The Benefits of In-Home Child Care

Infants need a caring, warm, and responsive adult to provide cuddling and play time. This type of one-on-one care and interaction gives the baby a sense of self-worth and security and creates a stress free environment. When a baby is free of stress they are more likely to try new things and be more adventuresome, thus increasing their learning experiences.

How well we function when we reach adulthood hinges on the experiences that we had during the first few years of our life. If we are raised by caring and attentive adults and are in a safe, stable and predictable environment experts tell us that we are more likely to become better learners in school than those that had less attention. The brain development during the first years of life is very rapid and brain development is very vulnerable to environmental influence. Negative influences may have a lifelong effect.

A nanny is there to meet the physical needs of the child but she also tends to his need to have people time - talking, going for walks and playing throughout the day. This type of dedicated interaction increases language skills, gives him opportunities to explore his environment on daily outings and shows him/her right from wrong; these activities set the basis for the child’s interest in learning, increases the child’s social skills and teaches him/her self-discipline.

Hiring a nanny to care for your child helps to ensure that your child is receiving these critical components for successful development but it has other benefits as well. A young child in group care is exposed to a myriad of germs and infectious diseases. Having a nanny means that your child will stay healthier and not need to be seen by the pediatrician or prescribed antibiotics so often – not only will this save the parent money and time, but it will be much better for the child. For the working parent, it will mean that they will not need to miss a day (or days) away from their job. A child who is ill can’t attend a group care facility but a nanny will be there whether the child is healthy or not.

Flexibility is another major advantage to in-home care. If a working parent or a parent with several children is trying to get her or his and their children ready for the day it can be terribly stressful. All members of the family feel that stress. If Nanny arrives early in the morning and dresses and feeds the child or children it allows the parent to tend to their own needs and know that everything is under control. That parent can leave their home in the morning feeling secure that their child or children are well cared for and their needs are met. At the end of the day if the parent is running late they know that their child or children are home, safe and secure. Upon arriving home the parent can expect to enjoy their family time and have a relaxing evening.

Having a nanny allows a parent to have more control over the type of care their child or children receive and to direct the activities that they feel are important for the child. If there is more than one child in the family, the parent will find that the cost of private in-home care is not significantly more than that of other forms of childcare. Some employers offer a pre-taxed Dependent Care Account and the Internal Revenue allows up to $3,000 for one dependent under the Childcare Tax Credit.

Patricia Cascio is the owner and director of Morningside Nannies and has been  referring nannies to Houston families since 1983. She has been a member of the board of directors of the International Nanny Association since 1998 and served eight terms as INA President.