Finding a Good Daycare for Your Child

As a parent, leaving your child in someone else's care is probably nerve wracking. If you watch the news, you've undoubtedly seen horror stories about tragic incidents occurring in a daycare setting. You cringe because those incidents seem like something that could possibly happen to your little one. However, those situations are rare. To ensure the safety of your child and help give yourself a little peace of mind, take control and do your homework.

Ask the Right Questions

First determine what type of daycare your child should attend. Are you more comfortable with a home ran daycare or a commercially ran daycare? Does your employer offer childcare services?

Go to perspective daycares and conduct interviews with the staff. Don't be shy about this. Ask questions about daycare employee credentials. Does any of the staff have childhood development degrees? How long have they worked in the daycare industry? Have the proper background checks been ran? Are the employees CPR certified? Are there First Aid kits? These questions may seem simple, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious.

What kind of activities will your little one do in the course of the day? Will there be some sort of "report card" given to you when you pick up your child at the end of the day describing those activities? The report card can also reference what your child ate, if she took a nap, how long that nap was, and how many wet/soiled diapers your child had or how often she went to the potty. Find out how the daycare handles potty training. You want to be on the same track to insure potty training success for your child. Request to see the bathrooms. Are they clean? You may also want to verify the daycare's emergency plans in the event of inclement weather? Ask about any fire evacuation plans. What is the student-teacher ratio?

Food Allergies

If snacks and lunch are provided, then daycare nutrition will come into to play. With the severity of peanut and other food allergies, ask what types of food your child will be given. If your child does have a food allergy, how is that situation handled? Is your child feed separately from the other kids? Or will your child be given food from an alternate menu? Would you, in that situation, have to provide the food for your child? Ask to see the eating area and where the food is prepared and stored. Is the kitchen clean? Childcare providers should willingly show these areas without having to ask.

If for some reason you are not shown these areas or the provider reluctantly answers your questions, consider placing your child in a different daycare. If the provider doesn't seem knowledgeable, definitely consider placing your child elsewhere. Besides, if the provider can't or won't answer basic questions about their services, then what else can't or won't the provider do? If you instinctively feel uncomfortable about a daycare setting or its employees, follow those instincts.

Is My Child Safe?

Be aware of the daycare's security habits. Is there an ID check? Are the doors locked at all times? Are parents "buzzed" in or are security cards used? Another area you should check is the playground. Is it age appropriate? Are the younger children kept separately from the bigger ones? Is the fencing around the daycare secure? Can you little one get out and walk away? These concerns may be elementary, but you can never be too earnest when it comes to the well-being of your child.

If possible, try to do spot checks at the daycare on a daily basis. This is not to catch the daycare employees doing something wrong. You just want to see that your child is doing well. Visit unannounced several times after you decide to leave your child. If your work schedule doesn't permit you to actually visit, a phone call will enable you to check up on your child too.

Daycare at Your House

You may also consider leaving your child in the care of a trusted friend or family member. Have them watch your little one at your own home. Your child will appreciate the familiar territory. You will appreciate the peace of mind in not having to worry about child proofing.

Just Checking

If you an older child, encourage dialogue with her. Ask her about the time spent at the daycare. What did she do? Did she have fun? If your child is a toddler, closely watch her reaction when being left with the caregiver. Children will normally cry when separated from their parents. If the crying continues and/or she seems extremely upset at being left with the caregiver after she's had time to adjust, you may want to consider finding another place for her to stay. This does not necessarily mean abuse, but it could mean she may feel more comfortable someplace else. Ensuring your child is comfortable while you're away will aid in lessening any stress you may have.

A Demanding Change

The transition from home to daycare will, no doubt, be challenging for both you and your little one. If your daycare is on-site at your job or close by, there are some ways to make the transition a little easier. Have lunch with your child or just stop by on your break to spend some time with him. You could read a story during story time or participate in some other way.

Just like anything else, there are good, bad, and in between day cares. You can, with a little preparation, find the best one suited for your child. You just have to do the research and determine which daycare will benefit your child the most.