7 Great Tips For Selecting A Good Day Care Center

Our children are our most precious possessions and we need to look for a good daycare/ caregiver facility that satisfies all our needs and ensures the baby has a very enjoyable and comfortable time. Here are 7 great tips to selecting a good day care center.

1) First notice the way the staff interacts with the children; she should be playing happily with the children or holding one on the lap. Young children need a lot of love and close interaction to thrive, so it is very essential to make sure that their first caregivers are not only warm and responsive, but also give quality one to one time. It is significant to note here that the American Academy of Pediatrics specifically recommends a ratio of one adult for every three babies up to 24 months of age.

2) According to a famous family therapist in St Louis most young children need consistent and predictable care that helps build attachment with caregivers. You could consider at least a one year commitment for an in-house caregiver or look for a daycare facility that has caregivers with valuable experience of working for a long time.   

3) Ensure you share the same parenting philosophies on things like discipline, TV, feeding, sleeping and sick child policy with the caregiver. A smart parent should also check on whether there is a back-up plan should the day-care provider or in-house caregiver get sick or is unable to work; knowing these aspects would leave less room for surprises in future. 

4) Though you have selected a daycare center with word-of-mouth referrals from other parents or trusted resources, it is important that you look at the place and also make unannounced visits a few times to ensure if it meets your needs. Ensure that the place is clean, childproofed as well as contains toys and books that are age appropriate. Next the infants and babies have their own space that is different from older children who could be playing with toys that have small choking parts. The daycare center should consist of enough floor space for babies to strengthen their muscles. Visit the center at different times to check on the routine and how the staff interacts with the children. You may find that the place is right or it could prove to be an eye-opener.

5) You should feel comfortable communicating with the caregiver; you should share all important information regarding the baby as you leave and take a feedback of the day when you return from work.  You could talk directly to the caregiver or ring her up later when convenient.

6) It is good to address conflicts and problems right away with the caregiver; give respect to the caregiver in all discussions to ensure that she is cooperative. It would help to take the caregiver’s opinion about adjusting the baby’s nap time so he/she is not tired in the evening rather than order her to set an earlier nap time to make bedtime easier. 

7) It does not mean that you need to go by what everyone raves about in the town about a daycare/caregiver; your baby deserves the best of nurturing care, so you could investigate other options if you are not satisfied. Be open to the change; your baby would be fine as long as a new caregiver is a positive experience.  

You are your baby’s essential caregiver who offers him/her support and love; you with the well-chosen caregivers could ensure he/she is healthy, happy and flourishes.