| Get Into It! Spring - Summer 2008 |
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There is a lot to consider and, even for an experienced parent, the process can be overwhelming. Melissa Newby, co-founder of Daycare Match, has a wealth of practical suggestions. “Remember, you know what’s best for your child. Make sure you feel comfortable with the person and the environment before you leave your child. A little anxiety is normal.” These seven tips will help to alleviate the stress associated with choosing a daycare provider.
Get to know the provider
Ask them why they choose to become a provider. If meeting with a teacher at a center, ask them why they work there. Ask about their education and experience. If they are a home provider, how long have they cared for children in their home – their own children or others’ children.
If your child has special needs, ask the provider about any classes taken that may apply to your child’s particular needs.
Watch them interact with the children in their care, and also your own child. Are you comfortable with what you see? Are they responsive to the children? Do they keep an eye on what the children are doing? How do they respond to arguments or issues the children have?
Philosophies
Talk with the provider about their ideas about key issues. How do they comfort a child? What do they think about potty training? How do they discipline the children? Do they let the children watch TV? If there are any issues that are really important to you, make sure you talk about them with the provider.
Take a look around
Ask to see where your child would spend most of her time. Where will she play, eat, and sleep? Does it look safe and clean? Does it look like a fun place for her to spend her days? Is the location secured, so that she couldn’t walk out an unattended door or run out of an unfenced yard? Question if you are not allowed to see an area.
What’s included?
Ask what is included with your fees. Do parents provide wipes, diapers and diaper cream? What about meals? How many meals and snacks are included? Are there any extra activity or field trip fees? If so, how often and how much?
Those darn contracts
Make sure you read it! Even before you decide on a caregiver for your baby, ask to see the contract. Read it thoroughly and ask questions about anything that is unclear to you. This is a legally binding contract and both parties will be expected to uphold what is spelled out in the contract. Some key things to look for are:
- Days the location is closed: What days are considered holidays, and are there other days the center is closed? Do you still have to pay for these days?
- Vacations (theirs): This mostly applies to home based providers. How many days do they allow for their own vacations and what is their policy on payment for these days? Many providers require that parents pay for days the provider is on vacation, even though your child will not be in their care.
- Vacations (yours): What is their policy if your family goes on vacation and does not need care for several days? Do you pay full fees, a portion, or nothing for those days? How many days are allowed and what type of notice does the provider request?
- Termination: What is the process if either party wants to terminate the relationship. Often, the contract specifies a length of notice that both the provider and the parent need to give. You should also understand the process for ending the relationship if either you are unhappy with the care, or your child is not a good match for the caregiver.
Call those references
Ask for a list of names of both current and previous parents. Call them! When talking to the current parents, ask them about their experience with the caregiver, the other children, the policies, the contract, and anything else you can think of. Also ask the age of their child in care. The parent of a toddler may have a very different perspective than the parent of an infant. Also call the parents who no longer use that care. Ask why they left, whether they were happy when they were there, what the termination process was like, and anything else that might help you make a decision.
Take some time to think
In some cities, openings go quickly and you may have to decide quickly. Don’t let that pressure you into making a decision before you are ready, or choosing somewhere you are not completely comfortable with. Visit as many times as you need to feel comfortable, and ask as many questions as you want. Leaving your child with another caregiver is a huge decision and one you should take your time making. Once you decide on a provider, know that your child is happy and having fun while there, but still looks forward to being back in your arms at night.
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