Choosing the right daycare center for your child is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Because staff members will be responsible for caring for your child, it's vital to find a daycare center that is a good fit for your family's needs. In your search, you may consider and visit several centers. When you do, it's important that you know what to look for and what to ask. You should also trust your parental instincts when entrusting someone with the care of your child.
Step 1
Ask friends, neighbors, family members and even your pediatrician for recommendations of good local daycare centers as well as centers to avoid. The recommendations you get can provide a good starting point for your search.
Step 2
Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral office for help finding a daycare center if you do not get any recommendations. Depending on your income and the size of your family, some of these agencies may charge a small fee to aid in your child-care search.
Step 3
Call the daycare centers you have recommendations for to get basic information about rates, hours and services. If you are interested in evaluating the center, ask if you can stop by the center for a visit.
Step 4
Visit the selected daycare centers to tour the facility. During the tour check whether the environment is safe and inviting, whether the children are being closely supervised, and whether the children are engaged in safe and engaging activities.
Step 5
Ask about how children are divided into groups and what the daily schedule is for your child's age group. Observe children the same age as your child to see how the staff interacts and what kind of activities they are engaged in.
Step 6
Direct any questions you have to the center's director. Things to ask include what the staff-child ratio is, what disciplinary policies are, what drop-off and pick-up procedures are, how sick or injured children are cared for, what training staff members have, what kind of safety precautions they follow, and what kind of meals and snacks are served, according to FamilyDoctor.org.
Step 7
Check to see whether the facility is licensed and certified and whether it has been cited for any violations, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends. Facilities should have certifications available for viewing or posted in sight, but you can also check with your state or municipality's licensing agency.
Tips and Warnings
- The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed recommended staff-child ratios for various age groups. For babies younger than 1, the recommended ratio is 3-to-1 with a maximum of 6-to-1. For 13 months to 30 months, the recommendation is 4-to-1 with a maximum of 8-to1. The recommendation for children 31 months to 35 months is 5-to-1 with a maximum of 10-to-1. The AAP's recommendation for 3-year-olds is 7-to-1 with a maximum of 14-to-1, while for 4- and 5-year-olds it is 8-to-1 with a maximum of 16-to-1. Drop by daycare centers you wish to visit unannounced so you can observe their daily operations without any advanced preparation on their part. The New York City Bureau of Child Care recommends that you allow yourself about three months to choose a daycare center.
