So, you are looking for childcare for the first time and wondering how to find a daycare that is right for your family.
You’ve read a few reviews on Google about the childcare centers close to home or work, but it all feels overwhelming. You just don’t know what to look for when touring a daycare. In this post, I break down all the important factors when it comes to choosing the right daycare for your family. So let’s dive right in!
Proximity of daycare to your work/home
Proximity is very important because you will be driving to and from the daycare center almost every day, so you want to make sure it is at least close to your home or work. This also helps narrow down your daycare center search from the start, making it a little more manageable. When you visit the daycares, pay attention to the traffic getting to and from there during your drop-off and pick-up times. This will give you an idea of what it will be like driving there if you decide to go with that center.
Daycare cost
We all know daycares can be quite expensive, and we want to go for a center that not only meets our needs but also one that we can afford. So, after narrowing your daycare to the ones in your area, write down the costs of each daycare next to the name and compare them to see which ones fit your budget.
Meals and snacks provided?
If you are a busy parent and you just don’t have the time to pack lunches every day, you are going to want a center that provides meals for the kids. Usually, centers that provide food include breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks daily. So you want to make sure you are choosing a daycare center that meets your needs. You also want to get a copy of their menu to see what kinds of food they serve the kids.
Safety protocols
These are the safety measures they have in place, such as how parents get in and out of the daycare building. Are there secured codes or apps for parents to get inside the center? Are parents allowed in the classroom for pick-ups and drop-offs? Do they have surveillance inside and outside, or just strictly outside? Do they have fire drills, and how are these drills conducted? Some kids can be very sensitive to loud noise, so always make sure you are asking these questions to help determine if it’s a good fit for your child.
Teacher-to-child ratio
This is going to differ based on the age range of your child and your current state mandates. Ideally, the fewer kids the teacher is responsible for, the better the child’s experience in the center is going to be. You also want to make sure the daycare is in fact following your state’s rules on this and not exceeding the child-to-teacher ratio.
How do they handle challenging/aggressive behavior?
You want to find out how the facility handles biting, hitting, and any other aggressive behaviors. Do they overlook it or work with the kid who’s causing the aggression to reduce the chances of it happening again? Do they have a policy of expulsion if a kid, for example, repeatedly bites? These are all great examples of what questions to ask at a daycare tour.
Cleanliness of the daycare
Take note of how clean overall the facility is. Look inside the classroom your child will be in. Peek at the bathrooms, kitchen, and play areas. Ask if toys are sanitized regularly. Your child will be spending a considerable amount of time there, so we want to make sure it is at least decently clean.
Staff turnover rate
You want to ask about how long their teachers have worked there to get an idea about their staff turnover rate. A center that is constantly hiring new teachers makes it hard for the kids to know and trust the caregivers. It can also indicate that the daycare center does not value its staff or that they are underpaid.
Daily Schedule
Understanding the daily schedule will help you better understand how your child will spend their days at the center. I recently visited a daycare where the toddler room for three-year-olds had a mostly open schedule where the children played with whatever toys were available. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I prefer daycares that prioritize activities more. Keeping kids occupied with exploration and learning. So ask the daycare you are interested in to see what their daily schedule looks like.
Cameras for video monitoring
Now, having cameras in classrooms is going to be a personal preference thing. Some parents prefer being able to watch their little ones while in daycare, as it gives them an overall sense of peace knowing he/she is safe and thriving. I also know that some parents don’t mind not having cameras in classrooms. Even though I like being able to pull up my phone to check what my little one is up to in daycare, the center I chose did not have cameras in classrooms. They did, however, send pictures and video updates daily.
Outside daycare play space
Is there a playground outside? Is it shaded? How big is it? Do you see your little one playing on it?
Nap times/nap routine
This is very important for infants, as you want to know what their nap routines are like. Do they just follow each baby’s sleep cues for nap time, or do they have set times when they put all the babies down to sleep? How do they handle a child who refuses a nap? Where do they put them down to nap? Is it a safe sleep space for your child?
Potty training
If your little one is not yet potty trained, you want to ask how they go about potty training. What age do they start potty training? Now if you have an infant, you don’t have to worry about this just yet.
How does the Daycare center handle multiple children crying at the same time?
Several kids crying at the same time can be quite common and overwhelming at times. So ask how this is handled, especially since there is usually one teacher assigned to many kids at a time. You want to choose a center that has a protocol in place about how this is handled. The last thing we want is for your kid to be crying, but the caregiver is occupied and overwhelmed.
Tour the Daycare center: What to look for when touring a daycare
Schedule a tour to see the daycare in person. Look at classrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and play areas. Talk to the staff and teachers who will be responsible for your child if you choose to go with that daycare. After touring, go with your gut. Which ones gave you the best feeling? Did you have a good feeling about the teachers? Which one seemed the best fit for your family? If it just doesn’t feel right, take it off your list and keep looking. You know what’s best for you and your child.
Ask Moms in your area/Facebook groups
Reach out to any moms you may know in the area and ask for recommendations. You can also join mom Facebook groups in your area and search for the name of the daycare you are interested in to see what other moms are saying about it. If nothing pops up, just make a post on the group asking what they think about that particular daycare. This is how I found the daycare my son attends. I searched the name of the daycare on a local mom’s Facebook group, and I noticed that all the posts about the daycare on the Facebook group were positive.
Check your state childcare website
Search for the daycare on your state’s child care website to look up any serious reports and their compliance history. If you live in Texas, I have the link here.
Final thoughts
In summary, the best way to choose a daycare that’s the right fit for your family is by knowing what your most important needs are and figuring out which center meets those needs.
Always make sure you are touring the daycare center before selecting one. I always try to avoid scheduled tour times during nap times. I want to see the kids interacting with the teachers and all the chaos that goes on. It gives me a sense of what my little one’s day in there will be like.
If you made it this far, thank you for reading this post, and I hope you found it helpful. Please share this post with anyone who is currently looking for a daycare.
Until then, check out this post 30 questions to ask at daycare tour.
I love the checklist of things to know. Especially for new moms.