Daycare Interview Questions

AGK2015

So, I'm getting out of work early today to do some daycare tours. I suspect they're going to expect me to ask some questions; as a FTM, I'm a little intimidated, because I don't even know what I don't know.  I've got a list started (see below), but figured I'd throw the floor open for discussion; what sorts of things would you want to know about the place where you'll be sending your baby during the day?  If you've been through this process already, what questions gave you the most useful knowledge, and what do you wish you'd asked?

I'm already planning to ask:

• What's the sick leave policy?  Fever, time limits, etc?
• How many adults per child?
• I'm hoping to breastfeed. What's the policy on feeding baby? How would it be handled if I didn't bring enough milk for the day?
• What's the policy on late pickups?
• Will the daycare administer medicines (OTC medications or prescriptions with a doctor's note)?
• What sorts of supplies are provided, vs. what do I need to bring? Diapers, formula, baby food (when it becomes developmentally appropriate), binkies, etc?
• Do I bring in my car seat carrier or leave it in the car?
• What happens if I don't need daycare for a week?  What about for a longer period of time (in the event of a job loss, furlough, etc.)? Will they hold my seat?
• How is payment collected?
• What's the vaccination policy for children in the daycare?

AEG84

Those are some great questions! I guess I should start building my list...we're going to check a few out on the 11th.

I would add, if you don't already know, to ask about rates and whether they are daily or weekly. Some daycares in our area offer slightly reduced rates if you are only using them 3 days per week, others are flat rate, and others are daily so you only get charged for the days you actually take baby in (that's my personal preference - that way I don't have to pay during vacations or if a family member is watching LO).

Also, ask about any days they are closed.

Jules08

Great list, and ditto @AEG84 - I would definitely get a hand out of the rates and how they are adjusted as your child gets older.

I would also ask the policy for lock-down and how they notify parents in any emergencies.

When do they/ how much time do they spend outside?

Do they have live webcams that you can view online?  (Some do and it's a great feature!)

How do they regulate who the child get's picked up by (list of approved names & identification)?

Who greets the children when they arrive?

Are snacks/ meals included/ provided?  How do they handle allergies?

Jules08

What background are the providers required to have?  Teaching / child care certifications?  First aid & CPR certifications?

How long have the teachers/ providers been there?  What is the turn over rate?

Are there any other parents that you can talk to to get their input?

mrstrax

Emergency policies (fire/weather) -
a local public daycare/preschool had a furnace fire with no real danger/damage, but it brought the potential to everyone's attention. They had to wait for a school bus to come hold them all until they get the okay to go back in unless parents (who were contacted) picked them up.

Regularly closed days (holidays etc)

Illness notification (which illnesses will they tell you are going around the daycare).

ivyvines6

I would also ask for a sample food menu for the past three months. (You would not believe the junk that is accepted as food at most places)

And what their discipline policy is. Most places will say redirect, then timeouts, but make it clear you want to know everytime your child is being punished for something, so it doesn't blindside you one day.

And I'd you're having a girl, what their dress code is.

AEG84

@Knottie9983816, do daycares have dress codes??

ivyvines6

AEG84 said:

@Knottie9983816, do daycares have dress codes??

No spaghetti straps, shorts have to be worn under dresses, no short shorts, etc. I find the shoulder ban ridiculous, and wouldn't put up with it.

AEG84

Knottie9983816 said:

@Knottie9983816, do daycares have dress codes??

No spaghetti straps, shorts have to be worn under dresses, no short shorts, etc. I find the shoulder ban ridiculous, and wouldn't put up with it.

Oh good grief. They are children FFS! Good to know that's something I should add to the list, though...thanks!

AGK2015

You guys are amazing.... there are so many things I had no idea I needed to think about! I definitely appreciate all the help. Trying to come up with questions is always my least favorite part of any interview process.  Why can't life just come with a search bar that has all the answers?

duendef

For the infant phase I would make sure to ask about floor/tummy time. Floor time is so important for development, and I have gone into way too many daycares to see babies always placed in PNPs, strollers, bouncers, etc. all day! Infants need that floor time. It's much harder in a setting with mixed age groups, but some places have a specific infant room where it might be easier to do this.

Also, asking about parent communication. Daily, but also overall. I know DDs daycare has "parent-teacher meetings" of sorts, twice a year to discuss how things are going, developmental concerns, milestones, transitions, etc. they even fill out a developmental questionnaire, which I think is very helpful for most parents. You may be able to request these meetings too, if they don't do it routinely.

