To make the transition back to work as smooth as possible for both you and your family you'll need to take some time to ease everyone in to the new arrangements.
To feel secure in care, your child needs to develop an emotional attachment to the adults who care for him or her. For this reason it is important to try and maintain continuity of care. Younger children will benefit from even longer relationships, so try and keep this in mind when you choose your care provider.
The relationship between your child and their carer is an important one for ensuring the success of the child care arrangement. Rest assured, however, that quality care is no substitute for the value of your primary parent-child bond and you should not worry about being 'replaced'.
Things to consider when choosing care
There should be a good match between your child's temperament and the type of service you choose, small family day care environments may work well for some children while others may prefer the variety of a larger centre.
Look for a service and educators with the potential to develop a continuous, strong and positive relationship with your child.
The service’s rating against the National Quality Standards
Proximity to home, the services on offer, the number of educators, the pedagogical approach
The priority is to ensure your child receives quality, professional education and care which accommodates their needs and helps you meet your professional commitments.
All of the early childhood education and care options available have variables which need to be weighed up and you'll need to assess them against your family's requirements to ensure you put your child in the best type of care.
Looking forchildcare near you?
Search
We've summarised some of the advantages and disadvantages of the main types of care:
Type of child care
Advantages
Disadvantages
Nanny
Individual attention for your child. One-on-one care is especially important for children under one.
Consistent care from one person.
Generally a professional child carer, with relevant qualifications.
Hours are flexible, depending on your contract agreement.
Child stays in own home and familiar environment. Routines do not have to change. No need to travel and less exposure to illness.
You can have more say in child care as nanny is your direct employee.
Some nannies do light housework.
Can be expensive compared with other child care if you have one child.
Child may miss out on daily social interactions if there are no regular play dates and outings.
You will need to arrange back-up care if the nanny is ill, takes holidays or leaves.
If you employ a nanny directly, rather than use an agency, you will be responsible for wages, tax, superannuation etc. Read about your obligations for employing a nanny.
You may feel you lose some privacy and space with a live-in nanny sharing your home.
Nanny sharing
You have the benefits of a nanny but with lower costs.
You only pay for the time you need the nanny.
If the nanny is caring for children from two families simultaneously, they may form strong friendships.
Administration and paperwork can be shared with the other family.
It can take time and effort to find a compatible family to share a nanny with.
You will need to co-ordinate holidays and any changes in schedule with the other family.
Disagreements between the nanny and one family may affect the other family.
Au pair
Exposes the family to another culture and language.
A cheaper option than a full-time nanny.
Individual attention for your child.
Child stays in own home and familiar environment. Routines do not have to change. No need to travel and less exposure to illness.
Au pair is living with the family, so can be flexible to fit in routines and special needs (eg holidays).
A typical au pair placement is 12 months, so consistency of care can be an issue. (NB: Au pairs on a Working Holiday visa are restricted to 12 months' work with one employer.)
Generally young and living away from home, so will need some personal guidance and advice.
May not be interested in child care as a career option, and may have little experience.
You may feel you lose some privacy and space with another person sharing your home.
If you employ an au pair directly, rather than use an agency, you will be responsible for wages, tax, superannuation etc.
Mother's help
Can help with housework as well as child care.
A cheaper option than a full-time nanny.
Individual attention for your child.
Child stays in own home and familiar environment. Routines do not have to change. No need to travel and less exposure to illness.
Not qualified or newly qualified so may not have much experience.
Initially, should not be left unsupervised until they are comfortable with the child and their duties.
Long day care (child care centre)
For a single child, it is usually cheaper than hiring a nanny.
Care is always available during opening hours. The centre will manage replacement staff if any carer is ill or unavailable.
Provides a structured program with routine and activities.
Centres are licensed facilities, and all staff will have relevant experience and qualifications.
Child meets a range of other children and carers.
Less individual attention than nanny or au pair.
Child is exposed to more people and more illnesses.
Child may find it hard to settle in to unfamiliar environment.
Many centres have long waiting lists and fees can be expensive.
May not be flexible enough to suit your child's individual temperament and needs.
You will have to arrange travel to and from the centre.
Family day care
May be more cost effective than centre based care.
A home-based environment with consistent educators.
Services are licensed and all staff have relevant experience and qualifications.
Interaction with a small group of children of varying ages.
Can be arranged to fit in to your schedule.
You will need to arrange back-up care if the educator is ill or unavailable.
The range of toys, equipment and activities may be more limited than a child care centre.
You will have to arrange travel to and from the éducators home.
In Home Care
Allows you to participate in the workforce and access high quality early childhood education and care where other mainstream child care options aren't available or appropriate (because you work non-standard or variable hours, are geographically isolated, or have challenging and complex family needs).
Flexible child care to suite the hours you need.
High quality, individualised education programs delivered by a qualified In Home Care educator.
Child stays in home environment. Routines do not have to change. No need to travel and less exposure to illness.
Government-subsidised In Home Care places are limited and are allocated to the families that need them most. Your family may not be eligible.
In Home Care may be expensive if you need lots of care.
Child may miss out on daily social interactions if tthere are no regular play dates and outings.
Babysitter
Flexible child care, especially for short periods over evenings and weekends.
Child stays in home environment.
Gives parents a chance to take a break without a long-term child care commitment.
Child care experience varies and babysitters are not always qualified.
May not be available for regular long-term care or longer hours.
Going forward
Don't forget about the settling in period and to check in on how things are going in the longer term. It's important to remember that your child will take time to adjust in all aspects of this new part of their life and as they grow and develop, you need to keep your finger on the pulse, check in and be involved.
