Finding childcare during the week can be a challenge when children are young. However, there are various solutions available, at different prices, for different educational styles and all types of families. It's also worth noting that the government can contribute and provide access to financial assistance for families in need, for example through the CAF (Family Allowance Fund) or company works councils.
We have reviewed the various options and here we present the advantages and disadvantages of each. In any case, there are now many choices to help you find the ideal place for your child.
In-home nannies
Do you want to entrust your child to a trustworthy person? Nannies offer support by accompanying your child through all stages of their development in the comfort of your own home. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages:
Benefits:
- The creation of a stable and deep bond between the child and the nanny
- Since childcare takes place at your home, the child remains in their familiar environment, which is reassuring for them and convenient for the nanny who has everything at her disposal.
- The nanny's flexible hours
- Your priority is therefore the well-being and comfort of your child.
Disadvantages:
- The service is often expensive because you have to pay the nanny and advance the social security contributions.
- La difficile quête de la « pierre parfaite »
- The fact that your children are not in a group setting
Childminders
Unlike a babysitter or a nanny, a registered childminder cares for your children in their own home, either in their house or apartment, or in a shared childminding setting (MAM - Maison Assistante Maternelle). Childminders are registered with the local council and, after an interview and a visit from a public health nurse (PMI), are authorized to care for 1, 2, 3, or 4 children.
Benefits:
- The creation of a stable and deep bond between the child and the childminder because she looks after only a few children at a time
- Flexible hours, unlike at a daycare center.
- The price of a childminder is generally lower than that of a nursery.
Disadvantages:
- The fact that your children are not in a group setting
- The fact that you have to drop off your children yourself, unlike a nanny who comes to you (depending on the proximity of the drop-off location!)
Joint custody
Shared childcare involves one person caring for the children of two different families, alternating between their homes. Below are the advantages and disadvantages:
Benefits:
- Financial comfort: 50% of the costs are your responsibility and 50% are borne by the other family.
- The fact that you don't have any transportation responsibilities: you simply need to go to the family's house, which ideally should be located near you for convenience.
- The evolution of children within the family cocoon
- The fact that the child is not alone
Disadvantages:
- Parents must get along well, otherwise the shared custody arrangement may have to be interrupted: choose the family carefully (close ties between you, similar parenting principles, similar lifestyles). In short, you're marrying into another family for a few years, so choose them meticulously!
- Flexible hours are less important than with a single-family nanny since it depends on a second family, particularly regarding holiday schedules.
- Your home must be able to accommodate the children of the other family as well, so you need twice the equipment.
Daycare centers
There are different types of nurseries, each with several advantages and disadvantages.
Public/municipal nurseries:
Public nurseries are generally group nurseries that accommodate between 20 and 60 children aged 0 to 3 years. The children are usually grouped into sections according to their age.
Benefits:
- A child's experience of living in a community before starting school
- The premises are safe and clean, and regular checks are carried out.
- The staff there are competent, trained, and sufficient in number.
- They offer a variety of activities for children.
- No meals are required.
- The nursery is open all the time (only closed for a few weeks in the summer).
- A pediatrician is available on site.
Disadvantages:
- It's very difficult to get a place; sometimes you have to wait a year or more.
- Children's lifestyles are very impersonal: their needs are less frequently addressed.
- The opening hours are fixed.
- If one child is sick, it is common for them all to be sick.
- If your child is sick: no daycare, so you need to find another solution urgently.
Micro-nurseries:
A micro-nursery is a childcare facility for children aged 2 months to 3 years. Unlike municipal nurseries, it is distinguished by its maximum capacity of ten children, all grouped in a single section, regardless of their age.
Vidiamo has partnered with LES P'TITS BOSS, a network of Parisian micro-nurseries whose values place the well-being of parents, children, and their staff at the heart of their daily operations. They use active learning methods, inspired by the theories of Maria Montessori, Emmi Pikler, and Adolphe Ferrière, which put the child at the center of the educational project.
Learn more about them at http://lesptitsboss.fr/ .
Benefits:
- Tailored support: adaptable to your education and your child
- A more personalized welcome
- The fact that there are far fewer children
- Age-appropriate diversification will help your baby's development
Disadvantages:
Company-run daycare centers:
Company-run (or inter-company) nurseries welcome the children of employees from one or more employers, such as the Baboune network, which aims to create high-quality environments to best support children from 0 to 3 years old in their development, learning, and well-being. Baboune offers a private nursery concept with personalized and individualized care for each child. Their group currently operates in the Île-de-France region with around twenty facilities located in Paris, the Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, and Yvelines departments.
Thanks to this collaboration, Vidiamo is offering you free registration at one of the Baboune nurseries when you use the code " MERCIVIDIAMO " when you register!
Find out more about them on their website https://baboune.fr/.
Here are the advantages and disadvantages:
Benefits:
- The proximity of the daycare center to the workplace
- Flexible hours adapted to parents' work schedules
- Trained and supervised staff
Disadvantages:
- The number of facilities is limited: not all companies have their own daycare center.
- Their cost is higher than that of public nurseries.
Vidiamo is proud to have established strong partnerships with several nursery networks in the Paris region: Baboune and Les P'tits Boss.
In conclusion, there are solutions for all tastes and budgets, but it can prove to be a difficult task. Our advice is therefore to start planning well in advance.
