5 Ways Continuity of Care Helps Kids

When it comes to the health and wellness of your child, continuity of care is just as important as quality of care. That’s because continuity of care — the practice of children and their primary caregivers staying together for as long as possible — has tremendous long-term benefits for patients and their families.

This practice is most effective when a child can stay with the same caregiver for their first three years because it creates space for important relationships to develop over time. Some of the ways a continuous caregiver relationship can benefit your child include:

1. Decreases stress.

Young children experiencing continuity of care avoid the stress of multiple transitions that involve the breaking and remaking of relationships. As kids grow up and deal with common stressors like schoolwork, conflict with other kids and family moves, a strong foundation from early childhood will help them to deal with stress better.

2. Creates secure attachments.

Research has shown that, in situations where infants and toddlers maintain the same care provider for at least 12 months, the children develop stronger, more secure attachments to their provider. These secure attachments help nurture kids, while giving them positive models for future relationships.

3. Helps develop strong relationships.

The American Academy of Pediatrics underscores the importance of strong relationships “as a powerful protective buffer against the biological harms of toxic stress of children.” In short, continuity of care as an infant and toddler builds important relationships that empowers kids to become more resilient and emotionally secure.

4. Makes children’s development smoother.

By not having to start over in different environments and form new relationships, kids can make smoother and steadier physical, social and emotional development. Kids with continuous care also have fewer developmental or behavioral regressions than kids in noncontinuous care environments.

5. Improves behavior.

Research has shown that caregiving teams in continuity of care environments notice fewer behavioral issues than in non-continuity of care environments. This benefits children in the long run and also puts less strain on relationships among kids and caregivers in the moment.