Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

Just the thought of leaving your baby in daycare can be heart-wrenching, but it’s a decision that parents make every day. And in general, it’s a great choice. Most daycare providers are loving and nurturing people, and your child gets great social interaction that he may not otherwise get. Still, it’s up to you to make smart decisions for your child, and you may not know where to start if you’ve never dealt with daycares before. Below is some information that you may find helpful in your search.

Finding the Right Daycare
Daycare is either provided in centers or in homes. Some parents like the idea of one over the other for a variety of reasons, but your deciding factor may simply be which type of daycare you believe will best fulfill your baby’s needs. Does it seem homier and friendlier to drop your baby off at someone’s house, or do you like the structure and certainty of a center?

It’s important that any daycare you choose be licensed. This means that it’s at least periodically monitored by governmental agencies for things such as child-to-caregiver ratios, hygiene and sanitation practices, and safety protocols. With unlicensed facilities, you have none of those safeguards in place.

Even with licensed daycares, you still have to do your homework. Make an appointment with the director or owner of the daycare for a tour and question-and-answer session. Come prepared with a long list of questions, and if the director seems put out by your inquiries, move on.

Some questions to ask:

• Are all employees background-checked?
• Are all employees trained in infant CPR? Can I see proof?
• Do you encourage breastfeeding? Can mothers come into the center and feed their babies?
• Can I drop by any time I choose?
• Is your facility regularly inspected for health and fire safety? Can I see your certificates?
• Will I be notified if you take my baby off-site? What safety gear is in place for trips (car seats, safety harnesses on strollers, etc.)
• What are the credentials of your teachers? Is there a high turnover rate?

There are lots of other inquiries to make, but these are some of the most important safety questions. Put together an additional list of topics that you wish to discuss, such as their policy on the use of videos or television, what a typical day would be like for your baby, whether your religious beliefs will be respected or taught, and other important concerns.

While your child is still a baby, you’re probably not as concerned about things like disciple measures, whether you’ll be notified if your child behaves in a violent manner, or how mealtimes are run, but it doesn’t hurt to ask about those things now so you can be sure that you’re in agreement with those policies.

Knowledge is your best weapon in monitoring the health and safety of your child. Research your state laws for licensed centers and then keep your eye out for things like too many kids in one classroom or too many kids in general for an in-home center.

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to a couple of centers that you feel good about, make sure you’re provided with a list of referrals. And when you call those parents, make sure that you not only ask about all of the ways the daycare is wonderful, but also the ways in which it isn’t. For even more relevant answers, drop by a daycare center during typical pick-up times and try to (subtly!) ask other parents about their experiences. You may get some answers that you won’t on an approval referral list.

Finally, convenience can be a big determining factor for parents. If you have large breaks in your work schedule (teachers, for example) and want to remove your child from care during your breaks, ask about that possibility. You may have better luck making such an arrangement with an in-home center. On the flip side, if an in-home center is run by only one person, what happens if she gets sick? Or if she goes on vacation? Or has a personal emergency? If there’s no back-up in place—or if she takes an annual three-week vacation every July—think carefully about how this could impact your schedule.

“How Much is This Going to Cost Me?”
Truthfully, probably more than you think (or hope) it will. It varies from city to city and even within the same area. It’s a lot like any other business in that it demands what the market will pay. Traditionally, in-home daycare is less expensive than in-center daycare, and for parents on a tight budget, that can be the deciding factor.

Before you start thinking that it doesn’t make sense financially to put your child in daycare, think it through carefully. It doesn’t feel good when a huge chunk of your paycheck is going to childcare, but there are many reasons that it may be the best thing for your family. Many moms, especially, look at the total cost and decide that it makes sense to stay home with the baby instead. And that’s true for some. But consider the long-term impact of giving up your career, when daycare is really a fairly short-term condition.

Also, as your baby gets older, you’ll begin paying less and less for daycare because older children don’t need as many teachers or as much constant attention. So while you may feel the pain for a year or so, eventually you can look forward to expending less of your income on childcare.

Do I Have to Pay When My Child is Sick?
Yes, you usually have to pay for the days that your child is home sick or when the daycare is closed for holidays. It may sound unfair, but it’s just the daycare’s way of making sure they can pay their employees. If your child wakes up sick, his or her teacher still has to be at the daycare and still has to be paid. It’s the same thing with holidays; don’t you get paid for Thanksgiving, even though you’re not at work?

Another question to ask your daycare is how they deal with family vacations. Many have rules in place where you’re allowed two or three weeks per calendar year to remove your child from daycare—and not pay for those weeks—while still holding your child’s spot in daycare. It’s designed to be used for family vacations, but you can typically use the time any way you want. But since different centers have different policies, make sure you know what the rules are before you sign up.

“How Do I Know What Goes on Every Day?”
Most centers and many in-home daycares provide daily reports about their child’s activities, behaviors, food intake, and diaper output. It’s nice to have a daily verbal recap, but if your provider has more than one child under her care, it’s unlikely that you’ll get as accurate and extensive an account if it isn’t written down. A written form also lets you know when your child needs more diapers, wipes, and formula.

If your child doesn’t receive a glowing behavior report for the day, any puzzling or difficult behavior should be explained in writing—or you should ask the teacher or director about it. If a written report isn’t provided at daycare, ask why it’s not available and whether they would be willing to implement that tool for your child.

“I’m Stuck in Traffic, and the Daycare is Going to Close in 10 minutes. Now What?”
Whether it’s traffic or a meeting that ran late or some other last-minute emergency, not picking up your child before the official closing time has happened to most parents at least once. No, the teachers aren’t going to leave your child there and go home, but do be prepared to pay through the nose. When you register, you should receive a handbook that details the costs related to late pick-ups, and at most centers, being a half-hour late can result in fees up to a half-day’s tuition. They often don’t let your child return to daycare until that fee is paid, either.

To avoid late pick-ups, it’s smart to have a back-up plan—a friend or relative (with a car seat!) who is available to pick your child up if you can’t. Many centers today have security systems in place to prevent people from simply walking off with a child. If you want someone other than you or your husband to pick up your child, you may have to add that person’s name to a “safe” list, and that person may have to show identification each time they enter the building. Make sure you understand what policies are in place before you send someone else to get your baby.

“What’s With the Weird Rules?”
Rules are in place to make the daycare run more smoothly or to adhere to state or local regulations. When something doesn’t make sense—or when you simply want a rule explained—don’t hesitate to ask. Deanna, 31, was confused at the emphasis placed on her 15-month-old daughter’s shoes until she learned the reason behind it. “Her daily report card said that she wouldn’t keep her shoes on and asked if I could send her to daycare in shoes that she couldn’t remove. At first I didn’t really pay any attention to it, but by the third day of shoe remarks on her report card, I finally asked her teacher what the big deal was. She said that because of a fire regulation, the kids had to have shoes on at all times in case a fire broke out. I’m glad I asked because I thought her teacher just had a weird shoe thing!”