Crèche, babysitter, nanny, day mother, and others.

From traditional daycare to nannies and temporary grandmothers or grandfathers: there are numerous forms of childcare that can support you in your daily life with your child. But which childcare option is right for your family? We want to help you answer this question. Therefore, in this article, we will introduce you to the different options and tell you how to secure a place and what the costs are.

Do you want your child to be cared for all day or just for a few hours? Should it be a group with other children or individual care? Where should the care take place? These and many other questions influence which form of care is right for you and your little explorer. The decision is entirely individual and from your daily life and the Family situation dependent. This also includes the decision, from when Decide to entrust your child to care. Trust your gut feeling and see what feels best for you and your child. Do not let yourself be influenced by Compare with other parents to unsettle - You know best what is good for you and your family.

Daycare Center (KiTa)

The daycare center is a general term for crib (at about eight weeks until the third year of life), Kindergarten (at around three years until school entry) as well as Hort (Afternoon care for school children up to 12 years old). In the nursery or kindergarten, educational professionals care for your little explorer either only for part of the day or for the entire day. The care takes place in a group with other children of the same age – so your child can experience the first Friendships connect and learn more about social interactions learning outside of his family. Sometimes the large care groups but also to their disadvantage, as such individual support is difficult to implement and some children do not cope well with the hustle and bustle around them.

However, in the daycare, in addition to social skills, other important areas for your child's development are also addressed, such as Perception , creativity, Language , thinking as well as Movement and Coordination funded. That happens depending on the educational concept for example through playing, a structured daily routine with shared meals and naps, and special language, art, or forest projects.

Even in Detachment process The daycare plays an important role: This way, you can learn, Letting go of your baby and likewise your little explorer learns that being separated from you is not bad - an important step towards Self-employment .

Childminder / Day Father

The childminder or daycare provider cares for a maximum of five children, usually in their own premises. This makes childcare particularly special. family-oriented . For Children under three years old is this form of care often the recommended alternative to the nursery. Your little explorer has a daycare provider/male or female caregiver a reliable contact person and can individually supported become. Also, the children usually develop a close, almost sibling-like bond with each other. Many parents appreciate that daily routines can be planned more easily through daycare, since the Flexible pick-up and drop-off times as most daycares are designed. A disadvantage of this form is that if the childminder is ill, the care completely breaks down and you may have to arrange for a replacement at short notice.

Corporate childcare

Company kindergarten, an on-site childcare facility, a joint daycare center, or holiday care – there are also many options for companies or universities to support their employees, students, or staff with childcare. This not only benefits your image but also offers you several advantages with an on-site childcare place: Often, you receive easier a place as in a public daycare, because your employer can increase the available spots in the daycare in a timely manner. Additionally, the Care hours usually adjusted to your working hours so that you start working again can, while your little explorer is being cared for by educational professionals and can play with other children. And of course, it's also practical that you can take the extra way to save to the daycare and you can undertake the commute with your little explorer.

As with all other childcare options, you should also get an impression of the daycare here beforehand and make sure that your child is well cared for there. If you don't like something or if you are planning to change your employer/university soon, it is better to choose a different daycare from the beginning.

Nanny or babysitter

A nanny or a governess – of course, it can also be a man :) – takes care of the Care Your little explorer as well as about the Household . And there you already see the biggest difference from the daycare and babysitter: your child is cared for by the nanny cared for at your home and is generally used as Full-time or part-time employee employed in your family. Often, the nanny lives very close by or even in a separate apartment within the house – depending on the level of care you require. This also determines which tasks the nanny will undertake. You can specify this precisely in the employment contract and, for example, state that she is responsible for picking up the children from daycare, cooking, and leisure activities.

When you decide to involve a nanny is entirely up to you. Some families utilize the support during the Weekly bed – especially when it is already older little sibling are in need of care. Here, the nanny can lend you a hand and you can the first time with your baby enjoy. No matter when the nanny enters your little explorer's life, she often quickly becomes a close attachment figure .

If you choose a nanny as an alternative to the daycare, it is important that your little explorer still Contact with peers hat. Maybe there is a playgroup near you or you already have one Friendships with other parents and linked to their children.

Babysitter

The babysitter is perfect for hourly care of your child when you want to enjoy a nice evening with your partner, a trip to the cinema with your best friend, or just a short . You discuss in advance with the babysitter when they should come and how long you want the care to last. Often, it is enough to register a few days in advance, or you can set regular appointments, which makes planning easier for both of you.

For the Point in time , when you can first entrust your little explorer to a babysitter, there is no fixed rule. One factor that certainly plays a big role in this is the babysitter themselves. Because it doesn't always have to be a stranger taking on this task. Also the Grandparents , other family members and friends certainly enjoys taking care of them from time to time. The advantage here is that your child already trusts the person, and the first separation from you is often easier to handle. A few hours with grandma or grandpa are therefore a good test before hiring a stranger babysitter.

Au pairs

Au pairs are young adults coming from abroad who usually stay for a year as a kind of "exchange" Temporary family member will. While your family provides food and accommodation, the au pair takes care of your little explorer and light daily tasks. The working hours must not exceed six hours per day.

Because she or he spends a lot of time with your child, the care is very family-oriented and it creates a builds a trusting relationship . And an au pair also offers additional advantages: The Care hours are fully adapted to your family routine. If you ever need to leave spontaneously, there is always a trusted person on site who can look after your little explorer without you worrying whether the babysitter has time. Additionally, your child learns very early on a new culture know and may already be a new language learn.

The initial period can be a bit bumpy with homesickness and communication problems. Give each other time and talk openly (if necessary, with gestures and expressions :)). After settling in, you will surely be a wonderful enrichment for each other, making the farewell all the more difficult.

Grandma and Grandpa for borrowing

Borrowed grandmothers and grandfathers can be a wonderful enrichment for your family. Because sometimes fate takes its own course, and your own parents are already deceased or live far away. With a borrowed grandma/grandpa, your little explorer can still benefit from the loving care and the intergenerational exchange benefit. And for the seniors themselves, the "job" is often a true matter of the heart: Most of them do not have grandchildren of their own and enjoy spending time with your family voluntarily, finding a sense of connection here.

The lending grandma/grandpa should be involved no babysitter replacement not so much a mentor, but rather a trusted and caring figure for your child who supports you with daily care. Like with "real" grandparents, this can be a shared Trip , whether it is baking or simply having a nice conversation. You can discuss exactly what the tasks include in advance and, after a few meetings, also redefine them as needed. Often, this special kind of care leads to deep friendships, and the shared time is a great benefit for both sides.

There are really many forms of care, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. You will know what fits best into your family routine and what is good for your little explorer. We wish you good luck in finding a childcare place!