Things to Consider When Looking for Daycare

Putting Your Little One into Daycare

It can be unsettling to leave your new baby in the hands of other people, but for most families, two incomes are a necessity. That means both parents must return to work, and someone must watch the baby. There are plenty of options available, from Grandma to nannies to babysitters, but the most common option in the U.S. is daycare. More affordable than a nanny and more reliable than a grandparent- no offense intended, Grandma! – daycare is the practical solution for many families.

Advantages of Daycare

Daycare can happen at a daycare center or at someone’s home, and it offers many benefits, both for the parents and the child. In a good daycare center, children get plenty of supervised socialization, under the watchful eye of nurturing, qualified caregivers. Daycare centers are reliable, open on a set schedule, and typically provide care from infancy through toddlerhood, and sometimes even into the elementary school years. They have set schedules and policies, and follow specific caregiver to child ratios, depending on age.

Drawbacks of Daycare

While daycare is comparatively inexpensive, it can still add up. If you have multiple children, a nanny may be a more cost-effective solution. Another drawback is that babies who attend daycare are exposed to more germs than those who stay home or with a family member, so you can expect your child to get sick more often. Of course, there is a theory that this strengthens the immune system and makes them less likely to contract illnesses in later childhood, but that is not always the case. Additionally, when your child gets sick, it increases your likelihood of catching the same illness, resulting in missed work. And while daycare centers have pretty reliable hours, they tend to run on the local school schedule and may be closed on holidays.

Comparing In-Home Daycare to a Center

Daycare centers are licensed by the state, and have different groups for different ages, much like a school. By contrast, in-home daycare is, as the name implies, run in someone’s home. Typically, an in-home daycare provider has children at home and is taking in other people’s children to facilitate being a stay at home parent. Some states require in-home providers to be licensed, but not all, so pay attention to your state’s laws while considering your options. And while daycare centers have a staff of trained and licensed providers, in-home daycare doesn’t require training. In a home, children are typically not separated by age, and there is often not a defined child-to-caregiver ration. What’s more, if an in-home caregiver gets sick, you will need to find your own backup, but because daycare centers have a full staff, there is always a sub at the ready. Still, many parents prefer in-home daycare, because there are fewer children, and that can mean fewer illnesses and more one-on-one attention.

Choosing the Right Daycare for Your Child

So, how do you determine which daycare is right for your child? Start by doing some research. Because many high-quality daycares have waiting lists, it is wise to start this process before the baby is born. Get recommendations from people you know, including friends, family members, and your pediatrician. Check the daycare’s accreditation, hours, and references, and if something seems “off”, cross it off your list. Visit the center in person to see if it meets your expectations, and pay attention to things like interactions between caregivers and children, sanitation practices, and safety measures. Before you make your final decision, drop by unannounced in the middle of the day to see how it truly operates, when no one is expecting you.  Finally, ask questions, to make sure it is the right fit for your family. These questions can include things like:

• What is your childcare philosophy?
• What is your child-to-caregiver ratio?
• How much experience/training do your caregivers have?
• Are the children always separated by age/developmental stage?
• What is your policy on illness?
• How do you handle problems like a defiant child or a baby who won’t stop crying?
• What is the daily schedule?
• Do you provide food, or do the parents bring it in?
• How involved are the parents?
• How do you handle parent communication?
• Do the children leave the center at any time?
• Are there cameras in the center to allow parents to observe?
• How do you handle security?

Come up with other questions, based on your concerns, and make sure the daycare you choose can answer them appropriately. Then, once you’ve enrolled your child, be sure to keep communication flowing, so that you and your child’s caregivers can have a cooperative relationship that is beneficial to all of you.

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