When you’re a first-time mom, leaving your infant in a daycare program can be nerve wrecking. It’s important to find the best environment for your child– and your peace-of-mind. But what questions should you ask to compare each child care program? We polled our fabulous Facebook fans to find out what tips and advice they had for choosing a daycare.
Tip 1: Start your search as soon as possible.
“Most daycares have a wait list and you don’t want to be stuck having to put your baby in one you don’t like just because there is no where else. At least get your name on the list.” ~ Heather C.
Tip 2: Check the center’s references.
“Get personal recommendations from friends and family members and check online reviews.” ~ Carla E.
“Ask what grade they got on their State inspection, if they didn’t get a good score are won’t tell you don’t use them.” Thea W.
Tip 3: Take a tour of the facility.
“Do the children seem happily engaged? Is the staff actively and lovingly interacting with the children?” ~ Jennifer F.
“Look at classroom size. Not just for the little babies, but toddlers as well. There are state mandated teacher-child ratios, but smaller class sizes are better. Teachers can get overwhelmed,” ~ Melanie P.
Tip 4: Look for cleanliness.
“Check for clutter on or at the changing stations. Check for recent artwork and make sure the other children are clean.” ~ Jennifer L
“It may sound weird, but if the place smells bad, that’s a bad sign. When we were looking to move my son from the center he’d been at since birth, that was one of the big things I just couldn’t overcome when visiting other facilities,” ~ Christy R.
“Use all your senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch, even taste.” ~ Jennifer F.
Tip 5: Observe the staff.
“The thing I first noticed when I walked into the infant room were the staff members already playing and holding the babies, or only after you walked in the room. You can tell when people enjoy what they do or if it’s just a paycheck,” ~ Theresa R.
“Watch the teachers interact with kids. I’ve been so surprised at how many daycares I see where teachers are just sitting around and kids are left to play alone.” ~ Kay F.
“Meet the teacher! If she’s talkative and answers questions on a surprise visit, most likely she will have time to talk at the end of each day if you have questions throughout the year,” ~ Elicia H.
Tip 6: Ask about their security system.
“Our day care is in the process of updating their system to a code/fingerprint system. Love that!” ~ Marian F.
“Make sure they have cameras. I wouldn’t put my child anywhere that did not have cameras.” ~ Dawn R.
Tip 7: Ask about the center’s rules & procedures.
“Potty training is very important on their part. Check out their procedures. Make sure they have potty schedules.” ~ Marian F.
Tip 8: Take your baby to the center.
“The best advice I received was take the baby with you when you are making your final decision. See how they baby reacts. It will give you piece of mind!” ~ Heather C.
Tip 9: Go with your intuition.
“You just know when you’ve picked the right one for your precious one.” ~ Carla E.
“This is a crucial period in a child’s life, so don’t be afraid to speak your mind and ask lots of questions. Above all, trust your instincts!!” ~ Kay F.
On the Net:
Childcare Network’s parent checklist
Photo Credit: istockphoto.com