Plan to Visit Your Child Care Choices Before Making a Final Decision
Once you have narrowed down your options, it is best to go and visit each of the daycare centers individually. While you are visiting the daycare center, this is the perfect time to go over the following: fee schedules, vacation policy, ask if they have an open door policy(where you can stop by at any time without notice to check on your child), do they have cameras installed to monitor the workers/rooms, sick policy, feeding schedules, nap schedules, and discipline policies. Most directors will also give you a tour of their facility so that you know where your child will be staying. It is important that you pay attention to the child to adult ratio. Also, look for the following potential red flags: Is the room clean, do the workers seem friendly, how are the workers handling the current children in the room, do you feel it is a safe environment for your child to attend, and do the workers seem happy. If you have older children, always schedule a time when your child is available and visit the daycare center. You want your child to be able to come meet his or her new teachers and to play for a little while. This will allow you to see your child interact with the other children and teachers. You will also be able to determine if your child feels comfortable in the environment.
What to Know Before Choosing a Home Daycare Provider?
If you decide to use a home daycare center, ask the provider to give you a list of references. A provider who isn’t willing to give you references is probably bad news and you want to find another place to care for your child. Once the provider gives you a list of references, it is important that you call and speak to the parents of other children. Ask the questions about the center, the teacher, and any other workers that maybe helping or around your children. State licensed home daycare centers often require background checks on all members of the household, check your state daycare licensing office for more information. If the state mandates this policy, ask to see their background check.
What to Know Before Choosing a Daycare Center?
If you decide to use a daycare center, you can ask the director for references if you want to verify that the center is safe and well run. Another way to get feedback on a daycare center, is to search for the center on the Internet and browse parent feedback. This will give you an idea of how the center is run. All state licensed daycare centers must have background checks on each and every worker in the facility.
Place Your Name on the Waiting List Immediately When You Find Suitable Child Care Arrangements
Once you are comfortable with a daycare facility, you should put your name on the waiting list immediately. Once your baby is born and you know a general idea when you will be returning to work, you should immediately contact the daycare provider and make specific arrangements for your child to start daycare. You will also want to verify that they will have a spot available for your child, if not you will need to make alternate plans until they have a spot available for your child. A waiting list doesn’t commit you to bringing your child to the specific daycare center. However, let the provider know if you find another provider or change your mind so that they can remove your name from the list.
For a list of home daycare providers and daycare centers in your area check with your state local daycare licensing agency for a list of licensed providers.
What type of daycare center did you choose for your child: home daycare center or a daycare center?
Comments
20 responses to “Working Moms: Daycare Arrangements Need to Be Made Before Your Baby is Born”
Excellent resource you’ve provided here for a very crucial (potentially unnerving) decision.
One thing that I always thought about, before I made the decision to stay home/work from home, was to find a daycare with cameras. Although it seems as if most of the places with cameras were more pricey, it’s definitely worth it, in my opinion.
Thanks, again
Great article
The security cameras can give me a peace of mind especially if you are able to log on and peek in on your child’s classroom.
OMG so true – it’s so important to be prepared with your childcare!
In fact, I would even have a back daycare planned just in case something falls through or the first daycare doesn’t have room when you are needing childcare.
I made the choice to stay home…but this is a super list for those who need to.
I was a stay at home mom when my oldest two were born, so this was new to me when I had my youngest son.
Great list. I have been in childcare as a teachers aid. There are so many options and things to look for when planing childcare.
I agree Marcie, not all daycares are treated equally or run well.
This is great advice for moms needing care for their infants. I never had to research this, but I would have really valued this post if I’d needed it.
Thank you for your feedback Lisa, my goal is to help working moms realize that they can’t wait until their baby is born to start making arrangements for daycare.
It might just be me, but it’s hard to determine exactly what the situation will be for first-time moms because I know I got a bit clingy and didn’t want to leave my son! Now I’m a stay-at-home mom! Love the detailed list though.
I know it is hard for you to leave your new infant at daycare. I was thankful and my husband was a stay at home dad for a while and he didn’t have to start daycare right away. But I would have been a basket case to leave him so young in someone else’s hands.
Cool info for those who are experiencing that stage.
Thank you Lolo.
Chrissy I can’t tell you how many times a parent signed up a new infant at my childcare and decided last minute not to enroll as they weren’t ready to separate when it was time to go back to work.
Yes it is hard for moms to leave their baby. I know I couldn’t do it with my older ones. Luckily, with my youngest he got to stay home with daddy for the first 7 months.
It is important that before we return to our work, we have already found a childcare provider for our children. With the many different childcare providers and options, it may be difficult to decide but with the help of some friends and research, we can find the right one for our needs.
Thank you for sharing your experience Sheryl. I agree your friends can with children are a great resource when it comes to finding childcare.
It’s definitely best to be prepared and set plans before the baby arrives. Finding a childcare provider is not an easy task and it will always be good to start looking as early as possible so one can definitely find the best one. It’s good that important points about daycare arrangements are discussed. This will help a lot of mommies out there.
Thank you Bettye for stopping by.