13 Tips For Choosing A Daycare

Choosing the right daycare can be tough, but daycare can be extremely beneficial to you and your family. This blog post should help you narrow down your preferences, and point out some new ones you may not have thought of before. So, without any further ado, here are 13 things you should consider before choosing a daycare for your little one(s).

#1: Hours

One of the first things you should do is determine what hours you’ll need daycare. Do you need someone to watch your kid(s) while you work full-time? Or do you only work 3 or 4 days a week? How early do you need to be able to drop off?

#2: How Many Kids?

Do you want your kid to be spending time with a lot of kids their age, or only a few? If you choose a daycare with more kids, your child(ren) might not get as much attention, unless there are helpers.

#3: Provider Personality

Is the potential provider friendly? Are they professional? Do they curse in front of the kids, or at the kids? Do they communicate clearly?

#4: Daycare Setup

Are there lots of toys? How much room do kids have to run around and play? Is there a designated area for nap time and meals? Do toys have a designated spot?

#5: Location

Is the potential daycare close to your house? Will you be able to get there in under half an hour if your child(ren) gets sick and needs to go home early?

#6: Provider Interaction

Is the potential provider nice to kids? Do the kids seem to be afraid of the potential provider? Do they yell at the children for no apparent reason?

#7: Play Based V. Workbooks

Do you want your child to learn through play and crafts, or through workbooks and lesson plans?

#8: Pets

Is/are your child(ren) allergic to dogs? Or pet dander in general? Or, if they’re not allergic, do they dislike cats or dogs?

#9: Experience

How many years has the potential provider been running their daycare? Do they have their own child(ren)? How many years total have they worked with kids?

#10: Licensing Status

If you have any preference on whether the potential provider is licensed, you’ll want to make sure any potential providers you meet with match your preference.

#11: Materials Provided

What does the potential provider have that you won’t have to provide? Diapers, wipes, bottles, baby formula, pack n’ plays, and food in general are a few things you should consider. Some providers will provide all of this for your child(ren), and some won’t. You’ll want to make sure any providers you meet match your preference.

#12: Cleanliness

When you visit the potential daycare, do you see excessive dust and/or dog hair? Does the potential daycare have any mold, mildew, or bugs? How does it smell?

#13: Cost V. Budget

Before you visit any daycares, you should figure out what you can afford per week or every two weeks. Then, make sure you ask about provider costs before you move forward.

As you can see, there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the right daycare for your little one(s). Of course, the factors listed here aren’t the only ones you can consider. Can you think of any factors I didn’t mention here?