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August 2012 Moms
mmdailey
member
Daycare moms
mmdailey
member
So, since he's been unemployed the last 9 months, Miss C's dad has been watching her while I work. Things are changing now, though, since he's found a job. The job is 5 hours away in L.A. and they want him there as soon as he can get there, so I need to get her into daycare pronto. I know I have limited time, but I don't want to feel rushed or uniformed. So, what makes for a good daycare? What's the norm to expect? Will a good daycare do whatever I want, or should I expect a list of rules? Also, what's the going rate for daycare? I feel so lost and I don't want to rush her into a place I'm not comfortable with, just because I need a place soon. This is so difficult.
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Re: Daycare moms
As far as price - it varies greatly from place to place. My suggestion is to go to visit a few. See what kind of vibe you get from each place. You need be comfortable where your child is. You can also get an idea of pricing for your area.
I like my DC for some reasons:
-Security - you have a code to get into the building. Then you have to check your child in and out on their computer program
- They provide 2 snacks and a hot lunch ( makes meals SOOO much easier)
- I love their staff. They were short handed for a while so I was concerned (the director was in in covering to maintain the ratios) They hired a few more people. S loves the ladies there and they seem to love him right back
-He has his own schedule. I visited one place where everyone ate at the same time, slept at the same time, etc. Here is more flexible.
- He gets a daily report card of what he did for the day, feeding schedules, diaper changes, etc. Keeps me informed with what is going on.
-Educational - they focus on different learning developments for each kid.
Thats all I can think of off the top of my head. Somewhere to start!
Again, as I haven't put DS in daycare, I also would pay attention to the orderliness and cleanliness both inside and outside of the DC... if that is something important to you. I guess I'm still bugged by the DCP I visited that had super nice teachers but looked like it needed major updating and a cleaning crew.
Other things to look for you'll have to get the advice from someone who actually sends their LO to DC. :]
I think it's a good combination of structure and parent lead "rules". You want somewhere that will listen to your concerns and take them into consideration, but has some good core values and practices in place and won't bend them for every single parent who has an odd request... kwim?
As far as price goes, that is completely dependent on what kind of dcp you choose (in home vs. center vs. nanny, etc) and where you live. Around here, you can expect to pay around $450+ a week for a high-end competitive private center.
You should ask to see the curriculum (a requirement, in my book) menus, and the parent handbook. They should have all this information available and happy to share.
Flexibility is huge for me. What are the hours? Do they follow the public schools in regards to closings, etc? Sick policy? Vacation policy?
I've always said, when you find the right place, you'll know it. Although it can be hard, do NOT let price make the decision for you. Childcare is an instance where (9 times out of 10) you get what you pay for. Go with your gut!! Good luck
Proud Mama to cleft cutie
You're right. I'm only going to have a handful of options to begin with so they'll probably be around the same price. The only one I know I can't afford is the one on our UC campus at 1000 bucks a month. That's another mortgage payment for me!
I LOVE my daycare.
It's small - only 8 babies (most places I looked at had 12).
Babies are on their own schedules. They will either go by the baby's natural schedule or a schedule parents give them.
The babies can explore! One daycare I looked at, there wasn't one baby on the floor. They were all "in" something (i.e. swing, exercauser, crib).
Security -- My daycare has a code to get in the room that only the parents know. if someone other than me is picking DS up, they check ID.
I provide everything but cereal. Doesn't bother me.
I pay $225/week. That's only $25 more than the other places I was looking at.
We've been in two different daycares now and this one is by far the best. Yes, it is $50 more a week (we pay a discounted rate of $200/week but the going rate is $235 because we came in on a special), but the teachers are more highly trained, and they have an actual curriculum, among many other things.
What made my decision was that in the 4-5 times I went in to visit before I made my decision, I never heard an unhappy child. Every kid was excited to get to class, the babies were all happy and playing, and it always smelled clean.
Your gut will make the decision for you and you'll find a way to make it work for the rest.