Best Child Care in Kuala Lumpur: SELECT A Quality Day Care & BABY CARE CENTRE

Select a Quality Day Care & Baby Care Centre

How to select the Best Child Care in Malaysia?

Whether you choose a formal child-care center, family day care, or in-home care, there are some basic things you should know and insist upon. To help you make this all-important decision, we’ve talked to mothers and other experts who have been in the child-care trenches. Here are eight ways to size up a child-care option:

Tips for selecting the Best Child Care in Kuala Lumpur

•  Look down.

When you’re visiting a potential site, pay attention to how the staff interacts with the children. Ideally, a caregiver should be on the floor playing with the kids or holding one on her lap. In their early years, babies need close, loving, interactive relationships with adults in order to thrive. That’s why it’s especially important that babies’ first caregivers be warm and responsive, and that even in group care, infants and older babies get a healthy dose of one-on-one time. (Though individual states set their own staffing ratios for child-care facilities, the American Academy of Pediatrics specifically recommends a ratio of one adult for every three babies up to 24 months of age.)

•  Ask for a commitment.

Babies need consistent, predictable care. It helps them to form a secure attachment to their caregivers, according to Debra K. Shatoff, a family therapist in private practice in St. Louis. If you’re looking at an in-home caregiver, request that the person you’re considering make a one-year commitment to the job. If you’re considering a center, find out how long the current caregivers have been working there and how much turnover the center usually experiences.

•  Do a policy check.

Find out whether you share parenting philosophies on topics such as discipline (Do the caregivers use time-outs, scoldings?); television (Is the TV on all day or used sparingly, if at all?); feeding (What snacks or drinks are provided for older babies?); sleeping (When are naps offered? How are fussy babies put to sleep?); and so forth. Inquire about the sick-child policy (What symptoms prevent a child from attending?). Also ask whether there’s a backup plan should the family day-care provider or in-home caregiver get sick and be unable to work. The more questions you ask early on, the less likely you are to be unpleasantly surprised later.

More Tips on Choosing a Quality Child Care

•  Drop by and spy.

While word-of-mouth referrals from other parents or trusted resources are important, you need to look at a place for yourself to assess whether it meets your needs. Of course, any child-care environment should be kept clean, childproofed, and well stocked with sturdy books and toys that are age-appropriate. Other details to consider: When older children share the space, toys with small parts (choking hazards) should be kept away from younger babies. Ideally, infants and babies should have their own area where they won’t get “loved” too much by older toddlers. A room or separate area dedicated solely to swings and bouncers may look appealing at first glance, but keep in mind that growing babies need plenty of floor time to develop and strengthen their muscles.

•  Keep talking.

Until your baby can talk, you will be relying on what the caregiver tells you about your child’s day. Make sure you can communicate comfortably with each other. When you first hand off your child in the morning, you should tell the caregiver how your little one slept the night before, if he is teething, and whether he ate breakfast. At the end of the day you’ll want to know similar information, such as the number of diapers he went through, when he napped, and if he seemed happy overall. It’s always preferable to speak to the caregiver in person. If that’s not possible, ask if there’s a convenient time to phone, perhaps at nap time.

Choose the Right Path for your Child – A Quality Day Care Centre

•  Problem-solve pronto.

It’s inevitable that you’ll experience conflicts with your caregiver, both large and small. Address problems right away rather than ignoring them until they grow out of proportion. Some issues can be resolved quickly; others may require more discussion. Whatever the conflict, treat the caregiver in a respectful manner, but don’t be afraid to speak up, says Deborah Borchers, MD, a pediatrician in private practice in Cincinnati. When broaching a difficult subject, ask the caregiver’s opinion, and hear her out. As the parent, you have the final word with an in-home caregiver, but you’re more likely to elicit cooperation if the caregiver knows she has been heard. For example, instead of demanding an earlier nap time to make bedtime easier, ask the caregiver if she has ideas about how to adjust your baby’s schedule so he won’t grow so overtired in the evening.

•  Trust your gut.

Every parent knows when something doesn’t feel quite right. You may be turned off by a center everyone in town raves about or clash with a highly recommended sitter. If that happens, keep searching. Babies deserve, and thrive under, good, nurturing care. If something just doesn’t feel right about your situation, investigate other options.

•  Be open to change.

You’re not married to a particular person or situation, and if things don’t work out, you can always make a switch. Yes, you want consistency for your baby, but that doesn’t mean you can’t alter arrangements. Babies are resilient; as long as they’re having a positive experience with their new caregiver, they’ll be just fine.

Day Care vs. Nanny: What’s Best for Your Kid?

Choosing between hiring a nanny and enrolling your child in day care doesn’t have to be stressful. The best approach is to be informed on the pros and cons of each. Only then can you make the best emotional and financial decision for you and your family.

Pros of Day Care Centre

Day care helps build social skills that can help your child in school and throughout life. It’s also cost effective. Here’s why you should lean toward daycare.

• Helps Build Social Skills

Day care provides the benefit of socialization where kids can learn and grow with other children. Children are stimulated by other kids and develop social skills through their daily experiences in daycare.

• Toys, Books, and Resources

Most day care centers offer a wide variety of toys, books, games and play equipment. Day care provides opportunities for creative play with art supplies, educational games, dress-up outfits, and building blocks. Some daycare centers also bring in people for extra activities, such as music or yoga. These items are usually included in your monthly or annual costs so you don’t have to pay extra for the supplies.

• State Regulations and Accreditations

Day care centers must follow state regulations around safety, staffing, sanitation, and space issues. Ask about the center’s most recent state license and if they have been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Multiple Teachers: Many daycare centers have wonderful teachers who have been working with kids for many years. Some may have training in child development. Children will be supervised by a group of teachers and form relationships with more than one individual.

• Cost

The price of day care tends to be more affordable than a nanny since you are sharing the cost with other families. The price varies based on location and type of facility. An in-home daycare center, also known as family care, is usually less expensive than a traditional daycare.

Nanny Cons vs a Day Care

With nannies come parenting style conflicts and issues with regulation. Here’s why you should probably not have a nanny.

• Parenting Style Conflicts

If you and your nanny disagree on topics such as discipline, sleeping, or other parenting issues, it may be a conflict and make for a difficult relationship. It is best to find a nanny who is on the same page as you in terms of parenting style. Consistency between caregivers is important for child development.

• Cost

Nannies usually cost significantly more than daycare centers. Nanny costs vary depending on location, the number of kids, and other factors. If you want a nanny, but cannot afford an individual nanny, think about a nanny share where two children share one nanny.
Lateness: If a nanny consistently shows up late, then it makes you late for work. Since the nanny is coming to your home you cannot control her tardiness.

• No Coverage for Sick Time

If your nanny gets sick, takes a personal day or has to leave town, you will have to Regulations – Nannies are not required to have extra education on child development or specific certifications. Many nannies are CPR certified, but not all. Screening nanny candidates and running background checks are up to parents.

Why is Child Care and Early Childhood Education is Important?

High-quality child care keeps children safe and healthy. In addition, it helps children develop skills they will need for success in school and in their lives outside of school:

1. Social, emotional and communication skills
2. Pre-literacy and basic mathematical skills and concepts
3. An awareness of their environment and the roles of the people in it

Before you start the journey there is planning to do. People do plan to fail . However they fail to plan.

Thank you for reading. Stay tuned.