Daycare moms: how often do you "check in?"

MomtobeNJ · May 2014

If your LO is in daycare, how often do you call or text to see how they're doing? Or how often do you get texts or pictures from staff letting you know how their day is going?

Over the next 2 weeks I will be visiting daycares in our new town. I am trying to get a sense of what the norm is for checking in. At our current daycare, I get a lot of text updates and pictures because I knew one of the Directors before I had DD. I do think they do the same for other parents, but I'm not sure if they do it as often. I wouldn't hesitate to call or text to check in if I have a concern, like if she isn't feeling well or didn't sleep the night before. I definitely don't bug them every day, but I do like feeling like I can if I need to. This is not something I ever thought to ask about when we first looked at daycares because I didn't realize it was a "thing." But do you think it's a reasonable question to ask a new place, or will I come across as a psycho helicopter mom?

cmarie520 · May 2014

DS attends a large center. I don't call to check in unless I am concerned about something specifically. I don't have any of the employees cell numbers so I've never texted anyone there. When we first picked the daycare they told me to call whenever I wanted to check in, but I know when I call I'm taking an employees time away from the kids so I don't make a habit out of it.

MomtobeNJ · May 2014

I'm sure each center has different policies and standards. Right now she's in a smaller, privately owned center. The 2 directors have a school cell phone on them at all times. All the parents are given those numbers. They don't use their personal phones, staff is not allowed to have a phone out at all, and they only check the cell at certain times throughout the day - breaks, lunch, etc.

melody921 · May 2014

RivaJam said:

Our daycare has an app that they use instead of a daily sheet and it keeps track of diapers, activities, food/snacks, nap, etc plus they send photos through it. I love it. It's called Daily Connect and it's through itunes. They reimbursed the $5 charge.

This sounds awesome. Our center says we can call/drop-in whenever. But I've only called if there's a specific concern. I don't have anyone's cell phone except one teacher who babysits for us on the side. DD's former infant teacher used to email photos occasionally, but no one else does it on a regular basis.

Hyaline · May 2014

It's definitely reasonable to ask--I don't think there's a right or wrong answer, but it should be something that lines up with your expectations. If you want to hear from them all the time and they don't check in, that's going to be difficult for you. That said, I wouldn't think poorly of a center that didn't make this a general practice. It's about your expectations.

I don't check in or ask for check-ins at all. I don't have time to check my phone frequently at work, anyway. I might feel differently if I worked full days (I work half days), but as it stands, it's not something I need, want, or expect.

MomtobeNJ · May 2014

It's not like it would be a deal breaker if they tell me they never contact parents. Getting a random text or picture once in awhile definitely brightens my day and I love it, but I'm not going to demand or expect it. It was just a nice perk that I appreciate, especially when she is there for a full day.

Cheenomae · May 2014

I don't check in on my kids unless I have a specific concern. Sometimes DD just doesn't want to be dropped off so when she has a rough morning I'll call and just make sure she calmed down okay. They made it clear that we can call any time we want and I feel pretty confidant that they are serious.

I've made "friends" with some of the teachers and I'll get texts with pictures from them, but neither of their teachers currently text me.

hmp1 · May 2014

I think it is a perfectly reasonable question to ask since that is something you are getting now and like. Our daycare says you can call and check in as many times as you want. I have called a couple of times when something wasn't right with one of the boys just to make sure they are doing better. They don't text me updates, the teachers do not have their phones out in the classroom, but they do have a webcam so I can look in on the boys whenever I want. I haven't looked on the webcam in months though.

hmp1 · May 2014

And they have a private IG account but it isn't always my kid or my kids' class being posted so I don't see daily pictures of them.

miss50 · May 2014

No cell phones in the classroom at our center either.

I've never called to check in, but I know I can whenever I want.

Also, when the centers name shows up on the caller ID I freak.

danabsd · May 2014

RivaJam said:

Our daycare has an app that they use instead of a daily sheet and it keeps track of diapers, activities, food/snacks, nap, etc plus they send photos through it. I love it. It's called Daily Connect and it's through itunes. They reimbursed the $5 charge.

Same, kinda. It's called Learning Genie and we get a daily report via email less than an hour after we check out.

I don't call and check on her or get updates during the day.

Flamingemu · May 2014

I use an IHDC, but I still only check in when something is wrong. I get pics randomly on occasion, but not every day. I would ask what their policies are, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker if I liked the place otherwise.

BeebopandBuddy · May 2014

My daycare doesn't check in with me at all unless something is wrong. I only check in with them if I think there may be an issue, like one of the kids is having a hard morning or something like that. Most days we don't speak at all except for drop off and pick up.

kelbel527 · May 2014

RivaJam said:

Our daycare has an app that they use instead of a daily sheet and it keeps track of diapers, activities, food/snacks, nap, etc plus they send photos through it. I love it. It's called Daily Connect and it's through itunes. They reimbursed the $5 charge.

Our daycare just rolled out this app to all the classrooms and they've been testing it in Aedan's room since he was born. I LOVE it. They don't reimburse the $5 here, but it was $ well spent. I check in on how his day is going whenever I want to.

Aedan's room posts how his day is going while the kids are napping, so by mid-day I usually get an update. I get pictures probably 1-2x per week. The app tells me all his diapers, food/snacks and nap stuff as soon as they enter it.

Brody's room posts less, but it's 4-5 year olds, so it's a little different.

I call whenever I feel a need to check-in, and I'm lucky enough to have daycare on site at work, so I pop down if ever need be. When he was a baby I popped down all the time to snuggle.

Want a personalized experience?

Daycare moms: how often do you "check in?"

Re: Daycare moms: how often do you "check in?"

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

Daycare moms: how often do you "check in?"

Re: Daycare moms: how often do you &quot;check in?&quot;

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Re: Daycare moms: how often do you "check in?"