Babies Tale

This essentially means that you pay a sitter to stay in your home with your child. With a small baby, this may be the easiest option, since only one environment is involved. This is also the most expensive option, and doesn’t always pan out as the best one, since in-home caregivers often burn out and have been known to put the child in front of the television and carry on with their normal routine. Finding a person who has an emotional reason for wanting to take care of someone else’s child may help; financial motivation alone does not guarantee superior care.

If you’re hiring a mother’s helper, you should have a sense that she respects your child and understands his needs-and yours. Is she willing to structure a nap into the afternoon so that your child is not cranky when you get home? If your child is rested, you can spend some quality time with him. Most important, what do your instincts tell you about this person? Do you think you can have a cooperative relationship with her? Check references. Once you’ve hired a candidate, find some reason to go home unannounced during the day in order to get a sense of what’s happening. Does your sitter run out the door as soon as you arrive home, or is she able to tell you what your child did that day, giving you a sense that she is involved and concerned?

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