Daycare mommies, I need your help!! Little Long

So for thos who are not familiar with my post on FHF: DH and I are in the process of taking in his cousins son. He is currently with a foster mother in Baltimore. The nj caseworker said we need to find the daycare for the baby by end of this week.

My sister has given me a list of things to look for but since her daughter was older when she put her in daycare, I thought I'd look to the masses and ask you lovely ladies for advice:

What are some intitial questions I should ask when calling to schedule a visit?

What are some things to look for when visiting? important questions I need to ask?

The baby is 19 months and will probably be 22 months at the time. Also he will be going part time during the days I teach.

TIA for your help!! Hope to be a regular on this board soon

Re: Daycare mommies, I need your help!! Little Long

What is there schedule in terms of holidays - are there any week long closures

what is there policies on health/sickness

what happens if you need to send him extra days

polic on biting and notification

meet the teachers of the room and trust your instincts

also important for me was policy for going outside - my daycare takes them out twice a day as long as it is not raining - any temp - no matter if snow is on the ground or not

Re: Daycare mommies, I need your help!! Little Long

Ooh I didnt think about the policy on biting.

Thanks so much for your repsonse, I am getting nervous as this becomes more real!!

Re: Daycare mommies, I need your help!! Little Long

I just want to wish you the best of luck in this journey...I think it is AMAZING what you are doing

Re: Daycare mommies, I need your help!! Little Long

ask if they have webcams

Re: Daycare mommies, I need your help!! Little Long

that's about AJ's age.

I agree with above but my daycare won't allow part time for her age group at all.

I'd also see what the rooms are - when do they transition, every 6mo or at milestones.

What's their educational stance. Mine is not certified as a preschool but they teach lots of stuff, use computers etc. I liked what I saw.

Food - big one for me. The one I use now provides breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and one late snack if necessary.

Obviously hours.. how late is the late and how early is early.

Can they administer medications if needed by doctor's prescription. My first one wouldn't but the one I use now does.. BIG help there. Also the same about over the counter things like anti itch etc.

Do they potty train, table train? Just so happens mine does. I didn't see the value at first but boy can I see the value now. She's not potty trained but she is aware now. Table training is great cause she's learning skills of how to sit still without being strapped down.

Another plus for mine was bi-lingual and sign language classes. Every class from 6mo is visited twice a week for each (spanish and sign).

What's the turn over or shifts? Will the baby be able to have consistancy. Who is held accountable. AJ rotates through about 5people in her room due to its size but I know who's got the 'shifts' and is responsible for knowing whats going on.

Its a lot to think about and once you're in a lot of it becomes sort of background noise if you know what I mean....

What's TRULY important is are YOU comfortable with the center. How do YOU feel when you see the teachers interact with the children, do YOU trust them.

Good Luck

Re: Daycare mommies, I need your help!! Little Long

DH asked about fire safety and evacuation in the event of an emergency( i never thought of that..)

how many babies per teacher?

what food or formula do they provide as part of their feeding program? or do you need to supply everything?

do they provide wipes ? (ours does) but we supply diapers. how often are their diapers changed?