How to Choose the Best Infant Care for Your Baby


Choosing a daycare centre is one of the most important decisions that every parent will have to make. Since the first few years of your baby are crucial, you need to look for a place that can nurture all aspects of child development, from cognitive and social skills to motor skills.

Finding the right daycare centre will be quite a challenge, but keeping a few basic points in mind can help!


We’re here to share our infant care guide on how to choose the best child care for your little bundle of joy.


Whether you’re thinking of home-based care or group daycare, here’s how to go about the search for the best one.


  1. Do some research


The Internet is your best friend if you’re looking for the most recommended child care centres in the area. A quick Google search can lead you to several nearby daycare centres worth adding to your list.


You can check out Google Reviews to see what fellow parents had to say about their child’s experience at those child care centres. Be wary of online reviews, though, because a dissatisfied customer is more likely to leave a review than a satisfied one. 


Besides checking for online reviews, you can get recommendations from parent friends or even your paediatrician. 


Worry not if you have no parent friends! You can always try chatting with other parents at playgrounds, mummy-and-me classes, and those in line with you at the paediatrician’s clinic. 



  1. Drop by in person


After narrowing down the recommendations, make time to visit each child care centre in person to get a feel of what a day inside feels like. 


Pay attention to how the caregivers are interacting with each child. Are they on the floor playing with them or are they playing from a distance?


In the first few years, babies need constant warm and close interactions with adults to support their social and cognitive development - that’s why a caregiver needs to be responsive and caring.


This is where you need to trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, then it’s probably not the best child care centre for your baby. 


  1. Look for commitment


For your little one to build a secure attachment to their caregivers, they need consistent care while growing up!


One of the most important infant care guides we can give is to talk to the caregivers and ask for long-term commitment. 


If you’re considering group daycare, try to ask the current caregivers how long they’ve been working there and how often the place experiences turnovers. 


If you’re looking at home-based care, request the caregiver to stay for no less than 12 months as it can be disorienting for your baby to have multiple caregivers in a single year.


  1. Check their in-house policies


Before deciding on a daycare centre, it’s important to know if your parenting philosophy aligns with its in-house rules. 


Here are the questions worth asking to know if your parenting style matches their child care philosophy:


  • Do caregivers scold children if they’re noisy and disobedient?

  • How much TV time do the children get in a day? 

  • What snacks and drinks are provided every day? 

  • What symptoms prevent a child from attending?

  • What happens when the caregiver is too sick to call in for work?


The more questions you ask early on, the quicker you know if it’s the right place for you and your little one. 


  1. Be open to change


If it doesn't work out with your chosen daycare centre, don’t hesitate to jump ship and switch to another place.


The truth is, parents and caregivers don’t always see eye-to-eye, and that’s normal! You both want what’s best for your baby after all. 


It’s important for your little one to experience consistent interaction and care, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible to change the arrangements. 


Babies are more resilient and adaptable than we expect! As long as we expose them to positive experiences, they’ll grow up just fine.

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