Child growth and development are influenced by multiple factors, including caregiving environments. This study aimed to compare the growth patterns (height, weight, and BMI) of children aged 1 to 6 years attending daycare centers with those cared for at home in a selected metropolitan area, and to assess the association between growth patterns and selected demographic variables. A quantitative, non-experimental comparative descriptive research design was used. The study was conducted in Rajsamand city, and 120 children were selected through stratified random sampling, including 60 from daycare and 60 from home care settings. Children with at least one year of exposure to their caregiving environment and parental consent were included, while those with chronic illnesses or congenital anomalies were excluded. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI), and a checklist assessing growth-influencing factors. Growth patterns were categorized as poor, moderate, and good. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and chi-square tests. Results showed that home-care children had a higher proportion of good growth (36.67%) compared to daycare children (20.00%), while poor growth was more common in daycare (20.00% vs. 10.00%). However, no significant differences were found in weight, height, or BMI between the groups. Growth patterns were significantly associated with age and gender in both groups. Family income significantly influenced growth in home-care children, while maternal education was significantly associated with growth in daycare children. In conclusion, although overall anthropometric measures did not differ significantly, home-care children showed comparatively better growth patterns. The findings highlight the influence of socio-demographic factors and suggest the need for targeted nutritional and health interventions in daycare settings.

Keywords: Child Growth, Daycare Centers, Home Care, Metropolitan Area

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1. Erdem, H., Korkmaz, M., & Yilmaz, G. (2019). A comparison of child development, growth and illness in home-care and day-care center settings. Journal of Health Research. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHR-08-2019-0193/full/html
2. Lowry, L. (2012). Does child care make a difference to children’s development? Hanen Centre. https://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/Does-child-care-make-a-difference-to-childrens-de.aspx
3. Morrissey, T. W. (2008). Beyond an “Either-Or” Approach to Home- and Center-Based Child Care: Comparing Children and Families who Combine Care Types with Those Who Use Just One. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3810998/
4. Grand View Research. (2023). Child Care Services Market Size to Reach $396.4Bn By 2030. Retrieved from https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-child-care-services-market
5. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (2021). National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5): India Report. Retrieved from http://rchiips.org/nfhs/NFHS-5_FCTS/India.pdf
6. Towards Healthcare. (2024). Child Care Market Size, Trends and 5.72% CAGR by 2034. Retrieved from https://www.towardshealthcare.com/insights/child-care-market-sizing
7. World Health Organization. (2006). WHO Child Growth Standards: Length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length, weight-for-height and BMI-for-age. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/tools/child-growth-standards
8. UNICEF. (2023). Early Childhood Development: Nutrition, health and stimulation. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/early-childhood-development
9. NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. (2006). Child-care effect sizes for cognitive and social development. Developmental Psychology, 42(5), 879–890. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.42.5.879
10. Belsky, J., Vandell, D. L., Burchinal, M., et al. (2007). Are there long-term effects of early child care? Child Development, 78(2), 681–701. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01021.

Child growth and development are influenced by multiple factors, including caregiving environments. This study aimed to compare the growth patterns (height, weight, and BMI) of children aged 1 to 6 years attending daycare centers with those cared for at home in a selected metropolitan area, and to assess the association between growth patterns and selected demographic variables. A quantitative, non-experimental comparative descriptive research design was used. The study was conducted in Rajsamand city, and 120 children were selected through stratified random sampling, including 60 from daycare and 60 from home care settings. Children with at least one year of exposure to their caregiving environment and parental consent were included, while those with chronic illnesses or congenital anomalies were excluded. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI), and a checklist assessing growth-influencing factors. Growth patterns were categorized as poor, moderate, and good. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and chi-square tests. Results showed that home-care children had a higher proportion of good growth (36.67%) compared to daycare children (20.00%), while poor growth was more common in daycare (20.00% vs. 10.00%). However, no significant differences were found in weight, height, or BMI between the groups. Growth patterns were significantly associated with age and gender in both groups. Family income significantly influenced growth in home-care children, while maternal education was significantly associated with growth in daycare children. In conclusion, although overall anthropometric measures did not differ significantly, home-care children showed comparatively better growth patterns. The findings highlight the influence of socio-demographic factors and suggest the need for targeted nutritional and health interventions in daycare settings.

Keywords: Child Growth, Daycare Centers, Home Care, Metropolitan Area

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Erdem, H., Korkmaz, M., & Yilmaz, G. (2019). A comparison of child development, growth and illness in home-care and day-care center settings. Journal of Health Research. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHR-08-2019-0193/full/html
2. Lowry, L. (2012). Does child care make a difference to children’s development? Hanen Centre. https://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/Does-child-care-make-a-difference-to-childrens-de.aspx
3. Morrissey, T. W. (2008). Beyond an “Either-Or” Approach to Home- and Center-Based Child Care: Comparing Children and Families who Combine Care Types with Those Who Use Just One. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3810998/
4. Grand View Research. (2023). Child Care Services Market Size to Reach $396.4Bn By 2030. Retrieved from https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-child-care-services-market
5. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (2021). National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5): India Report. Retrieved from http://rchiips.org/nfhs/NFHS-5_FCTS/India.pdf
6. Towards Healthcare. (2024). Child Care Market Size, Trends and 5.72% CAGR by 2034. Retrieved from https://www.towardshealthcare.com/insights/child-care-market-sizing
7. World Health Organization. (2006). WHO Child Growth Standards: Length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length, weight-for-height and BMI-for-age. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/tools/child-growth-standards
8. UNICEF. (2023). Early Childhood Development: Nutrition, health and stimulation. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/early-childhood-development
9. NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. (2006). Child-care effect sizes for cognitive and social development. Developmental Psychology, 42(5), 879–890. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.42.5.879
10. Belsky, J., Vandell, D. L., Burchinal, M., et al. (2007). Are there long-term effects of early child care? Child Development, 78(2), 681–701. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01021.