How To Choose The Right Daycare

Choosing a great daycare for your child can be an overwhelming task. Parents often feel very nervous about the prospect of a total stranger caring for their child and feel guilty about the prospect of not being their child's primary caretaker. Additionally, it is often hard to know what questions to ask to determine which daycare will be the best fit for you and your child.

When choosing a daycare--the old adage "knowledge is power" definitely applies. By taking a little time to research and to prepare a list of informed questions, parents will be better-equipped to "weed out" the daycares that are (for lack of a better term) not the best "fit." Being prepared for your visits to potential daycares can also put your mind at ease because when it is time to make the decision, you will know that you made the most informed decision possible.

Having worked in daycare for several years, and having obtained a certificate in Early Childhood Education, I thought it might be beneficial to parents out there to give some advice on choosing the best day care for your child.

In California, the Child Care Council certifies and oversees daycares to make sure they are complying with State Codes. First and foremost, you want to make sure that the daycare you are checking out is licensed. If they aren't...walk away! If you live outside California, figure out what agency licenses daycares in your state. Most agencies have online search tools that allow you to see if daycares are licensed and if any complaints have been filed. Daycares that are licensed are required to adhere to certain rules and guidelines, and best of all, licensing agencies perform unannounced "visits" to the facilities on a regular basis.

In California, infant centers have a 4 to 1 infant-to-teacher ratio. Before you walk into a daycare, you should know what the child-to-teacher ratios are in your state. Then, ask what the ratio is for the class that your child will potentially be in. As children get older, the ratios increase (6 to 1 for toddlers, 10 to 1 for Pre-K's, etc.) Make sure that any daycare you are considering knows these requirements and strictly adheres to them. (I am using these numbers generally...they are the requirements that were in effect several years ago when I worked in daycare and may have changed)

Although money is, of course, a serious consideration when choosing a day care facility, the old phrase "you get what you pay for" applies to daycare! While it is essential to make sure that you can afford the daycare you choose, try not to let money be your guide. Like anything in life, if one daycare costs significantly more than another, it may be because the quality of care they provide is superior to the less expensive facilities. I'm not saying this is always the case, but if money is the predominant factor in your decision, you may regret it.

Many states require that in order to call themselves a "teacher" (whether we are talking about infant or preschool teachers) the provider has to have completed a specific number of classroom units in Early Childhood Education. States also require that at least one teacher be present per age group at all times. In other words, in an infant center, if there are 8 infants in an infant room, the room may be handled by one Head Teacher and one or more "Teacher's Aides." Unlike Teachers, Teacher's Aides are generally people who may or may not have any experience and/or training. If there is not at least one Head Teacher per age group....don't go there!

Any daycare worth considering will have no problem with you scheduling a time to bring your child and spend an hour or more just hanging out and getting "the lay of the land" before you make your decision. When you have narrowed down your choices, take the time to do this! Spending time with the teachers and children can help you to get a feel for the cleanliness of the facility, the daily routines, as well as the teacher-child interactions that take place.

It is very important that you feel comfortable with the people who are going to be taking care of your child. Spend some time talking with the teachers in the room that your child will be in. A lot of times, the teacher who you drop your child off with in the morning may not be the same teacher that is there when you pick him/her up in the evening. Find out how the teachers communicate with each other and how they will communicate with you. For example, some infant centers will send home daily, written reports which log feedings, naps, mood, etc., This is very helpful when more than one teacher is taking care of the children throughout the day. Whatever the method, make sure that it is something that you feel comfortable with and make sure the people taking care of your child will have open lines of communication to you.

It is also important to get a good sense of how happy the teachers are in their jobs. Don't be afraid to ask the Director of the facility what the employee turnover rate is at the school. Are there teachers who have been there for many years or have the majority of teachers been hired recently? If the daycare treats its employees well, it goes without saying that the teachers will treat the parents and children better. A high turnover rate can also be extremely disruptive for your child.

One of the most difficult aspects of having your child in daycare is the fact that they come in contact with SO many germs each day. Inevitably, in the first few months of attending daycare, your child will have more colds and flus than ever before. Even the cleanest daycare cannot totally prevent the spread of germs. However, there are many steps that daycares can and should take to minimize illness (many of which are mandated by state agencies). Here are some things to consider:

1. Are diaper changing areas sprayed with a mixture of bleach and water in between each diaper change? If not, what method is used to clean the table in between changes?

2. Do children all have their own, clean area to sleep (whether it is a crib or a mat on the floor)? Determine what the daycare does to ensure that children's' bedding is not co-mingled. Will they send the bedding home weekly for you to wash and return? Do they wash it themselves, and if so, how often?

3. What are the procedures for isolating a contagious child? If a child comes to school and begins vomiting, running a fever, or showing symptoms of other highly contagious illnesses, the school should have a policy on how those children are taken care of and isolated until a parent can come and get them.

4. How often are toys and common areas cleaned? Ideally, toys, high chairs, infant swings, and other items that are shared among the children should be cleaned daily--especially for kids who are 2 years old and under (and who often put everything in their mouths).

5. Do teachers and teacher's aides wear gloves when changing diapers? Do they use proper handwashing methods themselves and do they teach the children to wash their hands?

6. Are carpets vacuumed daily and steam-cleaned on a regular basis? (Very important for children who are crawling or newly walking and spend a lot of time on the floor).

7. Is food kept refrigerated as needed and handled in a sanitary manner? (Especially important with moms who send breast milk for infants! Infant centers should be properly trained on the safe handling of breast milk)

Here are some common policies of daycares that you should know in advance.

1. Late policy: If you are late to pick up your child, what happens? Generally you have to pay extra money that is due at the time you pick them up. Find out what happens when you're late and try not to be!

2. Sick policy: Some daycares are more strict than others about sick policies. I worked at daycares that would take kids even when they were sick (and should have sent them home) and I've worked at others who wouldn't take kids who had a runny nose but were otherwise healthy. This subject is kind of a "double-edged sword." On one hand, if the daycare will take sick children who really shouldn't be there--that's great for you because you don't have to miss work! On the other hand, if they are lenient on their sick policy, that means your child is being exposed unnecessarily to illness. Know the policy in advance so you can plan ahead. Generally speaking, if your child is in daycare, you can count on using up all your sick time from your job for the days that you will be home when your child is ill. Good daycares won't allow a sick child to come to school.

3. Diapers: Believe it or not, some infant centers will not take children whose parents have chosen to go with cloth diapers. (Having worked in daycare, I can understand this one). If that is vitally important to you, it would be worth your while to find out!

4. Allergies: If your child has food allergies, it is important to determine what the school will do to make sure your child does not share food and to make sure that all teachers (even substitutes) know which children have which allergies.

5. CPR Training: Generally speaking, daycares are required to have at least one person on staff AT ALL TIMES who is CPR certified. Make sure any daycare you are looking into follows this rule!

There are many great resources on the Web that can help you out. The first step is to see if there is a Child Care Council in your area or other licensing body. Their local websites are filled with helpful information to supplement the information above.

When you have to leave your child in the care of someone other than yourself, it makes sense to do everything in your power to make the best, most informed decision possible! Ask lots of questions, spend time getting to know the daycare providers, and above all, if you aren't comfortable with something--keep looking until you find the perfect fit.

<a href="http://www.clickevolution.com/surf/join.php?refid=235830"><img border="0"