Finding childcare during the week can be difficult when children are young. However, there are various solutions available at different prices, for different educational styles and all types of families. It should be noted that the government can contribute and facilitate access to financial assistance for families in need, for example, through the Family Allowance Fund (CAF) or works councils.
We have reviewed the different options and here we present the advantages and disadvantages of each one. In any case, there are now many options to help you find the ideal place for your child.
in-home babysitters
Do you want to entrust your child to someone you can rely on? Babysitters offer support, accompanying your child through all stages of their development from 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 in the child's home, they remain in their familiar surroundings, which is reassuring for them and convenient for the babysitter, who has everything they need at their disposal.
- The nanny's flexible schedule
- Therefore, your priority is your child's well-being and comfort.
Disadvantages:
- The service is usually expensive because you have to pay the babysitter and advance social security contributions.
- The arduous battle to find "the perfect gem"
- The fact that your children are not in a group setting
nannies
Unlike a babysitter or nanny, a certified childcare provider looks after your children in their own home, whether it be their house or apartment, or in a shared daycare center (MAM - Maison Assistante Maternelle). Childcare providers are registered with the local council and, following an interview and a visit from a public health nurse (PMI), are authorized to care for one, two, three, or four children.
Benefits:
- The creation of a stable and deep bond between the child and the nanny because she only cares for a few children at a time.
- Flexible hours, unlike a daycare center.
- The cost of a babysitter is generally lower than that of a daycare center.
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 babysitter 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. The advantages and disadvantages are as follows:
Benefits:
- Financial convenience: you are responsible for 50% of the costs and the other family covers the remaining 50%.
- The fact that you don't have to worry about transportation: you just need to go to the family's house, which ideally should be close to you for convenience.
- The development of children within the family cocoon
- The fact that the child is not alone
Disadvantages:
- Parents must get along; otherwise, the joint custody agreement may have to be terminated: choose your family carefully (close ties, similar parenting principles, similar lifestyles). In short, you will be marrying into another family for a few years, so choose them carefully!
- Flexible schedules are less important than with a single-family nanny, as you are dependent on a second family, especially when it comes to vacation schedules.
- Your home must also be able to accommodate the children of the other family, so you will need twice as much equipment.
childcare centers
There are different types of nurseries, each with various advantages and disadvantages.
Public/municipal daycare centers:
Public daycare centers are usually group-based and accommodate between 20 and 60 children aged 0 to 3. Children are usually grouped into sections according to age.
Benefits:
- A child's experience of living in a community before starting school
- The facilities are safe and clean, and regular inspections are carried out.
- The staff there is competent, trained, and sufficient in number.
- They offer a variety of activities for children.
- No meals are required.
- The daycare center is open all the time (it only closes for a few weeks in the summer).
- A pediatrician is present at the location.
Disadvantages:
- It is very difficult to get a place; sometimes you have to wait a year or more.
- Children's lifestyles are very impersonal: their needs are met less frequently.
- The opening hours are fixed.
- If one child is sick, it's common for all of them to be sick.
- If your child is sick: there is no daycare, so you need to find another solution urgently.
Micro nurseries:
A micro-daycare center is a childcare facility for children aged 2 months to 3 years. Unlike municipal daycare centers, it is distinguished by its maximum capacity of ten children, all grouped together in a single section, regardless of their age.
Vidiamo has partnered with LES P'TITS BOSS, a network of Parisian micro-daycare centers whose values prioritize the well-being of parents, children, and staff in their daily lives. They use active learning methods inspired by the theories of Maria Montessori, Emmi Pikler, and Adolphe Ferrière, which place the child at the center of the educational project.
Learn more about them at http://lesptitsboss.fr/ .
Benefits:
- Personalized support: tailored 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:
Daycare centers managed by the company:
Daycare centers managed by companies (or inter-company) welcome the children of employees from one or more companies, such as the Baboune network, whose goal is to create high-quality environments to maximize the development, learning, and well-being of children aged 0 to 3. Baboune offers a private daycare concept with personalized and individualized care for each child. The group currently operates in the Île-de-France region with around 20 facilities located in Paris, Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, and Yvelines.
Thanks to this collaboration, Vidiamo is offering you free registration at one of the Baboune daycare centers when you use the code " MERCIVIDIAMO " when signing up!
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.
- The cost is higher than that of public daycare centers.
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 be a difficult task. Therefore, our advice is to start planning well in advance.
