What should i look for when choosing a Daycare?

I would suggest either a babysitter you know well or a professional daycare. There are so many horror stories on the news of at home daycares not following regulations, it’s sad. On thing to look into would be discipline, how will they handle your child if he were to do something wrong. Also ask around and see what people think of certain places. It’s always good to hear what other people think of a place.

I think one of the things you need to look for in toddler day care is how much room is provided for the children to play in. I’ve been in centers where they have one small room for several children and the kids are cooped up during the day.

What are the conditions for napping? When are the beds changed. Can he have something from home to keep with him? What happens if a child comes to school sick?

What kind of foods and snacks are provided for the children? What activities are provided for them?

We finally settled on the Daycare Center at the YMCA for my 3 year old grandson. (They do not take children under 3) He has classes in gymnastics, music, freemovement, swimming, and art, as well as starting to learn academics. It is a Montessori based program so they do Bible verses also. There is plenty of room inside and they have access to several rooms for activities as well as outside play space. They also take the children on several field trips a year to get them out in the community.

Security was our major concern. Is your building locked? How do people get in? Do you have to be approved in order to pick a child up?

If you can, go visit the center and just sit and watch how things are done. You might also want to sit outside and observe how the caretakers behave when they take children for a walk or let them play on the playground. I observed a caregiver that took 3 children out for a walk in a stroller. She went around the corner, sat down, and lit up a cigarette.

No matter what place you settle on, it won’t be perfect. No one can care for your child the way that you do. You just need to find the one that is the “most perfect” for your child.

Good luck.

justwanna and TAC have given some good suggestions (except I’m mystified about the connection of Montessori and bible verses.)I’ll add some comments.

The advice to avoid home-based care is, IMHO, bad advice. There are excellent (as well as mediocre, and dreadful) home-based providers just as there are excellent (as well as mediocre, and dreadful) centers.

The two best sources of guidance are recommendations from people you know, and your gut.

Visit. Ask questions. Look and listen. Smell.

Some of what you want to see, hear, or smell: Answers that make sense. Mostly happy kids, staff, and parents. Positive and supportive interactions between adults and children. Calm, clear, and firm setting of limits when needed. Fun and appropriate things to play with. Handwashing.. License posted. A clealy marked big for toys that need washing. Safe places to play indoors and out. Laughter, sounds of play, books being read. Yummy lunch smells.

Some of what you don’t want to see, hear, or smell: Lots of screaming. Any screaming, yelling, or shaming by adults. Mostly adult voices. Constant loud and/or “cute” music that no one is paying any attention to, or the same CD (or worse yet, just one track!) repeating over and over. Lots of unhappy adults or children. Children just wandering around (unless they’re having fun doing it!) A free-for-all with no limits. Obvious filth. Yucky smells (including persistent poopy diaper smells, garbage, or lots of perfumy stuff.