How to Choose a Day Care Center

Choosing a day care center for you child is an incredibly important and potentially stressful decision. A good program can offer your child the opportunity to interact with other children in an environment geared toward encouraging development and learning. It is important to research your options carefully, since not all programs are of equal quality. Below are some tips for finding the right day care center for you and your child.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Ask for recommendations. Talk with family or friends who have children in day care. You can also ask your child's doctor or at your place of worship.

2. Ask about licensing. Find out if the day care is licensed by the state. This will mean that the state monitors the facility for safety and sanitation.

3. Ask if the lead staff members have degrees in child development or education. Be sure that the staff is experienced in caring for children who are the same age as your child. There is a big difference between caring for a newborn and caring for a toddler. Ask about staff turnover. Ideally there should be little turnover in teachers and staff.

4. Find out about safety and health requirements for staff. Ask if staff must have yearly physicals and TB tests. Also, make sure all staff have had criminal background checks.

5. Look for a low child-to-staff ratio. This is especially a concern for infants. There should be no more than three babies for each staff member. Any more than that and you run the risk of your baby not having her needs met in a timely manner.

6. Make sure that the center separates children by age. Infants, toddlers and older children have vastly different needs. Try to find a day care center that recognizes this and has different classrooms and programs for children based on age. This will help to create optimal conditions for your child's development and growth.

7. Observe the staff. Are the staff interacting with the children in a caring and attentive manner? The child care workers should appear to honestly like children and enjoy working with them. Be sure that the children look happy, alert and clean. Visit the facility during the day, you will get a more accurate picture of how things are run on a daily basis.

8. Look for a stimulating environment. Is there staff and child interaction? Are there plenty of age-appropriate and educational toys? Find out if the children are exposed to books and music. Is there a place for the children to play outside?

9. Check the facility's security. The doors should be kept locked at all times. Look for sign-in sheets and for a person monitoring the door. Be sure that the center has a strict policy about who can pick up children (most will have lists of parent-approved individuals). Find out how they make sure that people picking up children are who they say they are.

10. Make sure that the center has strict health codes. Due to the number of children, day care centers have the potential to be ridden with germs. To ensure that the spread of germs is minimized, check to be sure that the center has policies regarding staff washing their hands. Food areas and diaper changing areas should be completely separated. Toys should be sanitized. Teething rings, pacifiers and grooming products should not be shared. Feeding utensils should be washed in a dishwasher or should be disposable.

Tips & Warnings

• Check with the health department to make sure that the day care center has no violations.
• Keep in mind that the larger the day care center, the more children there will be and the greater the chance for the spread of illnesses.
• Be sure that the center that you choose requires up-to-date immunizations for all children.
• Day care centers are usually more affordable than in-home day care.
• If you have a baby, be absolutely certain that the day care staff puts your baby down for his naps on his back.
• Make sure staff in trained in first aid and CPR.
• Avoid day care centers that do not permit unscheduled parent visits.
• Most day care centers are less flexible in scheduling than in-home day care.
• Day care centers are often closed on holidays.

Resources

• Kinder Care Learning Center
• Starting a Day Care Center