Choosing a Daycare for your Baby

Sending a baby off to daycare is not a fun event for parents. But having a quality child care provider (CCP) makes this transitional time much easier. You want to encourage the CCP to bond with your baby like you have. Not only is infant care more expensive than care for an older child, but it is more challenging to really find someone you are comfortable with. Ideally you would start looking for care, interviewing and visiting homes, centers or nannies in your second trimester or earlier. It is not too early. I promise you. Once you are into the third trimester you will not feel much like doing anything except having your baby. Also, once you have the baby, you may be busier than you expected. Start early.

When my husband and I were looking for a provider, we started with 32 names which I received from a child care referral center in my area. Most cities have a center or service which will usually get you some type of list. After a short initial phone screening, 32 became 9. We then visited 9 places and came up with the top 2. Then we checked references and made the final decision before our baby was born. You can also get names from other people you know who are happy with their CCP. Drive around your neighborhood or the neighborhood where your job is located and see what you can find.

When interviewing a CCP, there are many questions you can ask. The hard part is that the CCP is going to know the answers you are looking for. With this in mind, you need to really observe what is going on and rely on intuition or gut feelings as much as relying on answers to your questions. Ask yourself if you believe the caregiver really seem to like children.

MOST important though is to check with at least 2 to 3 other parents who use this provider or have used them in the past. If you can not get references for what ever reason, this is not a good sign. When I called other parents, they not only said how great the CCP was, but how much she had taught them and helped them solve problems regarding feeding, sleeping, and other baby issues. This was reassuring.

PHONE SCREEN
Also, when calling daycare centers or homecare type CCP's, see if they call you back and how they sound on the phone. Can you communicate with them? Are they somone you could see yourself talking to daily? How responsible do they seem? Are they organized? Can they mail you some information? Can they give you a few references now?

Be sure to ask if they have an opening for the time you need. This is also a quick way to eliminate some CCP's. If there is no opening, then there is no need to visit.

Below is a short list of questions to use when visiting daycares. Add your own and have a sheet of paper with all questions and answers for each place you visit or for each person you interview.

Take down notes on CPP's answers and your observations for the areas below. If they rush you write that down too.

GENERAL
Name of provider?
Minutes from your home?
Do they provide policies in writing?
Is there a contract length or can you stop whenever?
How many children do you care for?
Age ranges?
How many attend Full-time? Part-time?
Do they separate babies from toddlers?
Who is in the home during the day (Assistants, Family, Older Children)?
Can you stop by anytime?

LICENSING/ACCREDIDATION/TRAINING
License # Accredited?
By who?
Credentials, Experience, number of years in this field?
Professional Development?
Assistant Training?

HOURS AND COST
Earliest drop-off time?
Latest pick-up time?
$Cost Full-Time? $Cost Part-Time/Hours?
Payment Date?
How is sick/vacation handled?
Do you provide any sick or vacation credits?

SCHEDULE AND CARE
Typical day agenda and types of activities?
Read to children?
How often is TV watched? What is watched? (Observe-is the TV on? Is it in a place that looks like it is used often, are there lots of videos?)
Sleeping/Nap Arrangements?
Are infants put to sleep on their backs?
Discuss holding the baby vs. use of swings or playpens.

SAFETY CPR
Certificate Date?
First Aid?
Child Proofing?
Heating and Air?
Medical Release Forms?
How are emergencies handled?

SANITATION
Sick Child Policy?
What if provider is sick?
Enforce strict practice of hand washing?
Cleaning of toys, cribs, swings, etc?

IMPORTANT OBSERVATION
CONTROL AND DISCIPLINE CPP HAS OVER CHILDREN
What is caregivers response to children who cry or fight?
What are the rules for older children around babies?

Weigh the pros and cons and make a decision!

**Before your baby's first official day of child care bring the baby for a few half days to get them familiar with the new environment.


LOOKING FOR A BABYSITTER?
Family can be good but have a back-up. Check with:
-Local churches who have youth groups or babysitter training courses
-Friends who have kids
-Local colleges or high schools with child development programs

*Sometimes younger sitters take the job more serious and can be more responsible. They are also not as interested in talking to a boyfriend on the phone or finding out where the party is. Downside, you have to pick them up.