Making It Work
Finding a "Breastfeeding Friendly" Caregiver
Edited by Tamela Rich
Charlotte, NC USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 10 No. 5, September-October 1993, pp. 155-6
"Making It Work" is a
regular feature of the magazine NEW BEGINNINGS, published bimonthly
by La Leche League International. In this column, suggestions are offered
by readers of NEW BEGINNINGS to help mothers who wish to combine breastfeeding
and working. Various points of view are presented. Not all of the information
may be pertinent to your family's life-style. This information is general
in nature, and not intended to be advice, medical or otherwise.
Situation
How can I tell if a prospective
caregiver is "breastfeeding friendly"? What kinds of differences can
I help a caregiver anticipate if she has never dealt with breastfed
babies?
Response
Looking for a caregiver for
your child is an emotional process. There are many issues to deal with
and they are perhaps more complex for a nursing mother. Returning to
my teaching position after a year's leave of absence and leaving my
fourteen-month-old son in another's care was one of the most difficult
things I've ever had to do. Fortunately, I felt very comfortable with
my ultimate choice. Jacob spent the school year in a wonderful environment,
a licensed home day care, which I felt to be more natural than the other
alternatives. His day care provider is warm and loving, and has become
like an extended member of our family.
My advice in looking for
a caregiver for your child is to use what I call the IQ Test. Use your
"Intuition" and ask lots of "Questions." If you're like me, about 99%
of your mothering skills have been based on intuition; you know better
than anyone the types of people and environments to which your child
responds well. While you interview, really listen with your heart as
well as your ears. Trust your instincts.
Prepare a list of questions
in advance. Look to the future with your questions, not only the present.
Sometimes it is hard to remember that your child will grow quickly from
an infant into a toddler. It is important to make sure the environment
you select will meet your child's needs in the future as well as now.
A caregiver who may respond favorably about a nursing infant may have
a different opinion about a nursing toddler. Anticipating your baby's
future needs may prevent the need to change caregivers, which is emotionally
difficult for young children and babies.
Some other factors to consider:
- If you're planning to
introduce solids according to your baby's developmental needs, make
sure your caregiver will allow for that flexibility.
- In keeping with the need
to look ahead, ask what type of discipline philosophy the caregiver
uses. I was careful not to plant the "right answer" in my question,
and found someone who knew that the best method for toddlers is distraction.
- Don't be afraid to make
several visits before you make a final decision. Visit when you can
observe the caregiver's interactions with the other children in her
care.
- Consider easing your baby
into separating with the help of an LLL friend. Jacob and I visited
with another mother together, then I left him alone with her for an
hour, then for a couple of hours, then over naptime. When the transition
went well, it was time to go with his regular caregiver. You may even
find a La Leche League friend who would be willing to provide your
baby's full-time care. If so, she'll support your decision to nurse
and will be more likely to treat your milk as the precious commodity
it is.
Good luck if you are searching
for child care. If you start early (even while you're pregnant is not
too soon) and listen to your heart, you too will find someone who will
become a loving member of your family.
--Mary Rutherford
North Carolina, USA
Response
My original day care center
had three babies in attendance and all were breastfeeding. Even so,
the teachers were not used to dealing with breast milk and often wasted
that hard-pumped milk. They also thought breastfed babies were too fussy
because they always wanted their mothers! Mari did not drink that much
milk at day care, which alarmed the caregivers. I made sure to nurse
her frequently at home. I finally changed day care centers and found
a place that had breastfeeding mothers as caregivers, and they treated
the milk much better! I must say that breastfeeding has definitely been
worth the effort of pumping at work. Mari is so healthy. We are very
close even though I am away from her a lot. Breastfeeding successfully
gave me the confidence I needed to be a mother. I hope more working
women can breastfeed. It can be hard sometimes when you are in a meeting
and you have to leave to pump, but I keep telling myself it is only
for this short time that Mari will need my milk. And now, as she nears
her first birthday, I am finally stopping my pumping--I really can't
believe how quickly the year has gone by.
--Chris Miyach
Massachusetts, USA
Response
My profession as a hairdresser
provided me with a lot of flexibility. For example, if Tommy had a fussy
day I could call my clients and reschedule. Also, since I chose a caregiver
who was close to work, I could go over between appointments to nurse.
As for my arrangements with the sitter, I asked her to call me at work
before giving him a bottle and if there was any way I could be there
soon, she would walk with him or keep him amused until I arrived (without
giving him a bottle). My sitter said it was a bit difficult to know
if he was getting enough milk, but she trusted me that he was. She liked
to use the sling to get him to sleep--since it smelled like me, I think
that helped him.
--Margie Langmead
North Carolina, USA
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:30:28 UTC 2007.
