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June 2011 Moms
SarahAndBen09
member
Questions to ask potential daycare
SarahAndBen09
member
So I'm a little late on finding daycare... I have a good SAHM friend who is willing to do it, but now I heard of a daycare center just a couple blocks from my house that I want to check out as well. (The friend would be a bit out of the way and make dropoff/pickup take more time.) They said they will have openings in September and will do part-time enrollment (I'm looking for 2 or 3 days a week).
Does anyone have any suggestions for questions to ask the daycare when I meet with them?
I'll do some searching myself, but I thought some of you might have some good questions that you've already used.
Thanks!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Questions to ask potential daycare
What are the daily charges?
What are the hours?
If you're going to breastfeed, how comfortable are they handling breastmilk?
How many babies are being watched by how many teachers?
What will they provide and what do they want you to provide?
Will they provide meals when baby is old enough for solid food?
How do they handle discipline (for older children)?
When I toured daycares I was really looking for an overall impression of the center. Are the rooms clean? Are the staff friendly and attentive to the children? Do I *like* the people who would be taking care of my child? Stuff like that.
Thanks! You had a couple that weren't on my list yet.
I would also ask about vacation time and holidays, although it may be different since you're doing part time.
I found that the centers varied quite a bit on how they structure payment if you're not there. For example, one center offers 1 (or maybe it was 2) weeks at 1/2 tuition for your vacation. Some centers are closed on holidays, but you still pay! One center I visited even closes for 2 weeks out of the year--around Christmas and 4th of July, but you still paid for that time! And I'm pretty sure at every daycare I visited if the child is out sick, you still pay for the day. Crazy, huh?
It could be because where I live, it's very, very difficult to find infant care, so they can get away with such things. People need daycare badly enough (like us), so they will pay whatever it costs. Sigh.
I met with a few day cares this week and asked about:
i'd be interested to see some of the other questions people ask too....
Thanks! Here's the list I've come up with so far:
Caregivers
- What is the training background of the caregivers?
- Do they know infant CPR?
- What is the staff's approach to soothing a crying baby?
- What is the staff turnover rate?
Infant Room
- Are the babies separated from the older children?
- What is a typical day like for the infants?
- Do you keep a daily log of the baby?s schedule & activities? (diaper changes, eating)
- Are toys sanitized?
- Do the babies have outdoor time?
Sleeping
- Does each baby have their own crib?
- Is there a schedule for naps or is it on demand?
- Are the babies taken out of the crib during the day to be held and played with?
Eating
- Do you accept pumped breastmilk? How is it reheated?
- Are babies fed on demand or on a schedule?
- Are babies held during feeding?
- Are glass bottles allowed?
Diaper Changes
- Are babies changed by need or on a schedule?
- How often are changing tables disinfected?
- Are cloth diapers allowed?
Miscellaneous
- Are parents welcomed and able to visit at any time during the day?
- How are payments made? (weekly, monthly?)
- What will you provide and what do you want me to provide?
- How do you handle discipline (for older children)?
Things to observe:
Observe the staff working. Note how they handle the infants. Are children given much attention? What kind of interaction do you observe? What is the general mood of the room and the babies?
Is the staff vigilant about handwashing? This is especially a concern in the infant room where staffers will handle diaper changings and feedings.
Do you observe any safety concerns? Sharp corners? Electrical outlets uncovered. Cords within reach of baby?s hands. Is there a posted emergency evacuation route? Are there smoke alarms and fire extinguishers?
Do the toys seem up to date and clean? Ask the staff how and when the toys and supplies are sanitized.
Good idea! From the handbook I read it looks like the center I'm looking at does require me to pay for holidays and vacation time, but "if your child has been there for 6 months, you earn one week of vacation time". Not sure how this works for part time and if you can use it for holidays, so I'll have to ask about that.
A tip that was given to me is to ask about SUBS and if they are all background checked and what level of experience they might need to SUB.
I am CD'ing so that was a major question I had
What the babies sleep in crib vs pack and play (if you even have a pref)
For me it was a lot about rapport...sitting w the people that would care for my son - it was about feeling safe. They are also going to let me transition him very slowly...so many visits for mommy before we drop him off for his first day...Lord knows I'll need it more than him.
Also check your local child care information system (if you have one) we have one in VT and you can check if the day care (if it is registered/licensed) has had any violations. This can be as minor as parent didnt sign kiddo in/out to bigger safety concerns. It also shows if people have rectified the problem. I'd check if your state has one.