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In-Home Daycare: How to Decide If It’s Right For Your Child

You peek through the window of your child’s in-home daycare to see what your little one is up to. You’re delighted to see she’s seated on a soft carpet, beside a sofa, looking at a book. You smile and walk through the door, thrilled that you made the right choice about choosing an in-home daycare where your kid is happy. 

Making the decision about where your child will go to daycare can seem like an impossible task. Should you send your child to a center? Or find an in-home daycare that’s a bit more intimate?

What are the benefits of in-home daycare? The benefits of in-home daycare begin with the fact that it’s offered in the comfort of the provider’s home. Many people choose it because it’s often less expensive and the care feels more personalized. However, there are also some downsides that parents should consider because standards for operation tend to be lower for in-home care providers.

How do you know if in-home daycare is the right choice for your family? In this article, we’ll explore the concept of in-home daycare, its advantages and disadvantages, and things you should keep in mind when choosing an in-home daycare provider. 

What Is In-Home Daycare?

In-home daycare is usually compared to daycare centers. Offered by home childcare providers, in-home daycare is offered in a residential setting, usually the caretaker’s home. Programs vary greatly in the quality of care, whether or not they are licensed, what activities are involved, and what the environment is like. 

Many in-home daycares are very informal. The caregiver may care for children within their own family such as nieces and nephews, or grandchildren. Other providers run a more formal operation. These daycares are more likely to include children who are not related to the childcare provider. The daycare provider’s own children may or may not also participate in the program. 

Benefits of In-Home Daycare

Choosing an in-home daycare for your child can provide many benefits for you and your child. The following benefits generally apply to most in-home daycare situations. However, how beneficial the is service really depends on the home daycare provider, the environment they maintain, the activities they offer, and how they run their program.

Here are some of the main benefits you can gain from a well-run in-home daycare program:

  • Flexibility: Does your job require you to work irregular hours? Then, you need flexible daycare options that allow you to drop your child off early in the morning, or stay late into the evening. In-home daycares are more likely to be able to accommodate these sorts of schedules. 

In this type of daycare set-up, you’re also more likely to be able to simply call up the caregiver and let them know you’re running late, or need to pick up your child early. While daycare centers may have strict operating hours, in-home daycare centers are more likely to be flexible. 

  • Lower Levels of Stress: In one research paper, studies showed that children at in-home daycare centers appeared to be more at ease than children in center-style care. This may be in part because in-home daycares are quieter and more homey than centers. 

Studies also measure cortisol, or stress hormones, in children at various daycare centers. While levels are similar for children in centers and in-home environments, the higher the quality of care, the lower the cortisol levels in children. One of the main factors that played into stress levels was the sensitivity of the caregiver. In-home caregivers scored higher on sensitivity than daycare center caregivers. 

As a result, overall, it appears that stress levels in children are generally lower at in-home daycares than center-style daycares. (source)

  • It’s Just as Good: Some parents worry that daycare centers are better at preparing their kids for school than in-home alternatives. However, according to studies, spending time in a daycare center didn’t necessarily improve outcomes once children arrived at school. So, you can have confidence that an in-home daycare is just as effective at preparing your child for school. (source)
  • Trust: Imagine your child being cared for by a family member or a close friend. It’s an ideal scenario for many parents. The trust you can feel when placing your child in the care of someone you know well can be hard to replicate in the daycare center environment. Furthermore, while in a center, your child may have several caregivers or teachers, at an in-home daycare, your child will most likely be cared for by one adult. That might make it easier for both you and your child to achieve trust with this individual.
  • Low Ratio of Children to Caregiver: While numbers may vary, as a general rule, there are fewer children per adult at in-home daycares than at centers. This means your child can receive more personalized attention and care in this environment. 
  • Very Attentive Caregivers: According to studies, home child care providers are very attentive to the children in their care. Up to 88% of their time is spent monitoring the children and they spend over 50% of their time actively engaged with the kids. (source)

For most parents, this is a big plus when considering childcare options. 

