Day Care Help!!

am expecting my first in April, and DH and I are starting to look into our day care options. We have a couple of questions...

1. Can anyone recommend a day care facility in the Farmingdale/Melville/Bethpage area?

2. Is there a list of questions we should be asking?

TIA!!!!

Re: Day Care Help!!

I don't know if there is a Tutor Time in your area, but my sister is an administrator in the one in Holbrook & she tells me that this company is strict with their hiring policies and take very good care of all the children. Every room has cameras so if something is going on, it will be seen. Good luck.

Re: Day Care Help!!

I'm also due in April and have started looking. My biggest problem is that I'm having trouble finding a place that has a 4 day a week rate and long hours. Other than them having the options you need, these are some things we've been looking for/asking:
1) What is the caregiver to child ration (it's been 1:4 everywhere we've looked so far).
2) What kind of screening do you do on your employees?
3) What is the employee turnover rate?
4) How do you handle sickness, medical emergencies, security...
5) Do you provide formula, diapers, bedding...(some places will provide some of these, although you may want to supply your own anyway).
6) What is a typical day like for an infant?
7) What is your holiday schedule and how do you handle vacations?
8) How many infants do you take at a time? Is there a wait list?

Then when you go to look at one, look at how clean the place is, including the kitchen and bathroom. See how the staff is interacting with the kids. See if the kids seem active and happy. You could always show up in the morning or the end of the day and ask parents who are dropping off/picking up what they think. At one place a mom there stopped us to tell us what she thought of the place. We happened to go look at two places during lunch because that's the only time we could make it and the entire place was full of napping kids and we couldn't really get an idea of what their day was like. If you can, go when the kids are up, and go more than once if you're considering a place.

There's lots of things, but that's all that's coming to mind at the moment. When you get there and your looking around, things will pop up to ask also. Good Luck!

Message edited 11/13/2006 1:37:07 PM.

Re: Day Care Help!!

Hi, I'm also looking into daycare centers. Babycenter.com has a list of questions on what to ask each center. It also has an article on what makes up a "good" or 'bad" daycare center. DH also googled daycare centers somehow - I know it involved something with the "local" link but I'm not sure of the specifics.

Re: Day Care Help!!

you can call the child care council of nassau county. they are a wonderful resource and information center for families. they make referrals to parents. their website outlines everything you should look for.

i'm trying to post a link to their site, but having difficulty. just do a search.

i would seriously recommend a daycare that is accrediated with the national association for the education of young children. to get accrediated the daycare has to go through rigorous observations, reviews, surveys, etc. they have higher standards and a higher caliber of staff.

i worked in daycare for many years as a teacher and then as an ed. director. i think there is a difference when they are accrediated.

good luck. fm if you have any specific questions.

Re: Day Care Help!!

I already looked - I looked at Kindercare, which was nice but a little too expensive for us.... We are going with Rainbow Chimes, probably - it is accredited through NAEYC, and I know the director....

Re: Day Care Help!!

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Also one REALLY good thing to remember!

IF the Daycare Center wants you to make an appt to come see the center-KEEP WALKING!!!

The daycare should have an open door policy, meaning you can come unannounced to see your baby, visit, and that goes for center tours. You don't want a place that"preps" for visits.

My daycare center allows registered visitors by us of course to come visit whenever they want. SO i could have my mom, dad, brother etc. come and feed DD everyday if they wanted too with my written permission.

Re: Day Care Help!!

Child Care Council of Nassau


Child Care Council of Suffolk

Re: Day Care Help!!

Use this site also to check out whether or not a site has any violations.


NYS Office of Children and Family Services