Baby Forum

SouthernStar · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:45 am Post subject: Childcare poll

What kind of childcare do you recommend?

Spring Bride · Walking Baby Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 30

My girls go to a morning only school at a combination senior center/daycare. It is so wonderful for them because we don't have family here. They're learning some valuable lessons about being around older people who can't or don't want to be at home alone during the day.

Jennifer · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 6:07 pm Post subject:

home daycare is great if you find someone you can trust!!

Mommy2Isaiah · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 6:39 am Post subject:

I was able to take 6 months off from work to stay home with my son. I would like to say he will be with a family member when I go back to work, but I don't have anyone available. I am trying to find a home daycare in my area with a good reputation. Day care centers seem so gross and I am going to try VERY hard to avoid using one.

mommy5x · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 9:10 pm Post subject:

I've never had to use a day care, but don't immediately write them off. You might get lucky. They sometimes have better hours for working parents. When checking out a day care, make sure you ask about the staff turnaround. It is a good sign if the staff have been there for a long time.

If staff have been there a while it means a few things: it is a good place to work (happy staff will make for happy kids Very Happy

), the staff are experienced, and your child will not be subjected to a constant change in faces!

Jennifer · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 2:07 pm Post subject:

Great advice! I used to work for social services and I saw a lot of bad day care centers, but I also saw a lot of great ones. The staff turnaround is a definite clue!

AdoptingSoon · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject:

One of my ed classes covered early childhood environments and the following things might help you decide:
:: Curriculum. What are the adults going to do all day besides feed and change your child?
:: Environmental print and accessability to toys. Look at the room; are the toys and books put up out of reach or, worse yet, scattered all over the floor all day, or on labeled shelves where the kids can reach them? I forget the exact number, but there should be X number of toys per child.
:: Sanitation of toys and surfaces. Do they use a Clorox mix or something else? How often are the blankets, sheets, and toys washed?
:: Gloves for changing diapers. Gloves are suppose to be changed after every change.
That's all I can remember right now. Oh, yes, and...
:: Outside time. Even babies are suppose to be taken out everyday for fresh air.

Mommy2Isaiah · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:12 pm Post subject:

That is great to know...I think you are going to be a fantastic mom!!

Mommy_of_two · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject:

I teach at a college so I only need child care for about eight hours per week. We pay my best friend $10 per hour to come watch our kids. It is a perfect situation!

I feel the same way about day care centers. I was working on my PhD course work when my daughter was born and we looked into day care centers. I was disgusted and turned off. If you live in the U.S., you can look for schools that are NAEYC accreditted (National Association for the Education of Young Children). But I will also say that I was nervous about child care at someone's home because of the lack of accountability.

It is so hard to find good child care!