Things you wished you had asked

kindershlitz

There is a local child care expo in our town next week. We are lucky enough to have family watching DS until next September. My husband I are going to check places out. What are some of your recommended questions for providers?  Thank you! 

CLLDLL

1.) What's their turn-over like?  Center's that tend to have employees stick around for a long time are generally good places to work & usually also provide good care.

2.) Are they willing to use your prefer schedule (or no schedule) or will they try to get LO on a schedule that works for them?

3.) What's their policy on things like giving meds, severe weather, how long a LO needs to stay home after being sick, etc.?

4.) Do they move LO up to the next room (so like from the infant room to the toddler room) based on a certain age or based on when LO hits certain milestones?

5.) How does their philosophy on things like starting solids, potty training, religion, how to handle disipline, etc. line up with yours?  Are there any that clash that you feel strongly about?

Eveanyn

A huge question should be when would they contact you for any issues. My daycare didn't contact me at all about my son not eating all day. He refused all his bottles and they didn't think it was a big enough deal to call me. They waited until I picked him up to tell me, so he was there for 10 hours without eating. I got him to eat 12 ounces as soon as we got home.

ChristyML

Eveanyn:

A huge question should be when would they contact you for any issues. My daycare didn't contact me at all about my son not eating all day. He refused all his bottles and they didn't think it was a big enough deal to call me. They waited until I picked him up to tell me, so he was there for 10 hours without eating. I got him to eat 12 ounces as soon as we got home.

May I ask what you did after learning that he hadn't eaten all day? Does he still go to that daycare? 

jw87

CLLDLL:

1.) What's their turn-over like?  Center's that tend to have employees stick around for a long time are generally good places to work & usually also provide good care.

2.) Are they willing to use your prefer schedule (or no schedule) or will they try to get LO on a schedule that works for them?

3.) What's their policy on things like giving meds, severe weather, how long a LO needs to stay home after being sick, etc.?

4.) Do they move LO up to the next room (so like from the infant room to the toddler room) based on a certain age or based on when LO hits certain milestones?

5.) How does their philosophy on things like starting solids, potty training, religion, how to handle disipline, etc. line up with yours?  Are there any that clash that you feel strongly about?

All of this!