Questions for potential childcare provider

jworkman1980

Okay ladies.........I went to a hair salon and received several referrals to a lady who provides childcare out of her home. She is a former school teacher who had to stop working when her daughter was born premature. She started watching a friend's child, and then another friend's child and so forth. DH and I both feel like it would be better to place our 8 week old baby with someone who will be able to devote more time to them than a larger facility. I spoke to the lady who seems super sweet and sounds very educated (we live in AL due to the military........so education is a plus lol). She told me that her 5 year old is advanced for her age and is already reading. We are going to meet with her within the next two weeks and just wondered if you ladies have any suggestions for questions to ask? As a FTM I am clueless and any advice would be very much appreciated TIA!!

One of the ladies who referred her said that she could put her son in Pre-K this year but she would rather him stay with this lady. She said he is always happy when he comes home and she feels like he can learn a lot more with the one on one rather than in a larger group of kids. Plus, she lives close by.......right on our way to work

jworkman1980

1 infant and 3 toddlers

lujain

I would also ask how often the TV is on if that is an issue for you.

Anne Mommy

I would ask if she has any one there helping her. I'm thinking that cooking lunch for the kids and herself while trying to watch 3 toddlers and 2 infants sounds a little demanding.

I would ask to see the sleeping area. If they have a crib, is there one for each kid? If they share, do they have different sheets? Think about kid spit up. I didn't want DS sitting in another kid's spit up.

How often to they change diapers? One daycare only changed diapers every 2 hours regardless of the baby. It was like "Oh, it's 2 o'clock lets change all the babies." We went to pick up DS 3 days in a row and he had a poo filled diaper because he poo'd right after diaper change time.

Ask about vacation/ holdiay schedules, back up for when she is sick, who provides the food/ if she will let you bring in BM (if that's what you want to do).