Daycare Decisions
By Martha Wegner

Daycare... Perhaps no other word (except “breastfeeding”) can create such strong emotions and attitudes in a parent’s mind. Some view daycare as strictly a necessity.  We wish we didn’t have to do it, but we have to let someone else take care of the kids so that we can work to pay the bills. Others view daycare quite differently. They believe daycare can provide stimulation, opportunities for socialization, and educational experiences that would be tough to provide at home. Many of us fall somewhere in between.

No matter what our attitude toward daycare, it can be one of the most gut-wrenching decisions a new parent has to make. Where to leave my precious child while I go to work? Who could possibly possess the skills, the compassion, and the wisdom that I, as her parent, have? And how can I find a place where my child can develop loving, stable relationships with adults who understand her, have a firm knowledge of child development, and can attend to her specific needs?

Have no fear, there is such a daycare out there. It just takes some digging and lots of time and effort. But with the right questions in mind, you can find a place for your little one. To get you going on your search, we’ve put together some crucial questions to ask yourself:

What Do I Want?
“Child Care Aware” (www.childcareaware.org), a non-profit initiative committed to helping parents find the best information on locating quality child care in their community, lists 4 major types of daycares. According to “Child Care Aware” and “The American Academy of Pediatrics” (“Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age Five”, Bantam Books, 2005) there are a number of advantages and a number of disadvantages for each option. You be the judge:

Child Care Centers
Child care centers care for children in groups. All states require centers to be licensed.

The good:

• More staff, space, equipment, toys, and organized activities to meet the children’s developmental needs.
• Centers have several caregivers, so you are not dependent on the availability (and the personality) of one person.
• Workers tend to be better supervised than caregivers in other settings.
• Many centers encourage parental involvement.

The not-so-good:

• Your child may receive less personalized attention than in smaller programs.

Family Child Care Providers
Family child care providers offer care for children in the provider’s home. Requirements for family child care providers vary from state to state, but all states set minimum health, safety and nutrition standards for providers.

The good:

• Smaller group size, and therefore more individualized attention.
• Comfort of a home.

The not-so-good:

• You cannot observe what happens to your child. While some providers have organized age-appropriate activities for the children, others may use TV as a babysitter.

In-Home Caregivers
In-home caregivers provide care for children in the child’s home. They include live-in and live-out nannies. Most states do not regulate in-home caregivers, although many states do require in-home caregivers to be screened through a criminal history check.

The good:

• Your child stays in familiar surroundings and receives individualized care and attention.
• Your child isn’t exposed to the illnesses and negative behavior of other children.
• When your child is sick, you don’t have to stay home from work.
• You don’t need to worry about transportation.

The not-so-good

• Since you will be considered an employer, you must meet minimum-wage, Social Security, and tax-reporting requirements. You should also provide health insurance.
• The presence of a caregiver may infringe on your family’s privacy, especially if she lives in your home.
• Because the caregiver is alone with your child most of the time, you have no way of knowing exactly how she is performing her job.
• Unless the caregiver makes a concerted effort to meet up with other families, your child may not have opportunities for socialization.

Relatives, Friends, and Neighbors
This type of care can take place in the caregiver’s home or in the child’s home. Many states do not regulate care provided by relatives, friends, and neighbors. The advantages and disadvantages to this type of care are similar to care provided by a nanny. (See above).

Where Do I Look?
There are a number of places to look, and we’ll list the most important one first:

Word of mouth! - If your friends, coworkers used and recommended this daycare, then half your work is done. That’s not to say that you don’t need to visit and ask lots of questions to see if it fits your own specific needs, but there is nothing like a satisfied customer to let you know that the care here is worth looking into.

Your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) organization. - CCR&R’s give parents referrals to local child care providers, information on state licensing requirements, availability of child care subsidies, and other pertinent information. CCR&Rs provide guidance by phone, in person, and in other ways, such as the Internet, that are tailored to each individual family. To find your local CCR&R, go to www.childcareaware.org. In the section that says “Child Care Connector”, enter your zip code. Or call 1-800-424-2246. You will be given the phone number, e-mail, and website of your local referral organization. Child Care Resource and Referral agencies make child care referrals, not recommendations. They cannot guarantee the information concerning any providers. It is still your job to ask the questions, check the references, and visit the daycare yourself.

Your local newspaper - If you live in a large city, choose a community newspaper rather than the city-wide paper. That will help you find childcare in your immediate vicinity.

The Yellow Pages- If you are committed to using a center, look for names of centers that you have heard of. Ask your friends and colleagues which centers have the best reputation.

Employee Assistance Program- Check to see if there is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available through your employer. This group often has “Referral Specialists” who can match your daycare request with a list of qualified daycare providers.

Now What?
Once you’ve compiled a list of providers, start by calling each one. Some preliminary questions should give you a feeling as to whether or not you would like to visit. If possible, bring your child along for the visit so that you can see how the provider interacts with your child. During the visit look for signs that the home or center is clean and safe, and that the children who stay there seem happy.

While you are there you will want to ask many questions to assure that your child is in a safe, secure, stimulating environment. When formulating questions “Child Care Aware” suggests you keep these “key indicators of quality” in mind:

1. Adult to Child Ratio: The fewer the children for each adult, the better for your child.
2. Group Size: The smaller the group, the better.
3. Caregiver Qualifications: What is the caregivers’ training and education? Do they attend classes and workshops to improve their skills?
4. Turnover: How long have the caregivers been at the center or providing care in their home? Caregivers who come and go make it hard on your child.
5. Accreditations: Find out if the provider has been accredited by a national organization.

You’ll of course want to ask “housekeeping questions” such as hours and rates.Finally, and perhaps most importantly, ask the provider for references from other parents, and call them. It’s also possible to check state records to see if any complaints have been lodged against the provider.

Finding daycare can take a lot of time and effort. But you’ll find the right place, and once you do, you can relax. You’ll know that you can feel comfortable going to work, and that your child is getting a happy and healthy start in life.

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