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Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Family Day Care
Characteristics:
 | Caregiver, usually a mother, looks after one to six
children in her own home.
| Caregiver may be a friend, neighbor, relative, or someone
unfamiliar.
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Advantages:
| Provides home-like environment (especially important for
infants and toddlers).
| Greater flexibility regarding ages than most centers (may
take infants and toddlers).
| MAY be licensed by the state, ensuring minimum health and
safety standards.
| May be easier to locate than in-home care.
| Your child will likely interact with other children.
| Relatively inexpensive arrangement.
| Siblings may be cared for together.
| Your child should receive ample attention.
| Greater flexibility regarding hours than most centers.
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Disadvantages:
| You have less control over your child's care than in-home
arrangement.
| Your child may not receive as much personal attention as
in-home care.
| Caregiver will not always be available (illness,
vacation).
| May stop providing services abruptly.
| Caregiver may not have appropriate training or
experience.
| May not offer the array of opportunities provided by
center-based care.
| Caregiver is not supervised directly.
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Additional considerations:
| The caregiver should take care of no more than three
infants at the same time.
| Licensing does not relate to the educational, social, or
emotional dimensions of the care.
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Written by Donna Warner Manczak, Ph.D., M.P.H.
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Copyright 1999 Clinical Reference Systems
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