This introductory paper has a threefold purpose: (1) to provide an overview of the various types of child care, any or all of which may be found in an individual American community; (2) to present some terminology that may be used repeatedly in the papers of this supplement; and (3) to begin to discuss the role of the medical community in child care.
OVERVIEW OF CHILD CARE
This topic may best be explored by discussing the process new parents go through to select child care and by describing some of the obstacles they may face. For those readers who are from the child care community, and therefore familiar with this information, these are problems that can be shared with the medical community in your area.
Expectant parents may not begin to think about care until after their baby is born. It is often hard to anticipate the issues related to balancing work and family life until you are actually in the situation. Child care may not be included as a topic in childbirth classes, even though that is probably the first place that the options should be discussed.
Once the child is born, a decision may have to be made within the first few weeks after birth, because parental leave is, unfortunately, not guaranteed in the United States. Parents may turn to the pediatrician for advice, but most often they talk with neighbors and friends about child care options. A growing number of parents are beginning to use local Child Care Resource and Referral organizations, which provide consumer education and referral to parents, as well as support and resources to child care providers, policy makers, and the private sector.
