A few months ago, widely reported research about daycare's effects on young kids rekindled the debate about childcare. In a study of 55 children, researchers at the University of Minnesota found that toddlers had higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, when they were at daycare centers than at home. But this shouldn't mean more stress for you.
"We don't know whether higher cortisol levels affect development, and they may simply reflect that these kids are being challenged at daycare from learning," says Sarah Watamura, author of the study. Or, since only toddlers (not babies) had higher cortisol levels and the shiest kids reacted the most, the interaction with other children may be the cause, rather than separation from Mom or daycare itself.
So what's a working parent to do? If your child is timid, you may want to find the most individualized care possible or encourage her caregiver to set aside alone time or small, quiet group activities. An encouraging note: In a previous study, Watamura found that school-age kids no longer had increased cortisol levels at daycare, which suggests that they adjust as they learn to navigate social relationships.
