Choosing the Best Daycare for You and Your Child

I was picking my 2-year-old up from daycare recently and noticed a pregnant woman peering through a window. We talked for a few minutes and I encouraged her to make an appointment with the director and take a tour of the facility. Obviously spying through windows is not the best way to choose a daycare and, as I told her, it’s never too early to begin looking.

Although you may be busy choosing color schemes for your nursery, alphabetizing your spice drawer, or eating your weight in ice cream, most daycare centers have waiting lists and families with children already enrolled may take precedence on those lists.

Here are a few tips for choosing the right daycare for you and your child:

Tap into the mom network. I’m a planner so when I was just a few months pregnant with my oldest daughter I e-mailed every working mom I knew for daycare suggestions. One mother, whose children were past the daycare age, referred me to a friend in my area who had just researched several centers and was more than happy to e-mail me her notes as well as contact information. What a wealth of information!

Ask for referrals from other sources. If you are new to the area, ask for referrals at church, from your neighbors, or from your pediatrician’s office. Location, location, location. I commute 9 miles and live very close to our daycare center. If you have a lengthy commute, however, it might be more practical to choose a daycare close to work. Remember, children typically pick up every sniffle and cough when they first start attending daycare and you will need, and want, to be able to pick them up in a pinch.

Accreditation. Each state has accreditation requirements and standards, such as student/teacher ratio, that they must meet.

Tuition and fees. Do they offer a sibling discount? Our daycare center offers a convenient automatic deduction system from your checking account and tuition is due weekly.

Snow days and holidays. What does the child care center do in case of school cancellations due to bad weather? What holidays are they closed?

Safety. Does the facility have a coded entry system? Do they require photo ID if someone other than a parent is picking up a child? Are teachers certified in CPR?

Take a tour. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, set up a tour of the facility. Do the children seem happy? Are the rooms bright and well-equipped with toys and different centers for art, reading, etc.? Do they have separate outdoor playgrounds for younger and older children?

Sick days. What is their policy for sick children? Many daycare facilities require your child to be fever free for 24 hours before returning.

Have a Backup. As with everything under the sun parenting related, a Plan B is a must. Don't rule out alternatives to daycare centers such as nannies, babysitters, or home-based daycares. My sister-in-law is a teacher and has an excellent babysitter from church who comes to her home to watch her two young sons.

Do you have a child in daycare? How did you make your choice?

Here are some other helpful resources on the Web for choosing a daycare:

Day Care: Choosing a Good Center

How to Find Good Daycare

Daycare: Questions to Ask About the Facility

Comments

[Amy]

We actually didn't schedule an appointment for our son, I just dropped in. I wanted to see exactly what they were doing without a scheduled visit. No performance needed- just a day-in-the-life of the facility.

I loved all of these tips and I am sure they will be invaluable to those searching for a daycare!

[Preschool Mom Catherine]

Find out if your employer has a referral service too. Mine did and it saved me a lot of legwork. I chatted with a friendly counselor about what I was looking for (location, hours, etc.) and she mailed me info sheets about several places, one of which we chose.

When we moved, I checked the naeyc.org web site for nationally accredited centers and chose one of those (after visiting, interviewing etc.).

[Deb - Mom of 3 Girls]

We have our kids in a family home daycare - centers are too expensive around here, and we wanted them to feel like they were part of a family. We've really liked our current provider - I knew her through church first, so definitely agree with your 'mom network' suggestion. I also have used my state's list of licensed providers as well, at least to compile an initial list to check further into. Daycare is such a stressful decision - I love your tips! :)

[Andrea]

No daycare for us!!

[Alicia]

I worked in a NAEYC accredited daycare for 7 years, and received my NAEYC CDA while there. All I can say is I would not put my child in daycare for a million dollars. If you really feel like that's what you have to do, please do every ounce of research listed here, and don't feel above peeking in a few windows, besides.

[Jamie]

I definitely agree with Amy that you should just do a drop by. When the mom I spoke of was "peeking in," the director was not in and the assistant director was out on maternity leave.

The nice thing about our daycare is it is not part of a big chain (I've heard pros/cons about those), but is owned by a local woman and her husband. They own two daycare centers in our area.

The main thing is to trust your instincts and research, research, research! Daycare is not for everyone.

[Mrs. Flinger]

Wonderful notes!! I've been researching preschools lately and completely agree with your information here. It's scary to HAVE to plan a tour. and there's a huge part about the "gut feeling" instinct. I visited five preschools before finding that perfect fit. If there's any hesitation at all, definitely go with your gut.

[Google]

If you do not wish to receive similar messages please inform us on it by mail
ban.site[@]gmail.com