What now?
The maternity leave is almost over and most working mothers are haunted with the dreaded question: Who should I entrust my baby to when I get back to work? Most often there are only two options, either a day care or hiring a nanny. Neither is very exciting, especially for a new mom.
A nanny is a very common option, especially in countries like Brazil where hiring someone to look after the baby is so cheap. But who are these people we’re entrusting our babies’ care? Most of them are young girls, with low education and even lower career options. Many have close to no experience at all, but seem kind and “good with children”. Is this enough?
How can we be sure our little ones are well cared for? First of all, check for references, even if the person was indicated by someone you know. Invite the applicant for an interview and ask questions about why she left her previous job, how old were the children, her expectations for the job etc. If possible, introduce her to the child and give them some time to bond, see what happens. Children are very good with first impressions. Finally, try to stay around as much as possible during the first week. That should give you just enough time to see if it works.
For those moms who feel safer about leaving their children in a day care, there are some tips too. According to Alice, a physical therapist who raises Vitor, her 10 year old son alone, safety was the main reason why she chose to send him to a day care.
“I knew he was cared for by professionals and if anything happened to him, they would know just what to do. He was always happy to go there and had many little friends.” She says. Doing some research and asking for references is also important when looking for a nice place to leave the children.
There’s no right or wrong answer in the end. The most important thing is to do whatever makes the parents feel more comfortable and safe.
Text: Marina Ramalho
Pics: Digital Vision
The maternity leave is almost over and most working mothers are haunted with the dreaded question: Who should I entrust my baby to when I get back to work? Most often there are only two options, either a day care or hiring a nanny. Neither is very exciting, especially for a new mom.
A nanny is a very common option, especially in countries like Brazil where hiring someone to look after the baby is so cheap. But who are these people we’re entrusting our babies’ care? Most of them are young girls, with low education and even lower career options. Many have close to no experience at all, but seem kind and “good with children”. Is this enough?
How can we be sure our little ones are well cared for? First of all, check for references, even if the person was indicated by someone you know. Invite the applicant for an interview and ask questions about why she left her previous job, how old were the children, her expectations for the job etc. If possible, introduce her to the child and give them some time to bond, see what happens. Children are very good with first impressions. Finally, try to stay around as much as possible during the first week. That should give you just enough time to see if it works.
For those moms who feel safer about leaving their children in a day care, there are some tips too. According to Alice, a physical therapist who raises Vitor, her 10 year old son alone, safety was the main reason why she chose to send him to a day care.
“I knew he was cared for by professionals and if anything happened to him, they would know just what to do. He was always happy to go there and had many little friends.” She says. Doing some research and asking for references is also important when looking for a nice place to leave the children.
There’s no right or wrong answer in the end. The most important thing is to do whatever makes the parents feel more comfortable and safe.
Text: Marina Ramalho
Pics: Digital Vision