Need help with questions for daycare centers

Re: Need help with questions for daycare centers

• LouRN09 member

  January 2013

  I currently have 2 in DC. We moved from an in home provider to a center when DS1 turned 2. And now DS2 (3.5 months old) is at the same center. The rooms are structured very differently.

  Infant room, where your 10 weeker would be: if your baby is hungry, they will feed him. If he is wet/dirty, they will change his diaper. If he is tired, they will put him to sleep. There is really no structure for this kind of room as they really try and do what they can to stay on your baby's schedule from home, and every baby will be different. I would steer clear from any DC center that has a strict schedule on the infant room. Now, in the older rooms (i.e. cruiser or young toddler), they will probably follow a more set schedule with schedule diaper checks, lunches, snacks, etc. It keeps the kiddos on a routine which eventually your LO will get used to and will be pretty beneficial for everyone involved.

  Early Preschool Room: This is the kind of room where my 2.5 year old is in, which I guess your oldest will be in something similar. Everything is very organized and structured, which is essential for kiddos at this age. Some are still in diapers, but they go to the potty every 1.5 hours, and of course change diaper sooner if necessary. They have snacks and lunch and nap at the same time every day. Their nap time was a little different than what DS was used to at first but he adjusted fine. And they do various things at different times throughout the day. (i.e circle time, independent play, puzzles, outside play, etc.)

  Here are some things that I felt important to look for when researching centers:

  Ratio of teacher to child; cleanliness; staff turnover rate; experience and qualifications (CPR, etc.) of teachers; our's is a Christian based DC so that was important to me; what holidays they are closed and sick/vacation policy; how they prepare food (fresh vs processed).

  Thats all I can think of right now off the top of my head! Happy hunting! Hope some of this was helpful for you?!

  

  

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• 1026pumpkin member

  January 2013

  I would ask about the schedules/routines in each room, how they handle feedings and difficult eaters, what are the policies about bringing in bottles/formula and baby food, do you bring your own toddler food or do they provide (ask for a sample menu if they provide), nap times, how they handle discipline, what they hours and holidays are, what the late policy is, when kids move up to the next room, and what the teacher:student ratio is.

  Specifically for infants, most rooms have a "daily sheet" and you can give them directions about when and how much to feed LO, when/how long naps should be, etc.  A lot of kids have different schedules at DC than they do at home, so I would try to be flexible and let LO adjust to the new routine.  I think the posted schedules are usually once they get to be older- ours had a loose schedule for the 1s and a more rigid one at 2s.  They will probably send home a copy of the sheet each day so you can see how many bottles he took and when, how many diapers, etc.  Definitely ask about this process during the tour.  I would also ask what they do with infants during the day- do they put them in swings/bouncers or do they get floor play, how do they comfort them, do they use cry it out?

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• izziebee member

  January 2013

  Thank you both so much! Your responses were very helpful!
  

  
  

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