what questions did you not think to ask? (daycare interviews!)

TheyCalledHerKate · January 2013

Hi working moms H and I have our first daycare tour tomorrow morning and I've made a list of the most common questions to ask (I found some great lists online).

My question to you ladies is what do you wish you had asked a potential daycare provider that you didn't think to at the time?

I have a ton of questions down but I know I'm probably missing something and would appreciate input from moms who have been there.

I will be returning to work after a 12 week maternity leave once baby is here this summer.

Thanks for your help

ETA: we will be using a center for sure, not an in-home, if that matters

EastCoastBride · January 2013

The first DC we ever toured- one of the things the woman said to me was that once the baby gets here, if I want to come back and tour again and ask more questions, I'm more than welcome too. Specifically because things change and also once you have that little baby in hand - new questions pop to mind!

So that's actually one thing I'd ask - can you touch base w/ them when the time gets closer w/ new questions!

And also- a good tour guide will answer a lot of your questions w/o you actually having to go through your list.

TheyCalledHerKate · January 2013

thanks @EastCoast

that's a good idea (to come back with the baby)

linds0130 · January 2013

I also agree about going back after baby is here as changes can happen!. Our main teacher quit between my tour and start date so they called me to come in to meet the new main infant teacher.

Other suggestions are

Ask when rate increases occur so if they tell you a weekly rate tomorrow you aren't shocked if it's higher when you start.

Ask if they allow homemade baby food if it's something you are planning on doing.

Bad weather closing policy...ours follows local school district.

cecilyandgautam · January 2013

This is a ways away for you but there's been a long thread every week for awhile now on biting in centers. Some centers just write up a report and consider their job done while others try to manage it more carefully - I'd want to know which I was signing up for, so I'd ask how they deal with the biter & the biten and what they expect of parents in terms of re-enforcing the message at home.

mom2be0912 · January 2013

The first place we toured had a woman who obviously smoked. After that place was crossed off our list, I made sure to ask each daycare if they have any employees who smoke or if they have a strict no smoking policy. I was so glad I asked each time because I was pretty surprised at some of their answers and how they justified employees smoking "off campus so the kids don't see them." Umm.. ok, but the point is that they will be holding my child while feeding him with smoke all over them. Gross. So, just a thought if you care about that sort of thing.

cltk12 · January 2013

You can ask tons of questions, but I'll say talk to the director and the infant rooms teachers to get the best view of the people. Stay in the room for a few minutes and see how they interact with the babies there. I think you need to be comfortable with the people!

We went to 4 centers and they all had the same policies, etc. 2 of them were actually the same corporate company (we live in the middle of them). They will mostly all say the same stuff. To me, it's about the people and if you feel comfortable with them.

TheyCalledHerKate · January 2013

mom2be0912:
The first place we toured had a woman who obviously smoked. After that place was crossed off our list, I made sure to ask each daycare if they have any employees who smoke or if they have a strict no smoking policy. I was so glad I asked each time because I was pretty surprised at some of their answers and how they justified employees smoking "off campus so the kids don't see them." Umm.. ok, but the point is that they will be holding my child while feeding him with smoke all over them. Gross. So, just a thought if you care about that sort of thing.

I agree it is disgusting. I would not want anyone who smokes holding my chid. I have this on my list actually

Y'all gave such great advice---adding all of these questions to my list, thank you!

2chatter · January 2013

The biggest shock to me with DC was that your child might be in another room based on staffing, especially in smaller centers. In the morning and in the afternoon, DD was in a different room (and in the afternoon after curriculum it was the gym with no toys. Her favorite game was spinning around and falling down. We moved her to a private full time prek). I knew this would happen and asked with DS. With infants, they split the shift so the babies were always in the baby room, but as soon as the three babies in his room were mobile, they ended up being combined in a early walker room before 8 AM (usually it is DS and one to two early walkers, and he gets breakfast that I send and then his teacher arrives). Which is fine, as that was the same teacher that used to split the shift, she's not overwhelmed, etc. They start throwing them into a playroom and the gym around 18-24 months, to lower their need for staff (below ratio, but kids are not in seperate rooms so therefore do not need a seperate teacher).

I chose this center for DS as a baby, but we will move before he hits two because of it. So my advice is make sure that the center and the fit will grow with you - ask questions about toddlers, preschoolers, and schedules.

Cheerio B · January 2013

Room transitions

Food for older kids

Discipline

Curriuculum for older kids

Basically DH and I just looked closely at the infant room and smiled-and-nodded through the short tour of the rest of the building. We just got lucky that we liked the older rooms. We were seriously not prepared at our tour.

shannm · January 2013

Find out their swaddle policy if that is important to you. We used the same daycare for both DS and DD. DS was swaddled without a problem. Four years later, on DD's first day, I find out that they now have a no swaddle rule. We eventually worked something out with a Velcro Swaddle Me and a doctors note but it broke my heart that first day because it really soothed her.

atcwag · January 2013

shannm:
Find out their swaddle policy if that is important to you. We used the same daycare for both DS and DD. DS was swaddled without a problem. Four years later, on DD's first day, I find out that they now have a no swaddle rule. We eventually worked something out with a Velcro Swaddle Me and a doctors note but it broke my heart that first day because it really soothed her.

Just out of curiosity, why the "no swaddle" rule?

pitterpatter129 · January 2013

atcwag:
shannm:
Find out their swaddle policy if that is important to you. We used the same daycare for both DS and DD. DS was swaddled without a problem. Four years later, on DD's first day, I find out that they now have a no swaddle rule. We eventually worked something out with a Velcro Swaddle Me and a doctors note but it broke my heart that first day because it really soothed her.
Just out of curiosity, why the "no swaddle" rule?

Probably SIDS related. Our state doesn't allow blankets of any kind in the cribs.

OP- my main issues are always food related. For older kids, can they bring their own food if you don't agree with the menu or if they have allergies. For babies, if you are bfing, do the workers have experience handling breastmilk and understand the differences between breastfed and formula fed babies (like they might only eat 4oz until weaned from the bottle for example.)

Tink112011 · January 2013

First, don't stress out about it too much. You will probably know walking in which center feels right for you and your family. If you're a FTM, you'll have more specific questions later.

I don't remember asking many questions. Most centers are prepared for tours and cover the common questions without being asked.

Aftey my DS started at 12 weeks old, I had a few more questions about napping routines. When he started solids at 6 months, I had a few more questions. Those are the type of things you don't need to worry about right now.

The only thing I would recommend asking for is a menu. I didn't and I love the healthy food our daycare serves, but I've heard many moms complain about their centers menu. Obviously you don't care for a 12 week old, but you will care soon enough!

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