Parenting: Babies
Meeting the Needs of Moms and Babies
Like anything, different parents prioritize different attributes. Talking to parents who have had a successful experience and fully
exploring local options can help a family define their needs. For many babies and parents, a day at daycare is a highly positive
experience.
Model Daycares
“I just loved what I saw,” says Kiino. “The emphasis on low staff turnover allows my son to bond with his caregivers. The rooms are
clean, bright and cheery. They have two dimly-lit side rooms that are used for naptime, so Jake gets tucked in with his blanket in a
quiet setting instead of sleeping in a swing or bouncy seat in the midst of activity. Most importantly, since the center is two blocks from
my office, I go there everyday at lunch to nurse Jake. Since I commute to work, if I had a nanny at home that’s something I wouldn’t be
able to do.”
Jamie Shepard of Richmond, Va., had a similar experience registering her son Dylan for daycare. “When I spoke with parents in our
community association, they all raved about the same daycare provider,” she says. When Jamie was 6 months pregnant, she inquired
about a spot and was told they weren’t accepting any more infants. Luckily, they called back two weeks later and said they would
welcome her baby when he arrived.
Staying Connected
Victoria Speaks-Folds, vice president of education for Tutor Time learning centers across the country, recognizes that parents want to
be kept well informed. She says strong parent communication materials are an important attribute of their program.
The Tutor Time teachers use a standardized tool, the Tutor Time Ability Profile, to observe the children and share a record of growth
over time with parents. “I have developed a profile for every age group from infants through 5-year-olds," says Speaks-Folds. "It consists
of typical areas of development, such as social, emotional, physical and cognitive foundations. It is not a competitive analysis, rather a
record of individual achievements and mastery of skills and concepts.” Parents and caregivers both find it helpful to use this portfolio of
documents as a visual depiction of a child’s growth and development.
A detailed report of the child’s day is also a useful communication tool for parents. At Huckleberry Cheesecake, parents receive a form
on arrival each day that enables them to set their baby’s schedule and provide any unusual requests or information. Throughout the day
the staff updates the form with anecdotes or information about the child’s day. Kiino says, “Having a detailed chart to take home really
helps.” The transition from daycare to home is much easier, making the family’s evening more enjoyable.
Exceeding Expectations
The centers’ owner, T.J. Corcoran, strives to “provide additional services to parents to minimize the number of stops that they have to
make in a day.” In families where both parents work, much time is spent driving children to daycare, driving to work and driving everyone
back home again at the end of the day. With Corcoran’s help, these families can use what free time is left to "spend more quality time
with their children rather than running errands every night," he says.
Corcoran takes his mission seriously. He hired a former restaurant owner and well-known local chef to provide “better than restaurant
quality” meals for the children. Parents envied their children’s healthy, tasteful meals so Corcoran began offering gourmet, take-home
meals. “We spend a small fortune on food and nutrition,” says Corcoran. And it’s worth it, because the dinners are the center’s most
popular service.
With daycare centers working hard to anticipate the needs of their clients, parents should be able to find a program that makes them
feel confident and enthusiastic. Whether big or small, traditional or offering a menu of unique services, the most important factor is that
the center feels right for the whole family. As Shepard says, “The best feeling is leaving and knowing that Dylan is excited to be there.”
Many expectant parents worry that they won’t find a daycare center they trust. And the search can be challenging – centers vary
in size, the amount of structure they provide, the amount of flexibility they allow and the services they offer beyond childcare.
Charisse Kiino of Washington, D.C., feels fortunate. She knew that her manager’s two children had an excellent experience at
Huckleberry Cheesecake. Once her first trimester ended, she was confident about sharing her good news and marched right over and
added her baby to the waiting list. And it’s a good thing she didn’t procrastinate – the center is so popular that she ended up
having to find an interim program for Jake for six weeks before a spot opened up. In the end she was just thankful he was able to get
in.
“The center is very small and extremely flexible," says Shepard. "When I first started leaving my son there, they didn’t mind that I
called several times a day to check on him. My son loves the caregiver, Nancy, so much he calls her Nana. All the children do!
Additionally, Nancy has taken care of so many children that she brings her experience to us. She was the one that recognized that
Dylan was having difficulty on his formula and suggested we try a different type. As a first-time mom, it is nice to have someone else
offering us guidance.”
Like most parents, Kiino and Shepard expect a lot from the daycare center their children attend. They both derive comfort from feeling
linked to their child throughout the day. Understanding the details of their baby’s activity level, sleeping patterns and feeding schedules
helps parents feel more connected during the time they are apart.
Huckleberry Cheesecake and Tutor Time are not the only childcare providers to recognize the opportunity to exceed parental
expectations by initiating creative programs.
In Mason and West Chester, Ohio, The Little Leprechaun Academy hopes to make life easier for the parents whose children attend
daycare. The center offers free Starbucks coffee for parents, a dry-cleaning drop-off service and gourmet meals to go. The academy is
also getting licensed to offer the children haircuts from a stylist.
