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Who's Minding the Baby?

When a new child enters your home, you might wonder who the baby looks like; what he will be like when he grows up; or how you can nurture a happy home life. But soon many new parents have to think about returning to work. If they have to leave their baby in the care of strangers, they want to assure themselves that they are making the best choice possible.

Day care is a necessity of modern parenting. Luckily, working parents have many options available for their pre-school aged children. They can choose from day care centers, day care homes and nursery schools, or hire someone to provide in-home care.

The state licenses day care centers and day care homes through its Division of Family and Children. Licensing requirements focus on health and safety issues, child/staff ratios, staff qualifications, and the Fire Marshall's inspection. The licensing requirements vary depending upon the age of the children who will be enrolled. You should ask to see a facility's current license and confirm its status through the County Division of Family and Children before enrolling your child in a day care center or home.

Day care centers accept more children, are usually open longer hours to accommodate full- time working parents, and focus on three age groups: infant/toddlers (6 weeks to 2 1/2 years); pre-school (2 1/2 years to 5 years) and school aged children (5-12 years). Due to their larger size, they may be more institutional in character.

Day care homes are smaller and, since they operate out of homes, may be more restricted in hours of operation. Due to the smaller enrollment in day care homes, the environment may resemble the baby's home life more than a day care center.

Nursery schools generally provide a part-time program for pre-school aged children (2 1/2 to 6 years old). Nursery schools tend to focus more on developmental goals and socialization. Unlike day care centers and day care homes, nursery schools do not need to be licensed. Nevertheless, they must pass state examination by the health board and the Fire Marshall. You may want to inquire into the staff's training and education to make sure the school fits your needs.

The City of Bloomington provides a great deal of support to new parents. They publish an annual guide to day care and children's programs which is available through the Human Resources Department in the Showers Building. The guide provides a checklist to help you investigate day care facilities. Outside of Monroe County, you can contact the "Step Ahead" coordinator for your county for information about available daycare programs in the area.

If you decide to hire someone to care for your child in your home, be sure to check his or her references carefully. Talk to several previous employers, not just the ones listed as references.

Valuable Tip:
Working parents may be able to pay their child care expenses, up to a maximum of $5,000 per year, from "pre-tax dollars." Ask the payroll officer at your place of employment whether this benefit is available to you. If not, childcare expenses may be deducted from your federal income taxes to reduce your overall tax burden. An accountant or attorney can provide guidance in how best to take advantage of this tax break.

Important Reminder:
If you hire in-home care for your child, you may be subject to the "Nanny Tax." If you pay an in-home caregiver more than $1,000 annually, consult with your accountant about how to properly make withholdings and report the payments to the government. §