What do you like/dislike about your daycare?

tokenhoser · February 2012

I'm finally getting semi-serious about finding a spot for Owen in May. I'm on the list at a bunch of centers and also looking at some neighbourhood dayhomes.

What are the things you like about your daycare? Hate? Anything I should be sure to ask? I feel so clueless, and yet I have to find someone I trust enough to leave my baby there and be happy at work.

bcnoelle · February 2012

I like that they give me a detailed sheet everyday noting his naps, diaper changes (and what was in them), feedings (what and how much), and how he did that day. Also love that they have an open door policy. My daycare is close enough to my work so i typically visit during lunch and play with the babies. This has helped my sanity since he started at 7 weeks. Also, he has his own crib and I could bring my own sheets or they could use theirs, which they wash weekly. I like that they have a true development program and help LO achieve milestones. They have guided me as much as the pediatricians office in some ways. I like that they have babies younger than 5-6 months in one area and babies 6-10 months in another and that they transition them well. Also, they have a room specifically for 10-12 month babies to really focus on things (eating finger foods, using a sippy cup, wearing shoes daily) before they move them in with the 12-18 month olds. I like that they are affiliated with a church rather than a company. I like their hours:) i am happy that i didnt have to pay for Christmas week, as others do charge even when they are closed. things I didn't like about some other places I looked into: location, company affiliation, hours, parking situation, unresponsive to inquiries. Honestly, I would just start looking and you will figure out more questions. A good center won't feel bothered by your questions. Good luck and your little boy will do great and have so much fun:)

prisschris · February 2012

Same as PP for me. I like that they point out cute little personality traits and interactions she's had each day. I like that they're part of the "village" raising Caroline. She's happy. She's interactive. I can just tell it's working.

Oh, big thing I was impressed with was tenure. They just don't have turnover. I think that is an indicator that they're treated well as employees.

everam01 · February 2012

Since my daycare is a center and one of only 2 5-star facilities in the area, I had high expectations. They have accountability, accountability, accountability.

The lead teacher has been in the infant room 10+ years. There are 3 teachers in the classroom at almost all times (for 8 babies).

Babies are always held when given bottles. They change their diapers immediately if they smell poop and every two hours otherwise. They let the parents decide on how much to feed the babies and when. They rotate the babies to different "stations" every 15-20 minutes. Every teacher must have their early childhood certification/credentials plus a mandatory number of courses in early childhood ed plus infant CPR certified. They follow all anti-SIDS rules. Everything is cleaned and sanitized every day. They only practice positive reinforcement (all the way through preschool). They allow cloth diapers. They have a nursing corner in the room with a glider and privacy if you need it.

The center has a passcode to get through the main door, then you have to pass through the reception area and in through another door before you reach any children.

Negatives include the price (in-home would have been much cheaper) and the hours. I wish they opened at 7 instead of 7:30 and closed at 6 instead of 5:30. Drop-off parking is also sometimes chaotic.

snoopy5512 · February 2012

All of the above. And really, you get what you pay for. I just don't think that most in homes, with babies and kids of so many ages is the best for an infant, developmentally. Also, I don't think they are regulated as well.

That said, we pay $19,000 a year. That is $373 a week. I could have sent her to a smaller less accredited/rated center for about $325-350 a week, or an in home for about $200 a week, but you have to ask yourself... if you can't take care of your LO during the day, wouldn't you pay as much as you could afford for the best care?

tokenhoser · February 2012

I think in-home varies a ton in quality, but I'm willing to consider it because there are some diamonds in the rough. My brother sends his kids to a dayhome that they just adore. They moved to a new neighbourhood, but they drive the 20 min back to the dayhome because it's such a good fit for them. It's all about the person that runs it, really.

Owen just loves older kids and I think babies learn a lot from being able to observe kids. So I'm not sold that being in a room with only babies within a few months age is that important after 12 months.

JUSTBEYOURSELF · February 2012

I use an in home daycare. I love that my daughter gets personal care. She is certified in child development and has certification with special needs as well as she has all her in home certifications. Here in Connecticut they actually randomly stop by the home and check and make sure that everything is to code. There are a variety of children that go to my in home daycare so my daughter does get to interact with different ages and races. I get a report each day of what went on thru the day. I know the other parents as well.

