What to look for in a day care for an infant/toddler?

Question

I am currently searching for a day care for my son. We will enroll him in Dec/Jan by when he will be 1 year old. What all should I look for when selecting a day care?

Answer 1

this is what I looked for ( I have a 3 and 4 yr old)--

1.was the daycare clean

2.was the daycare staff nice and caring

3.what time the daycare open and close

4.cost

5.playground equipment safe

6.nap time routine (how long was the nap kids should not sleep 3 or more hours)

7.ratio of child/teacher per classroom

8.food served (breakfast/lunch/snack)

9.open door policy (drop by anytime)

10.daily schedule

good luck and go with gut feeling

Answer 2

Aside from the usual questions about cleanliness and policies if you are considering a Center ask how often they transition the babies from room to room. The lower the number the better. Ideally the baby should remain with the same caregiver as long as licensing allows. I've been in programs where a child who enters at 6 weeks can be in 4 different rooms by the time she is 3. This is convenient for the Centers but it is not good for the baby. Also ask about staff turnover and avoid a Center with too many new staff. The most important factor in good infant care is a consist ant and warm relationship between the baby and the caretaker. Too many moves or change of caregiver disrupts this relationship .

Answer 3

This really depends on what you are hoping to gain from a daycare. Do you want a more personalized approach? If so check out home daycares. There is a great organization called the Child Care Resource and Referral network. They have one in each state and are on the web. All of the daycares listed on the site are inspected by the government and may have a food program or other government programs that they are involved in. If you are looking for a more scheduled approach try a center. However they usually will request that you pay in advance and if the child is sick or you have a vacation you may have to pay when you are not there. My daughter (now 2) has been in both and I have liked both. The home daycare worked best when she was younger. Also you should ask about providers (what kind of background checks are preformed and if licensing is required). Also make sure that it is ok to pop in anytime. If not don't go there!  Good luck.

Answer 4

I think the number one thing is that the person that is taking care of your kid knows how to care for them. And make sure that there are nice people there, so that your kid feels comfortable being there.

Answer 5

You want to look for all the thing the others have said....... PLUS.....  When you go to interview them, watch your child and see how comfortable they are in that situation and around that person.  It is weird, but kids in a way are like dogs, they seem to sense "not so good" people and situations.  Also, when you finally think you have found the right one.... ask your kid what he thinks.

Answer 6

Look at as many places as you can, and go with your gut. If it doesn't feel right to you than it probably isn't. You know your child the best. The most important thing is to find a place where your child is comfortable.  I would also look at how clean the facility is, their schedule, child to teacher ratio, their facilities and whether or not they have an open door policy.

Answer 7

1- Policies around food - do you need to provide food until a certain age, is the food homemade, are the 4 food groups provided at all meals, do you need to bring food to accomodate allergies or are alternatives provided?

2- What would they do in an emergency if they could not get a hold of you or your husband? The correct answer is not "I would keep calling until I got your emergency contact", but "call 911"

3- policies around fees for vacations, sick days, stat holidays, etc.

5- outside time

6- How many children do they currently have in the daycare, and their ages

7- activities - age appropriate, outings, etc.

8- discipline - how does she discipline? this should also be age appropriate

9- are there any other people in the house? and ask for a police check for all adults, and meet them

10- ask for references (at least 2)

11- do you need to bring a high chair? car seat? Where will the baby be sleeping?

12- What are her policies re. parents visiting? Is it an open-door policy?

13- communication book - since your baby is so young, you want written daily notes about his or her day (what they ate, when they pooped, any problems, when they slept, etc.)

14- art activities - I realize that this is not important to you now, but it will be someday. Creative and sensory activities are very important for young children!

15- what will she do if she has an emergency during the day? Does she have back-up if she is ill or do you have to find your own back-up?

16- How long has she been doing this? Is she trained?

17- CPR and First aid

18- Schedule - for a baby this young, the schedule should be baby-driven. Eat when they are hungry, sleep when they are tired, etc.

19- How often are toys cleaned?

The first thing she should do is ask to hold your baby! If she is not interested in holding your baby, there is a problem.

I visited about 20 home daycares before I found two that I would even consider leaving my baby in. You will get a gut feel as soon as you walk in the house. Even if you like her, visit at least two or three other daycares to compare.

Answer 8

A generally clean looking room (may smell occasionally when a diaper is being changed lol). Most importantly though, nice teachers! Ask about turnover rates and how long each teacher has worked at that center. The people working in the room are what will make the biggest difference in how you feel about leaving your child there. They should be friendly and seem knowledgable. Just hang out in the classroom for a few minutes and see how they interact with the kids and with each other. It's important that all of the teachers in a room get along well so there isn't any tension. A huge plus if they seem to have a great relationship with the director. Look for child-made artwork on the walls (even at that young of an age). There should be some type of climber in the classroom and an adequate supply of toys but not so much that the room is cluttered. Check out the two year old room too because that year will go by fast! And start looking asap- toddler rooms fill up quick so you may need to get on a waiting list now. Good luck!