  • Lower Cost: For in-home care, you can pay as little as half as much as you would pay to send your child to a center (source). For many families, this makes a big difference in finances. A lower childcare cost can open up the possibility of having two parents work. For single parents, lower childcare costs can truly be a budget saver. 

All of these benefits can help parents successfully manage family life. From accommodating schedules to lower costs, in-home daycare offers an alternative that can make a big difference in the quality of family life.

Stress for parents may be reduced thanks to the trust they are able to build with the in-home daycare provider. Children also enjoy positive outcomes. From lower stress levels to equal outcomes once they reach school-age, and very attentive caregivers, children can thrive in these environments.

Downsides of In-Home Daycare

Not everything about in-home daycares is perfect. However, when reading the possible downsides of in-home daycare, it’s important to remember that these disadvantages are for the average daycare. Highly qualified home care providers and most excellent programs may not exhibit these negative characteristics. 

But, in any case, it’s important to be aware of what you might come up against with in-home daycare so you can do your own research on the provider. Here are the downsides:

  • Improved Vocabulary in Center-Based Daycare: Studies show that children who attend daycare centers acquire better vocabulary skills than children who receive home-based care. This may be because trained daycare workers learn how to get children to talk using open-ended questions and similar strategies. More reading may also happen in these environments. (source)
  • Less Training and Education: Caregivers at in-home daycares may not have as much training related to childhood development or education as those who work at daycare centers (source). This might mean that the toys and activities available aren’t as developmentally appropriate or planned to meet developmental needs. The same source also found that fewer learning activities are available in home-based daycares than in daycare centers. 
  • More TV: Studies show that in-home daycare programs are more likely to have the TV on than daycare centers (source). Watching TV, or having the TV on in the background can be detrimental to children’s ability to concentrate on play. Furthermore, it can result in negative effects on cognitive abilities. (source)
  • Unpredictable Schedule for Days Off: One practical downside to in-home daycare is that there may not be a back-up plan if the caregiver is sick or if their children are sick. This means that you’ll have to come up with your own back-up plan if these scenarios show up. 
  • Licensing and Safety Issues: Make sure you look for a licensed childcare provider if you do opt to go the in-home route. While many programs are fully licensed, many others are not. Regulations and licensing are in place to make sure that programs meet safety standards. For example, licensing addresses fire safety, requirements for care providers, how many children can be in the home, the conditions of the home, and more. 
  • Qualifications: The standards for in-home daycare operations to do business are often much lower than the standards for centers. It is imperative that you thoroughly vet your in-home childcare provider to ensure that they are highly-qualified and will provide a warm and caring environment that gives them an advantage over centers.

It’s essential that you fully investigate any childcare center before signing your child up. 

With that being said, the question remains if choosing in-home daycare is the best option for your child and your family. 

Deciding if In-Home Daycare is Right for Your

In-home daycare can be the perfect choice for many families. However, it’s not for everyone. Making the decision should be based on an evaluation of your needs and preferences. Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Your Needs: How important is flexibility to you? Parents who do shift work or have jobs with irregular hours may benefit from the flexibility of in-home daycares. 

Another point is convenience. Perhaps in-home daycare options are much closer to your home or workplace, making the location more convenient than the alternatives. 

Finally, you or your child might have special needs that make this option easier. For example, kids who are overwhelmed with too many other children might have an easier time at an in-home daycare.

  • Your Preferences: How do you picture your child’s day? Would you like to imagine them running around a daycare center with lots of other kids? Or do you find the intimate, warmer environment of a home more appealing? It may depend on your child’s age, as well. For the youngest children, it’s understandable that parents may prefer a homey, comforting environment. 
  • What’s Available: If you have a connection to an in-home daycare run by a trusted friend or a relative, this relationship to the daycare can make a big difference in your choice. Also, you might be drawn in by other qualities present in-home daycares. For example, perhaps there’s one that’s run by a former teacher. Or maybe, you find a provider who uses the Montessori method or a similar parenting philosophy to your own. These connections and qualities can make the in-home option very appealing.

