McKesson Clinical Reference Systems: Women's Health Advisor 2002.2

Characteristics:

• Caregiver, usually a mother, looks after one to six children in her own home.
• Caregiver may be a friend, neighbor, relative, or someone unfamiliar.

Advantages:

• Provides home-like environment (especially important for infants and toddlers).
• Greater flexibility regarding ages than most centers (may take infants and toddlers).
• MAY be licensed by the state, ensuring minimum health and safety standards.
• May be easier to locate than in-home care.
• Your child will likely interact with other children.
• Relatively inexpensive arrangement.
• Siblings may be cared for together.
• Your child should receive ample attention.
• Greater flexibility regarding hours than most centers.

Disadvantages:

• You have less control over your child's care than in-home arrangement.
• Your child may not receive as much personal attention as in-home care.
• Caregiver will not always be available (illness, vacation).
• May stop providing services abruptly.
• Caregiver may not have appropriate training or experience.
• May not offer the array of opportunities provided by center-based care.
• Caregiver is not supervised directly.

Additional considerations:

• The caregiver should take care of no more than three infants at the same time.
• Licensing does not relate to the educational, social, or emotional dimensions of the care.

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.