Care of Infants in Groups: A Resource Paper.

The aims of this paper are to document the need for quality infant day care, to encourage the formation of a statewide policy for infant day care in Maryland, and to recommend specific components of that policy. Discussion refers to both family day care and center-based day care. After the first section's introductory presentation of data indicating the need for infant care, section 2 provides historical and background material on infant care and a brief overview of child development supplemented by lists of developmental milestones for children from birth to 5 years of age. Section 3 summarizes research on group care for infants. Recommendations are offered in section 4 in the areas of administration, funding, program provision, staffing, health concerns, parent participation, and employer-supported services. Section 5 explores research findings bearing on best practices in infant day care. Discussion focuses on (1) social development in the areas of attachment/separation anxiety, factors modifying children's responses to day care, and social behavior; (2) cognitive development; (3) health; and (4) the caregiver's role in the development of the child. Developmental milestones listed in the appendix are organized according to the following skill categories: cognition, communication, gross motor, fine motor, self-help, and social. (RH)