When it comes time to choose a daycare provider, of course, cleanliness, activities, manners, and organization are all important but without doubt, safety is above all. If you have a small baby or child still in a crib, you want to start by physically looking at the cribs to make sure they meet current safety regulations. For this, the slats of the crib should measure no more than 2.5 inches apart.
You should also look to make sure any stairways have baby gates, also in proper working order, all electrical plugs are covered, kitchen cabinets have latches, and smoke detectors are installed and working. Other important things to check include that no bottles of cleaning chemicals are out in the open or where the child could reach, as well as all upstairs windows have secure locks. We also recommend you ask about the paint on the walls in that you need to avoid lead paint, which is highly toxic, and all staff should avoid smoking around the children.
Remember, the daycare center should be viewed as your baby’s home away from home. Even if you only leave your baby for a few hours at a time, you want the best environment possible. As the parent, the daycare provider should care for your child rather than seeing a crying baby as an annoyance. Today, guidelines for providers are strict, as they should be. Therefore, if you spend time asking the right questions, chances are you will make the right choice. No matter what, never be nervous about asking questions. In response, you should feel 100% confident that your baby will be in loving, safe hands.
Then, we recommend you check the baby to adult ratio. The fewer the children each staff member must care for the better. Also, ask about baby versus older child areas. Sometimes, older children can be a little too rough. Unfortunately, too much rough play can put small babies at risk for injury. Importantly, you do not want a daycare center that takes the responsibility to administer medication or determine when a trip to the doctor is warranted. Instead, your daycare provider should contact you or your spouse when your baby becomes sick, allowing you to make appropriate decisions.
Finally, you should always plan to arrive early and unexpected to pick your baby up on occasion. This way, you can see what is really going on. Obviously, you would expect everything to be in order but this provides you with an excellent opportunity for spotting problems. Remember, there are usually warning signs of problems with a daycare provider. For instance, if baby comes home with consistent diaper rash, you hear from other parents stating the daycare center is having problems, you find the staff reluctant to answer questions, or you notice high turnover of staff, you should be asking why.