- Childcare: A Decision to Make from the First Months of Pregnancy
- The Baby Boom of Childcare Centers and Their Many Advantages
- The Happy Company Solution
- And for Other Types of Childcare, Who Should You Contact?
Your world has just expanded to make room for a newborn whom you love beyond measure. Yet, you already need to step out of your emotional bubble and prepare to take on your new role as a mother from a more practical perspective.
Before you go back to work, you want to secure a spot in a daycare for your baby — and now is the time to act. Schedules, prices, neighborhood, teaching approach, staff, and availability—so many factors to consider and so little time! To keep your search from turning into a nightmare, there are support services available. Thanks to their extensive networks, they help you find a spot in the best daycare center without delay.
Childcare: a decision to make from the very first months of pregnancy
Arranging care for your child is one of the first tough decisions parents must make. Who should you trust to ensure everything goes smoothly? How will you handle this temporary separation? And what if the baby cries? Needs cuddles? Who will be there for them? So many uncomfortable questions, especially if you don’t have the answers yet.
However, sometimes you have to look for a daycare spot very early: right after leaving the hospital—and sometimes even before your baby is born. This is often the case in large cities, where childcare centers are plentiful but the demand is even higher. In recent years, rural areas have also been facing a shortage, with micro-daycares or parent-run childcare centers filling up fast. This success leads us to wonder: what makes childcare centers so popular in France?
The baby boom of childcare centers and their many advantages
If we say types of childcare before age 3, you’d probably answer: Grandparents, nanny, or daycare center. And that’s just about it! Between 2019 and 2020, France had just under 250,000 licensed nannies and some 450,000 daycare spots for about 2.2 million children under age three. These numbers offer a glimpse of just how challenging it can be to find the ideal place for your child.
The joy of personalized care
Every child enrolled in a daycare center has a little cubby or a coat hook for their belongings (change of clothes, bibRond, pacifier, notes for the staff, etc.). Upon arrival, they are greeted by a childcare assistant or another qualified staff member who takes the time to talk with you; maybe your child didn’t sleep or eat much, you’ll pick them up early, how was the previous day, and so on. Daycare centers are, above all, about dedicated welcome time.
An unmatched environment for children’s development
Nursery rhymes, songs, games, toys, a wealth of educational and fun activities, language discovery and fine motor skills, learning to interact with others… With its comprehensive and well-equipped infrastructure and its team of early childhood professionals, the daycare center is the perfect place to foster social interaction, curiosity, learning, and later, nurture a sense of independence.
A safe childcare option
Enrolling your child in a daycare center gives them access to a very safe environment designed exclusively for little ones ages 0 to 4. Everything is appropriate, from the equipment (changing tables, diapers, bouncers, bottle warmers, nap rooms, cribs, etc.) to the spaces (foam mats, cushions…), the materials (soft and washable fabrics), and the ergonomics, standards, or procedures. It’s one of the safest solutions for parents who want to entrust their child for a few hours or days a week without worry.
Organization above all
It’s a fact: you can count on the daycare center to always be there. As soon as you’ve secured a spot, all you need is to coordinate your schedule with the staff of early childhood educators and follow it. Who drops baby off, and at what time? Who picks them up? Which days will they be at the center? Once confirmed, these arrangements are set and don’t change. It’s a very reassuring and practical way to manage things for parents.
A surprisingly affordable choice
Since everything is included in the price (diapers, meals, activities, supplies, and eventually outings), the actual cost is often not as high as you might think.
The Happy Company solution
Simple, fun, and reassuring, daycare centers are an appealing option for both children and parents. Their biggest flaw? The challenge of finding a spot near home and securing enough childcare hours.
What if, instead of hiring a headhunter, you tried a daycare spot “hunter”? That’s exactly what Happy Company offers. Contact them, explain your needs and location, then let them take on the mission of finding the right place for you!
How to get a daycare spot right away—how does it work?
Happy Company is a network of 100% effective, 100% caring private daycare partners to give parents total peace of mind and children an ideal place to thrive. Taking your needs and location into account, their teams coordinate and organize the best match for you in a childcare center near your home. Trust them, save time, and give yourself peace of mind.
It’s a bit like our bibRond. Medical-grade silicone and an anti-colic nipple for health, round, soft, and playful design for pleasure and looks, and three sizes to be ready for every situation. That’s right! Have you discovered our newest model, the bibRond 330 ml to slip into your diaper bag alongside the others? Headed… to daycare, of course!
And for other childcare options, who should you contact?
Group care or individual care is usually a parent’s choice, based on preference or conviction. So, it’s always helpful to have a few contacts when enrolling your baby in an early childhood program.
First, be sure to contact your Family Allowance Fund (CAF). They can provide a list of available centers and professionals, and information about financial support such as the “Complément de libre choix du mode de garde” (1) (CMG).
Also, visit your town hall or your regional Family Info Point (2) to get all the information you need for having your child looked after(3) for a full day, a half day, or later during school vacations.
You can also reach out to your Departmental Council, which has the addresses and phone numbers of all childcare centers near you.
