In full-time care

Sehra,who stays in Mahipalpur,sends her two daughters here as no other day-care centre keeps children after 7 pm. Says Sehra,“With nuclear family becoming the norm,a 24-hour creche is a boon for working parents without fixed working hours.”

The crèche,which also offers boarding services for children,is the brainchild of retired defenceman Manoj Babu and his wife Valsala Manoj. “Around 13 years ago,when my wife was hospitalised in Delhi,I had a tough time taking care of my five-month-old daughter with no relative around to help us. I don’t want others to go through the same trauma and pain,” says Babu.

“Delhi is home to people from all parts of the country and it’s not easy for everyone to get child care help from family members during an emergency. In case of hospitalisation or a sudden unplanned trip,parents feel lost. In such situations,parents can leave their children with us. The duration of the stay can range from a day to a few weeks,depending on the situation,” explains Babu.

“Keeping a child in a crèche is better than keeping him at home with a nanny. At a crèche,the child will learn to interact with other children. You cannot also always trust a full-time maid at home,” Sehra says.

Elaborating on his crèche,Babu says,“We keep the children engaged through dance,music and storytelling sessions and take care of them just as a parent would do.”