I remember how hard it was looking for a daycare center I could trust when I had my child. I was a first time mother without a lot of experience with children and I had to go back to work earlier than I was expecting. I was in a panic and every place I looked at would break my heart. I just kept thinking, I am not putting my kid here. I wish I had some direction and additional knowledge of what to look for in a center. It would definitely helped me over the edge.
These tips are great for first time moms who are going back to work or for anyone looking for a day care center for just a few days a week.
7 Tips for Finding a Great Daycare Center
1. Check out all local and state licensing for the daycare center. Make sure your licensing is current and found out if there have ever been any complaints or issues with the center.
2. Make an appointment with all centers that interest you. Go in and take a tour of the center and observe the providers in action. Look for safety hazards, check out the food prep area and check out the cleanliness of the bathrooms. You have every right to walk around and check things out!
3. Interview the person (teacher or provider) who will be caring for your child(ren). Ask questions and get full answers to those questions until you are satisfied with their responses.
4. Ask for references and then follow up with contacting those references! You want to contact past clients and current clients so that you are getting a more unbiased opinion about the center you are considering.
5. Are the providers certified in childcare, first aid and CPR? It is important that they are completely certified in all three of these areas.
6. Before signing any contracts read all of the fine print. If you don’t understand something, get it clarified until you do!
7. Go with your gut feeling! Mom’s need to listen to their intuition and follow their “gut” when it comes to selecting the perfect center to meet your child’s needs.
Hopefully these tips will guide you through this difficult task. Choosing the right place is important, but sometimes we have to try a few places before it feels right. Do you have any tips that you care to add? Share them below.
These are some really great tips and finding a great day care is so important. I think reading reviews are so important and so is word of mouth.
Good advice. Childcare is important and scary. You hear so many stories and want your babies to be given better than the best. Price and location often play important factors, but we do still need to check things over. Good point on checking out the food prep area, also in safety, make sure to check out the doors and their latches. I often assume they are knowledgeable in CPR and first aid, but it is important to find out exactly the credentials. Let them know your child’s allergies and make sure they are aware of what that means and able to go with them. As your say, go with the gut… you know and love your child best.
I was so lucky to be home with my boys. I would have had such a hard time with this! So thankful!! Thanks for the tips! I am going to pass these on to a few expectant moms!
These are great tips. However, where I live it so hard to just find a daycare that has space for you that you almost have to take whatever you can find, regardless, unless you can afford to pay a mint for an elite, private daycare. Thank goodness for JK!
These are great tips for finding a good reliable daycare center. I was very worried about placing my son in such a center and ending up hiring someone to take care of him. This would have saved me a lot of money.