The Baby's Coming - Infants - Picking a Daycare


New Baby Checklist Diapers: Cloth vs. Disposable Diaper Bag Checklist Teething Picking A Daycare	Picking A Daycare
		Perhaps you have decided to be a career mom. If you don’t have any close friends or relatives willing to watch your infant while you are away, you may find yourself having to pick a daycare. Asking around never hurts. Find out which daycare your sister, your friends, or your hairdresser uses. Get some opinions, then start your own hunt. Proximity to your home or work will probably play a part in your decision when choosing a daycare. Start by doing a search of all the daycares within a 10 mile radius of your target area. You can either do this search online or with your yellow pages. Then you’ll want to search for the name and address online, to find any reviews that may be related to the daycare.

The next step would be to call as many of the daycares on your list that you wish to visit, and arrange for a walk through. Most daycare facilities will not have any problem giving you information and letting you view facilities before you make a decision. When doing your walk through(s), check out the small details that would otherwise go unnoticed. Check that outlets are properly covered, blinds are free of pull-lines, and that shared toys are properly sanitized. Watch to see if caregivers wash their hands often, ask about their sick policy (for your child and for their caregivers), and read all the fine print on every single piece of paper. It might be a good idea to make yourself a list of questions and areas of concern, and carry this list from place to place when conducting your interviews. If the daycare gives you any opposition to a reasonable request, or seems to be unaccommodating, take your business elsewhere.

The daycare you ultimately choose should be able to set your mind at ease. They shouldn’t have a problem with any special instructions you have for your child and should not have any opposition to you calling and/or checking in when you feel the need.

Once you do pick a daycare, we suggest that you stop in at off times, when possible, and check in on your little one, at least for awhile. Maybe start bringing the baby to daycare a week or two before you have to return to work. Leaving your baby in the hands of a stranger is never an easy task. If you are prepared, fully informed, and comfortable with the daycare you choose, it will make this transition easier.