SAFETY Problems
While parents can benefit from having childminders and babysitters, health and care are critical issues, especially given earlier disturbing incidents involving cases of poisoning and also fatalities.
In addition to receiving training in areas like basic child care and primary aid, ECDA may conduct background checks on childminders as part of the childminding pilot.
Many families are most concerned about their children’s health. It all boils down to faith. Therefore, it may take time for Taiwanese parents to properly trust and use the infrastructure and operational advancement of childminding. It might be necessary to develop more organized and carefully monitored accreditation and registration processes to help with building trust, whether it be for the childminding captain or ad-hoc babysitters.
Price is also a consideration. Hiring a dedicated parent can be costly. According to past reports, exclusive childminding operators- who usually provide home-based nannies – now charge anywhere between S$ 1, 200 to S$ 3, 500 a month. Ad hoc charges can charge up to S$ 45 an hour.
Making the prices bearable and providing incentives for parents to use those solutions would be helpful.
Given the rising emphasis on the importance of early child development, available services can move beyond” childminding” to include” childcare education”. Home-based caregivers who are trained may be able to offer more mental excitement to the baby, supporting the child’s overall growth.
As Singapore continues to improve its family-friendly guidelines, it has an opportunity to enhance the value and convenience of more home-based treatment choices, alongside existing services. With the right assistance, this may be a trusted and versatile choice for kids.
Zheng Mu is Assistant Professor, Sociology and Anthropology at National University of Singapore.