| As hard as the decision may be to make, if you need | | | | thing to keep in mind is that Mom is older than she was |
| to work outside the home after your baby is born, you | | | | when she raised you; she may have forgotten how |
| need to decide BEFORE your baby is born as to | | | | exhausting taking care of an infant may be. |
| where they are going to spend their days while you at | | | | Another way to go may be for you to hire a nanny. |
| work. Many childcare providers, be they childcare | | | | Interviewing potential nannies can be rather exhausting, |
| centers, or home providers have waiting lists. Find the | | | | but if this is the route you want to take, you need to |
| one you like the best and enroll your child before that | | | | be very careful of who you hire to care for your child. |
| day comes that you are going back to work. Doing | | | | Most nanny agencies are very particular about whom |
| your research ahead of time will save you a ton of | | | | they hire, but everyone is different in their thoughts on |
| heartache. | | | | raising children, so you need to find someone whose |
| Don't assume that every childcare provider is willing to | | | | ideals match yours. If possible, have a nanny start |
| take in part-time children. Some daycare providers | | | | working for you a couple weeks before you go back |
| want full-time children to keep the books easier to | | | | to work so they can become familiar with your baby's |
| manage and to keep classrooms full. Another aspect | | | | routine and your expectations. |
| of working part-time is weighing whether it is financially | | | | If you chose not to go with home daycare for |
| worth it. OK, you will be making money, but you have | | | | whatever reason, then you can turn to daycare |
| to take into account what the cost of childcare costs | | | | centers. Daycare centers are mandated by states to |
| you plus add in the cost of gas, work clothing and | | | | be licensed and do background checks on potential |
| lunch food. You may end up realizing that it isn't worth | | | | employees. Daycare centers also make sure that their |
| you going back to work part-time! | | | | employees are up to date on emergency care such |
| If you decide that going back to work, even if it is | | | | as CPR. In daycare centers, you also have the |
| part-time, you need to decide what kind of childcare is | | | | security of knowing that there will almost always be |
| best for your child. Most definitely, having someone | | | | more than one adult in the room with your child. This |
| come into your home to take care of an infant is most | | | | brings about a sense of security in that there will |
| advantageous because of the fact that your infant's | | | | always be sort of checks and balances with each |
| immune system is not fully developed and therefore | | | | teacher keeping the other in check. |
| staying at home will keep your infant away from | | | | Whatever child care you chose for your child, always |
| dangerous germs that tend to cause multiple ear | | | | go with what your heart and gut tells you. If you sense |
| infections and even delay development. | | | | that something is wrong, you are probably right. Talk to |
| If you are lucky enough to have your Mom or | | | | neighbors and friends to see what or who they |
| Mother-in-law near and available, this could be a God | | | | recommend. Regardless of your choose, stay involved |
| send to you. On the other hand, parenting theories | | | | by talking to your child's teacher and even dropping in |
| have changed over the years, and your Mom's ideas | | | | at random times to see what is going on at different |
| on child rearing may differ vastly from yours'. Another | | | | times of the day. |