Can you tell I'm a bit obsessed with development?

elasticheart13

These are all excellent questions! I really prioritize focus on development as PP mentioned, the daycare I worked in did an excellent job at making sure the infants had age appropriate exercises and tummy time. I'd also ask about what kind of food is served if they serve food including sugar policy, preferably a place where they cook their own food. My daycare served amaaaaazing organic food, and I seriously loved it. I would also look into how often they get to go outside and play.

ivyvines6

elasticheart13 said:

These are all excellent questions! I really prioritize focus on development as PP mentioned, the daycare I worked in did an excellent job at making sure the infants had age appropriate exercises and tummy time. I'd also ask about what kind of food is served if they serve food including sugar policy, preferably a place where they cook their own food. My daycare served amaaaaazing organic food, and I seriously loved it. I would also look into how often they get to go outside and play.

The daycare I worked for was seriously the best in the area, and I was still appalled by what they served daily. The daycare my sister's work for? Omg. Vomit. And they have used the same menu every single week for years. If I end up putting my LO in a daycare, I'll be providing a Dr's note so I can bring food from home.

nicolepineapple

Hi, we already toured 4 day cares because they are already getting full for August 2016!   I guess the parents in my neighborhood really like to plan ahead!

Before we went to the center, DH and I discussed what we thought was important for our child and we made a list of the "Top 3" things.  When we toured the centers, we assessed everything based on our Top 3 and also ranked each center on the "Is this the right place for my child?" checklist (link is at bottom of post0.  I found that the questions came naturally when touring. Full disclosure, I cried on EVERY tour.  It was a mix of guilt (I wish I could stay home with baby!) and cuteness (those chubby little cheeks on the newborns just get me everytime!). 

My best friend has been an infant teacher and is now an administrator at daycare facility in Chicago and she gave me a few tips in advance: most importantly- look at HOW the teachers and staff interact with the children, pay attention to the ratios of kids to teachers, ask about turn-over, and: trust your instincts.

At the Center 1 (part of a national chain) the teachers were so distracted with logging entries into the Tadpole app on iPads, that they barely paid attention to the babies (many of them were in jumpers or propped up on Boppys).  There were too many kids per teacher and they looked unengaged.  We also thought the staff looked disheveled.  The older classrooms were chaos - like a scene out of Kindergarten Cop!   

Center 2 (again a national chain) - the children had a strict schedule to follow and 'curriculum' starting at 6 months old!  The daily schedule for kids didn't align with our family goals, so we passed on this place.   Again, the teachers were engrossed in logging their iPad updates with diaper and feeding changes on the Tadpole app.  We decided we didn't need the constant alerts and would rather have a 'low-technology' center.

Center 3 was a Montessori school had a BEAUTIFUL facility and nearly met all of our needs, however, the teachers were not engaging with the kids and just stood off to the side with arms crossed observing.  This was our #2 pick.

Center 4 was the place we picked.  Honestly, when I walked in, I felt like this is a place I would be comfortable leaving my baby.  The ratios were good - 3 babies to 1 teacher, and a max of 9 babies per room (which is lower than the state's ratio).  The teachers were playing at baby's eye level, talking/smiling/engaging with the kids.    The kids were clearly having fun and they just smiled nonstop at the staff.  It was so heartwarming to see how loving and caring everyone was. The facility isn't modern and the pick up times will be tight, but we think the trade-off will be worth it.  The teachers had development goals for each age and each room had appropriate toys and learning centers for the kids.  This center also came highly recommended by several co-workers.

BTW  - We used these websites as resources:

• Is this the right place for my child checklist?  https://careaboutchildcare.usu.edu/files/uploads/checklist.pdf
• Use the NAEYC search to find top-rated facilities https://www.naeyc.org/academy/accreditation/search
• Research your centers to see if there are any major red flags with license compliance or violations (child abuse, background checks, etc).  It varies by state - so just google "Illinois Daycare Licensing Violations" to find your local database.
• This Bump article is also helpful: https://www.thebump.com/a/how-to-find-good-day-care

... and don't forget to ask about "Vacation" policies.  Do you accrue vacation days that you can use throughout the year?   And ask about days the center is closed (Just national holidays?  What about snow days?  Any teacher in-service days?)

... edited to add one more thing: I found each center had different policies on diapers and wipes.  What do you need to bring?  Some centers provided just diapers, some don't provide any.  It's a small question - but hey, these little things can add up