|
The Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Choosing Childcare
By Ann Douglas, author of The Unofficial Guide to Childcare
Choosing someone to care for your child is a big responsibility one
of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. That's
why it's important to avoid making any of the following
all-too-common mistakes:
Leaving your search
until the last minute: Childcare spaces are in chronically short
supply, so it pays to start your childcare search as soon as
possible especially if you're looking for childcare for an infant.
While you may still luck out and find the childcare arrangement of
your dreams despite the fact that you have left your search until
the last minute, you increase your odds of finding something
suitable if you start looking a little sooner. As a rule of thumb,
you should have your search well underway by the end of your second
trimester of pregnancy. Of course, if you've got your heart set on
finding a space for your child in a particular daycare center, you
will want to get your name on the waiting list even earlier than
that perhaps even as soon as your pregnancy test comes back
positive.
Not understanding what
makes for a good childcare arrangement: Most parents spend more time
researching car purchases than they do in educating themselves about
what makes for a good childcare arrangement. Before you start
evaluating various childcare arrangements, you'll want to arm
yourself with the facts. Find out what caregiver-child ratios are
appropriate for children of various ages; what training childcare
workers are required to have in your particular state; what health
and safety features you should be looking for when you're evaluating
a childcare center or home daycare; and what makes for a fun and
stimulating childcare program.
Neglecting to consider
your family's long-term needs: Changing childcare arrangements is
hard on both you and your child. That's why it's important to
consider your family's long-term needs before settling on a
particular arrangement. Will the quiet home daycare environment that
is ideal for your sleepy newborn be an equally suitable setting when
she becomes a rambunctious toddler? Will your child's space in the
company daycare center disappear if you decided to change jobs? Is
the nanny you're thinking of hiring committed to your family for the
long term or for just a year or two? These are the types of
questions that you need to consider before settling on a particular
childcare arrangement.
Not checking the
caregiver's references carefully enough: It's tempting to rely on
your gut instinct when you're evaluating a particular childcare
arrangement, but you owe it to your child to check things out a
little more thoroughly. That means checking the references of the
nanny, home daycare provider, or daycare center staff person who
will be caring for your child. Because many people are reluctant to
badmouth a particular childcare provider out of fear that they'll be
sued for making slanderous remarks, you really have to read between
the lines when you're conducting a reference check. Bottom line? If
the person providing the reference is less than enthusiastic about
the caregiver's ability to care for young children, start looking
for another caregiver.
Failing to understand
your responsibilities as an employer in the event that you decide to
hire a nanny: The moment you hire a nanny or other in-home
caregiver, you automatically become her employer at least in the
eyes of the IRS. That means that you are responsible for finding out
whether she's legally entitled to work in the United States; paying
her the minimum wage and complying with other state and federal
labor laws; withholding social security and medicare taxes, the
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA), and federal income tax from her pay
checks; carrying Worker's Compensation Insurance (where applicable);
and notifying the government that this person is working for you.
Just a quick word of warning: you shouldn't assume that you're off
the hook if your caregiver happens to work for you on a part-time
basis: even if she makes less than $1000 from you per calendar
quarter, the government might still consider her to be your
employee.
While there are plenty
of other issues to consider when you're choosing childcare for your
child, you'll be well on your way to making a good decision if you
manage to avoid making these five mistakes. Good luck! |
