Best infant care in Singapore: How to select the best option

Are you a first-time parent trying to figure out which infant care centre you should place your little one in when it’s time for you to get back to work?

When it comes to caring for infants, hiring a nanny or domestic helper might come to mind first. However, most people prefer to opt for an infant care centre because of the stimulating environment that would help your child to grow and learn.

Besides that, the infants would be under the care of early childhood development professionals who are equipped with the knowledge and tools to further your infant’s development.

While it might feel like a challenge to identify the best infant care in Singapore – especially with so many options to choose from – the good news is that the process actually isn’t complex and all you have to do is take the following factors into consideration during your decision-making process.

How to select the best infant care option: 5 things to note

1. Check the credibility of the infant care centre

One of the first things to do when considering an infant care centre is to find out more about its license and accreditation.

The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has a licensing requirement for infant care centres that starts from 6 months up to 24 months. Hence, if your infant care centre has a 24-month license, it is a positive sign.

Go through reviews of the infant care centre, speak with parents and look at the testimonials. It’s important to be comfortable with the credibility of both the teachers and the school.

2. Consider the location & cost

As with most things in life, convenience and budget should also play a part in influencing your decision when choosing an infant care centre.

Ensuring that you pick a centre that is easily accessible from home or your workplace would be convenient, as you would not want to compete with rush hour traffic or not be able to get to your kids quickly in the event of an emergency.

After filtering based on location, the next thing to look at will be cost.

It’s important to focus on location, proximity to your home as well as how near it is to public transportation like the MRT.

Upon receiving the cost breakdown from centres, do check with them if there are any hidden costs that can be incurred through learning materials, activities, outings and Co-Curricular activities.

3. Understand the educational approach & curriculum

Every infant care centre should offer a specially designed curriculum to cater to the infants’ development.

It is important for the curriculum to encourage curiosity through exploration and discovery as a way of learning.

At Australian International School (AIS), our caregiving curriculum ensures quality one-on-time time for every child throughout the day, a good language sample, filling their emotional buckets and helping them to connect with their bodies.

On the other hand, our emergent curriculum encourages sensitive observations of children’s explorations of the environment. Regardless of where each child is at his or her development, dedicated teachers will ensure they have something inspiring and motivational to engage with.

Learn more about our curriculum here.

4. Enquire about daily meals & nutrition 

During the first six months, your infant will primarily live on milk for nourishment. Whether you offer formula or breast milk, you’ll have to find out the infant care’s approach to milk preparation.

If you’re a mom looking to offer expressed breast milk, it is important to find a centre that is well-equipped with the right materials to support your breastfeeding journey.

After six months, when your infant starts on solids, it’s essential to ensure that the school you’re considering provides nutritious meals or accommodates any specific dietary requirements you may have. Hence, it would be a good idea to take a closer look at their meal plans before making a decision.

5. Experience the centre’s environment & facilities 

Like house hunting, it helps to take some time to explore your options and visit various schools to check out the different areas your infant will play and sleep in.

After all, the environment your infant is in will play a major role in his or her development. Hence, it is crucial to place him or her in a school that provides the appropriate care and stimulation.

Some questions to ask yourself are whether these spaces are clean, safe and conducive for little ones, as well as whether the environment is ideal for learning.

Apart from going off the vibes you get and making observations, you could also find out more about the centre’s manpower – ECDA recommends a ratio of 1 educator for every 5 children – so if a centre has a smaller ratio, it means that your child would have more attention and potentially be looked after a little better.

Take the next step towards selecting the best infant care for your little one

Now that you have a better idea about the factors to take into consideration when making your decision, it’s time to start exploring your options!

At AIS, we are committed to providing your child with the best possible and professional infant care so they can realise their potential and flourish in life.

Get started by booking a tour today!