How to Choose an In-Home Daycare: What to Look For

Enjoying a positive in-home daycare experience hinges on choosing a quality provider. Remember, negative experiences can happen at both in-home and center style daycares. That’s why it’s important to do your research ahead of time and pick the option that suits your child and family the best. 

If you’re wondering how to find in-home daycare in your area, start by looking online. You can also ask other parents in the area for recommendations. The National Association for the Education of Young Children offers a database that you can search through to find accredited care providers in your area. Also, try the phone book, and online review sites like Yelp to discover in-home care providers close to you. 

Once you’ve found a few, review them for the following:

  • Safety: Check the care provider’s commitment to safety by finding out if they’re licensed. A license shows dedication to meeting safety standards. You can also ask the provider for a reference from a past or current parent who can answer your questions about safety in the home. 
  • Qualifications and Experience: Find out what qualifications and experience the care provider has. For example, many individuals might be parents themselves or be former teachers. Ideally, you should find a provider who has significant professional experience working with children. However, committed parents may also be great caregivers, even if they don’t have an academic or professional background related to children. 

One important thing to check is if the providers have CPR/first aid training. While no one likes to think these qualifications will be necessary, it’s better to be prepared in case of an emergency. 

  • Types of Activities and Toys Available: Ask for a sample schedule of how the kids spend their days. When you visit, notice what kinds of toys are available. Items that allow for open-ended play such as playdough, blocks, and art materials are all great. Ideally, there should also be an outdoor space that will allow your child to enjoy time outside developing their gross motor skills. While playground equipment is nice, it’s most important that there’s grass, sunshine, and space to run around. 
  • Number of Children: Find out how many children attend the daycare and how many caregivers are involved. The fewer the number of children per adult, the better. Also, get a sense of the space to find out if your child will feel cramped or crowded, or if there seems to be enough space to accommodate the number of children.
  • Cost: In every family, there is a budget. Find out right away what the costs of the daycare are so that you can plan accordingly. For many families, childcare expenses can make or break a budget. So, find out right away if you’ll be able to even consider the program based on costs.
  • Clear Policies: Formal in-home daycares will have clear policies around sickness, how to handle emergencies, food, etc. You can ask about policies outright, or simply ask what information the caregiver would need from you should you decide to enroll your child. The caregiver should request emergency contact information and some basic medical information such as whether or not your child has allergies. If you aren’t asked for this information, it could be a sign that the caregiver hasn’t thought much about how to handle an emergency situation. 
  • Screen Time: The research is building its case against screen time (source). Make sure the provider has clear policies on screen time and explicit professional practices for exploration, creativity, and play.
  • In-Home Daycare Contract: Ensure that your expectations will be met by requesting a contract with your in-home daycare provider. The contract should clarify their qualifications, policies, and deliverables so that you know exactly what your child will be getting, and who they will be getting it from.

It’s also worth asking how the provider communicates with parents. Do they usually debrief at pickup and drop off? Do they do phone calls or texts? Could you set up a Whatsapp chat to share pictures and updates? The more open to communication and keeping parents up to date, the better.

By reviewing each in-home daycare you visit for the above qualities and considerations, you can make sure you pick the best option for your child. 

The Last Word on In-Home Daycare

Carefully vetting an in-home daycare can result in a great experience for your child. You might find the perfect match in a home daycare provider who is caring, kind, and knowledgeable about childhood development. Providing your child with this loving, calm, and comfortable environment can be the perfect transition from receiving care from you in your home, to being cared for in another home, while you’re at work. 

Many in-home daycares are expertly maintained by committed individuals who really have the children’s best interest at heart. The trick is to find one that meets your standards and a provider who can help your child grow and develop to their full potential.