There's no one right answer to this question. Your decision depends on the needs of your baby and your family. You might start by considering how long you can afford to stay home with your child. Will your work situation allow you unlimited time off? Is your family in a financial position to live without your salary for some time? Remember that the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) entitles eligible employees to up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period to care for a newborn child or a child newly placed with the employee for adoption. You might wonder about the impact of your child care situation on your child’s development. A recent study conducted by researchers for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) reported that children who were cared for exclusively by their mothers did not develop differently overall than those who received high-quality care from someone other than their parent. But, the quality of a child care program matters. Children in high-quality care have better language and cognitive skills and better cooperation than those in low-quality care. It's important to remember that a child's family characteristics are the most important contributor to her well-being. As you choose a child care program, look for high quality, try to limit the number of hours in care, and choose the type of child care that fits your family’s needs the best.

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