The role of the primary caregiver is to function as the surrogate parent while the infants are in care. The State of Michigan defines the role of the primary caregiver as the individual directly responsible for the following: verbal and physical interactions, primary responses to the infant’s physical and emotional needs, and ongoing interaction with the parents regarding the infants experiences. Each infant should be assigned a primary caregiver with no more than four infants assigned to one caregiver.
This provides the infants with the opportunity to develop a bond with their individual caregiver. When infants are allowed the opportunity to bond with their primary caregiver they will develop appropriate attachments within their environment.
There should be daily communication between the parents and primary caregiver. This communication should include the infant’s behavior, eating patterns, development milestones and any changes in the child’s usual behavior. This communication will allow the parents and the caregivers the opportunity to notice changes in the child’s usual behavior which will assure that the infants are developing appropriately. Therefore, parents should not speak with the other caregiver in the classroom about their child’s daily activities.
Primary caregiver should have a work schedule that allows them to meet the parents at drop off or pick-up daily. The preferred way would be to rotate the schedule so that the primary caregiver was at the center at the start of the day for several days and at the end of the day on several days; because it is also important for the parents to develop a relationship with their child’s primary caregiver.
If you know of infant caregivers that are confused about the functions of a primary caregiver tell them the following: think of a primary caregiver as the relative or friend that would help with their child if they were not available and that would be the role of the primary caregiver.