Though caring for an infant is often a rewarding experience for many families, it’s also a very challenging one. The good news is that there are many trusted facilities in Singapore that offer parents professional assistance in caring for the newest members of their family. These infant care centers provide little ones between the ages of 2 and 18 months with topnotch care, attention, and stimulation to safeguard their health and ensure their proper development. At the same time, having the option to entrust their infants to professional care providers allows parents to resume their full responsibilities at work and in their community with peace of mind.
Given the abundance of options that they have at the tips of their fingers, how should parents choose the best childcare in Singapore for their infant? As a parent, here are some things you should consider while making this decision for your infant child.
The Location of the Childcare Facility
The closer the childcare facility is to one’s home, the better. If the center is located within the family’s block or just a few minutes’ walk from the family’s home or office, then parents can easily take their baby to the center on their way to work and pick them up at the end of their shift.
This also means that the family won’t have to worry about the additional cost of transporting the baby or toddler to the care facility. It also gives moms the option to breastfeed during their morning or lunch break. In your case, if ever your infant needs to go home, the proximity of your home to your chosen childcare center will make the process of moving a sick or irritable baby from one place to another much simpler and faster.
Qualified Educators and Staff Members
Infant care providers in Singapore are more than just babysitters. They do more than feed and change babies, put them to sleep, and ensure that they are safe at all times. These professionals understand the rapid development that infants and toddlers go through during these important stages in their lives.
To promote the physical, social, emotional, and mental growth of the kids under their care, infant and early childhood educators facilitate appropriate events and activities in the centers where they’re employed. They are also quite familiar with the milestones that babies between 2 and 18 months should be able to attain. As such, early childhood educators can quickly see and recognize issues that may be indicative of developmental delays and help connect parents with early intervention programs.
In addition to its educators, an early childhood care facility should also have a nurse. It should also employ other staff members who can help ascertain that the children’s needs–from nutritious and delicious food to a clean and safe environment–are all met. When you place your child in the care of professionals in a childcare center, you can be assured that they’ll be in good hands.
The State of the Center’s Facility
Competent early childhood educators play a big role in the quality of experiences that an infant has access to during their stay in the childcare facility. However, it’s also important for parents to pay attention to the actual facility where their kids will be staying. It’s a must for them to visit the center itself and assess the safety and cleanliness of the area as well as the hygiene practices implemented by the facility.
A childcare center that adheres to a standard of safety and cleanliness is a place where an infant or toddler is less likely to incur injuries or catch infectious diseases. Take this into consideration while choosing a childcare facility for your child.
The Center’s Hours of Operation
Another important consideration that many parents have to make when choosing an infant care facility is the center’s operating hours. Some parents are perfectly fine with signing up their infants for a half-day program. This arrangement is ideal for households that have a member who stays at home full-time or who works part-time. The family member can complete their work or household chores while the baby is in the center, then they can spend the rest of the day watching over the infant.
However, there are also parents who work fulltime and require centers that offer 12-hour programs for infants and toddlers. They are more likely to sign up their infants for childcare programs that are available from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Knowing that, choose a childcare facility that can accommodate your family’s unique needs.
The Facility’s Credentials and Reputation
Care facilities for infants and toddlers in Singapore are overseen by The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). The said agency is responsible for providing childcare centers with the license to operate. These licenses can last anywhere from 8 to 24 months, and facilities that have established themselves as reliable service providers often get longer license terms.
The said agency also runs the Singapore Pre-School Accreditation Framework (SPARK), a voluntary accreditation program that aims to improve the quality of childcare facilities and services in the country. Centers that have been recognized in the SPARK program have achieved the high standard of early childhood education endorsed by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Be sure to check out the facility’s credentials before leaving your child in the staff’s care.
How Parents Regard the Childcare Center
The recommendation of other parents can also be a useful tool in gauging the quality of experience that a childcare facility provides. It’s a good idea to ask other parents what they think of the facility, if the teachers and staff members are highly communicative, or if they are responsive to the concerns of the parents. This information can help new parents like you decide whether or not the childcare facility and its staff members can serve as reliable and trustworthy partners in caring for your child.
There are many good childcare facilities in Singapore, but it’s worth looking deeper into them so that you can determine the best option for your household. By keeping these factors in mind, you’ll be a step closer to ensuring that your child will receive the care they need–and you’ll have peace of mind while focusing on your work, household activities, and other obligations that are crucial to your family life.
