibility
- Longer hours than childcare center
Cons:
- Variation in quality
- Vetting needed
- Low socialization
- Cost
- Dependency
Live In
Pros:
- No commute to childcare center
- Comfort of own environment
- One-on-one care
- Can provide for a sick child
- Trust
- Flexibility
- Longer hours than childcare center
- Lower salary because you are providing room and board
- Wider range of availability
- Usually less expensive salary
- Live-in nannies can spend part of the week with you, or live with you full-time
Cons:
- Lack of privacy
- Provide suitable room, food, and usually a private bathroom
- Risk of children developing closer bond with nanny than parents
Nanny Share
In a nanny share, you and other families share the cost of a nanny who watches all the families’ kids at one house. It’s basically the same as the nanny option but potentially more affordable and without the one-on-one care you get with a nanny or au pair.
Pros:
- Socialization
- Lower Cost
Cons:
- Ratio of caregiver to children
- Commute
- More vetting
- Look for families
Au Pairs
Au pairs are young women between the ages of 18 and 26 who come from another country to learn or practice a new language. They almost always live in your home, and they can care for your children for up to 45 hours a week. They usually stay only one year but can stay for up to two. Unlike nannies, au pairs don’t do housekeeping.
Pros:
- No commute to childcare center
- Comfort of own environment
- One-on-one care
- Can provide for a sick child
- Second language exposure
- Can go through an agency
Cons:
- High turnover
- Primary motivation may be to explore a new country
- Provide essentials such as a living space, food, and transportation
- Inability to properly meet and interview in person
- Lack of training and skills
- Weekly hour limitation by law
Childcare Centers
A childcare center is often thought of as the traditional form of early childhood education. The center is usually located in a specialized facility and offers part or full day schedules of activities and education for infants as young as 6 weeks old. Centers are licensed and must meet government safety and staff regulations.
Pros:
- Social interaction
- Regulated by government standards
- More than one caregiver at once
- Reliability
Cons:
- High staff turnover
- Higher staff-to-child ratio
- Risk of frequent illness
- Less knowledge of daily activities
- Commute
Family Day Care
This type of day care typically has one caregiver who cares for six children or fewer, though the specific amount will be determined by state-defined ratios. These providers may limit themselves to a specific age range or care for children of all ages.
Pros:
- More individualized attention than a childcare center
- Affordability
- Fewer germs
- More relaxed curriculum
- Siblings can remain together
Cons:
- Limited backup plans if owner is sick
- Less regulation
- Difference in education philosophies
- Ratio of caregiver to children
Newborn Care Specialist
Some families decide to get specialized care for their newborns and infants. A Newborn Care Specialist has extensive experience and expertise working with newborns and infants. These specialists have completed a comprehensive infant development course and Infant CPR and First Aid Certifications. They also have training in how to educate parents about how to care for their baby and can help mothers navigate breastfeeding. They can be especially helpful for first time parents and with multiples. Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny offers daytime and overnight newborn care services to parents.
Overnight
Pros:
- Learn newborn care tips when you get home from hospital
- Extra sleep for Mom and Dad
- Postpartum support
- Lactation support
- Teach healthy sleep habits from day one
- Help with baby chores: bottles, laundry
Cons:
- Extra childcare cost
- If breast feeding, Mom still has to wake to at least pump
Daytime
Pros:
- Learn newborn care tips when you get home from hospital
- Extra sleep for Mom and Dad
- Postpartum support
- Lactation support
- Help with baby chores: bottles, laundry
Cons:
- Less newborn bonding time
- Extra childcare cost
- If breast feeding, Mom still has to wake to at least pump
Childcare Options
Families have to take many factors into account when they are considering which childcare option is best suited for their family. There is no right or wrong answer. Each family has their own unique needs and priorities when making these decisions.
Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny Services
Night wakings can be exhausting for parents and lack of sleep can leave parents feeling scattered and foggy. An overnight newborn care expert provides care so sleep deprived parents can get a good night of sleep. Your baby needs sleep and so do you.
Daytime Newborn Care
Your Newborn Care Expert will care for your infant and create a stimulating environment that will help foster your baby’s development.
In-Home Consultant Visits
Our trained professionals can teach you how to best care for your baby. Many parents have questions about how to bathe their babies, how to swaddle, or a host of other questions. We also offer a variety of breastfeeding support and lactation services designed to help support and maximize your breastfeeding experience.
Baby Sleep Coaching
One in four children under the age of five has a sleep issue. Most children’s sleep issues are behavioral and not medical. If your child is struggling with sleep issues, you are not alone!
Nanny Placements
The care of your children is our highest priority. Connecting families with warm, responsible, and trustworthy caregivers is what we do best. Our team will meet with your family, identify qualified caregivers, and hand-select the best candidates for you to meet with.
