[mom2be1271]

Everyone here was so helpful when I asked for ways to find referrals for child care, that I figured I'd bring my next question back here. I'm stuck because I have no idea what to ask when I call potential child care providers. I haven't received a referral yet (although I hope I'm close) so I have no way of knowing what my daughter's temperment or habits will be. Also I will not be needing childcare until late August, so is it too early to be researching? I'm just worried that the provider will look at me like I'm crazy, when I say I need to find child care for a baby girl, but I'm not sure when she'll be here or how many months she will be. I know I want someone who speaks Spanish, is in-home, and works with my schedule, but I know there's more I should be asking. Any suggestions?
Many Thanks,
Michelle

[Stace33]

Bumping for both of us. I'd like to know as well.


Stacie

[avoel]

Not to early to think about it although probably to early to secure an infant spot since she may not even be born yet and you have a 4-6 month at least process in front of you. Most daycare providers won't hold a spot without payment for something that up in the air.

But as far as things to ask, one of the big things for me was how much I was willing to tolerate the daycare provider driving my child around in her car. I interviewed several who would have been taking other kids to and from school, various extracurricular activities etc all with my baby in tow. I decided I couldn't handle the stress of someone else driving my baby around and I didn't want her to spend that much time in and out of the car and have her meals and naps constantly worked around everyone elses schedule. So, I kept looking until I found one that didn't have reason to be driving my baby around at all, or only at a minimum!

What happens when the daycare provider or her children is sick is another big one...if you have a job that makes it hard for you to miss work you are not going to want to waste your sick days staying home with your healthy child because the daycare was closed. So keep that in mind when selecting a provider...one with small children of her own may not be the best choice.

[mom2be1271]

Amy,
Thanks for the insights. I wouldn't have thought of those issues.
Michelle

[Mom2to]

I felt very overwhelmed about how to choose child care for my daughter. A friend gave me Stanley Greenspan's book The Four Thirds Solution that had a really helpful chapter "Choosing Childcare" on things to actually look for when visiting places that were more than is it safe, clean, and convenient etc. He talks a lot about really watching to see how the child care providers interact with the children and to trust your gut about whether or not the people are loving, kind, and generally interested in kids. I went to one center that had great literature, toys, and credentials but the feel of it was quite institutional. The place we choose is a bit shabby but my daughter is well loved, learning a lot through play, and is so happy on "school" days. Best Wishes. I know this is a hard decision.

[KellyMigoya]

I also wanted someone with a drivers license and insurance in case of an emergency, ask what different activities they would do with your child during the day, ask about all the other children they have watched and how they describe those experiences, ask about specific situations and how they would react ie, fever, child falling with open wound, child sad and crying for mommy, etc
I have had them all, younger girls, Spanish speaking nannies from service, woman in my neighborhood and I had to find a new one last fall. Well, my housekeeper that I had for 15 years was always so good with my kids while she was cleaning. She is a single mom with two teenagers. I ask her if she would be interested and she was. My kids adore her. She cleans, but has them help her and they love it, does the laundry and puts the baby in the laundry basket with toys and the boys help fold and put away. She takes them to the park up the street, makes them all kinds of fun food, brings videos for them and her kids old books, gives them baths, does Princess Mia's hair, talks to them about God and heaven and decorates the house for the holidays. I am very lucky.

[mom2be1271]

Bumping...

[Bonitabonita]

Michelle,

It depends on the market where you live, but it is not unreasonable in my city to get on a daycare waiting list for an infant spot 2 years in advance -- well before referral or even conception! I am still on many waiting lists after almost 2 years of waiting.

Some things I asked:
* will you use cloth diapers?
* will kids get breakfast and snacks, as well as lunch?
* what are you feeding them? How much meat? How much sugary food?
* are the kids allowed to watch tv?
* will anyone other than you ever be looking after my child (if caregiver has to run an errand, dr. appt., etc.)?

Boni

[Teri33]

You definitly want to know what kinds of activities are done with infants throughout the day. It is important for infants to have structured activities too. What kind of discipline is used? The #1 answer should be redirection and then time-out for kids over 2. What foods do you serve at the different meals? Are you on a food program that monitors what foods are being served? How many kids do you have enrolled? Ages and are they boys or girls? That is a big one because I run a childcare and I have 8 boys enrolled and everytime someone calls with a girl they really don't like that. (It's just crazy that I have all boys and my daughter is the only girl).


Let me know if you want more help. I would also suggest to start looking now because you could always see when people have openings coming up.

Teri

[curlyqgyrl]

I do in home daycare myself, and the best advice is go with your gut. All of my daycare parents have said that when they walked into a place, they new that second if they liked it or not.
Also, it is not to early to start looking! I fill my infant spots months and months and months in advance, and I don't even have an infant opening for almost 2 years!! Not sure about where you live, but in my area infant care is very hard to find.
Just make sure its a clean, well lit area and seems and feels like a fun easy going atmoshere. You should be able to get a feeling about it as soon as you walk into the house. My licensor always says there is always a good "happy" feeling when she comes into our daycare, and that is what it should be.
If you have any questions from my point of view, just ask!