The kids all get along really well.

In home can be wonderful. you just need to search a few to find one that fits.

Athena0809 · February 2012

tokenhoser:

I think in-home varies a ton in quality, but I'm willing to consider it because there are some diamonds in the rough. My brother sends his kids to a dayhome that they just adore. They moved to a new neighbourhood, but they drive the 20 min back to the dayhome because it's such a good fit for them. It's all about the person that runs it, really.

Owen just loves older kids and I think babies learn a lot from being able to observe kids. So I'm not sold that being in a room with only babies within a few months age is that important after 12 months.

I have no experience with DC but I'm starting to think about it. I read in a local paper an article about Continuity of Care a "new age" format for grouping, where kids are with older kids and they stay with the same caregiver for longer. Apparently they believe babies learn from older kids and the attachment they form with their caregiver is better to beginning shuffled to a different group every few month. I kinda like the concept, here is the article in case you want to read it.

eawebster · February 2012

We use in-home daycare and I love our sitter. She is actually a co-worker's neighbor and has been providing childcare for about 30 years. Everyday I get a detailed list of feedings, naps, and diapers as well as anything worth mentioning. Price wise she is pretty on-par with the centers in our area but seems more flexible than she does on paper. She says she has a late fee but has yet to charge me one. I love that she is becoming like a member of our family and is like a pseudo grandmother to DD. There are 5 other kids there (not all full time) and she works with them at appropriate levels.

Some things I'm not a fan of are her hours (she closes at 5) and the fact that she doesn't report to the IRS. That means no tax refund for us, but I think DD's welbeing is more than worth it. She has a couple random days that she is "closed" and is taking two separate weeks of vacation so that means DH and I have to split our week-long vacations and we can't go somewhere as a family. Not ideal, but I guess it saves us money.

Bonnesetter27 · February 2012

We love our in-home dc. She and her husband run it and there are 10 kids ages 5-my lo. I didn't like when he was younger that he had a hard time sleeping because he napped more often and could't fall asleep with all the commotion. But now that he is getting older I love the age spread. The kids adore him and play gently with him. Also the dc providers run a preschool (sort of) program and he sits in on that. While I will send him to another pre-k I think it is great to get that learning.

I dislike that she is so by the book (but this was also the reason we chose her). If he cries for more than 10 minutes she has to pick him up by law. I get why this is a law but when I am trying to teach him to self-soothe it gets complicated. Also she doesn't do medicine. I get not doing antibiotics or things but she won't even put on rx diaper cream (from yeast infection). She won't let a kid come if they have a cold either, even if they are acting fine. I am very glad that she doesn't do a lot of these things but it would be easier if she did.

pinkflipflops44 · February 2012

We use an in-home daycare and we love it. My daughter loves the DCP, the three little boys who are there and my DCPs daughters who get there after school. You can just tell how happy she is there when we get there and she hears there voices and when I get her out of her carseat and she sees them. I knew the DCP because I taught her youngest daughter 2 years ago. I go out of my way to use her and it is worth it. She does whatever I ask, she has raised 2 wonderful sweet girls and she is just the nicest person ever.

My only negative is that an ex boyfrend also uses her. It gets awkward. ;P

btbarron08 · February 2012

We use a home daycare and love it!! I went back to work when DS was 10 weeks old, so he's been there a while. There are 5 children in the daycare from 8 months to 5 years old. I love that there is an age range so DS can get used to playing with kids at different levels. He has always gotten individual attention from the provider because there are only two babies in diapers, using bottles, etc. Now that he is crawling, he loves trying to keep up with the older children. She also gives me details every day about feedings, rash, naps, etc. Another positive is that she opens at 6:30 am. I usually don't get there till 7:00, but it's nice to know that I can drop off early if I ever needed to. She closes at 5:30 pm, and she doesn't charge for the week of vacation that she takes between Christmas and New Years.

My advice is to look around. I love the home daycare atmosphere rather than commercial facilities. But every parent is different, and there are positives and negatives about every daycare.

Want a personalized experience?

What do you like/dislike about your daycare?

Re: What do you like/dislike about your daycare?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards