How to Choose the Perfect Daycare for Your Child
Choosing a daycare for your child is one of the most challenging decisions you should make as a parent.
Parents leave their children at daycare to go to work, run some errands, or attend their older children’s events or activities, among many other reasons. One thing remains the same, though: You’re entrusting your child in the care of other people. And as a parent, you are responsible for choosing the best daycare in your area.
If you’re not sure how to go about it, there’s no need to worry. Here are some tips that will help you make the right decision:
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Ask for referrals
When starting the hunt for the best daycare in your area, ask your neighbors, colleagues, and friends who have kids about daycares that they can suggest to you. This can help narrow down your choices for the best daycare centers, especially if you live in a big city like Salt Lake City. Moreover, referrals from trusted friends and family members can help ensure you’re getting the best service possible.
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Look around
Once you have a few daycares on your list, go to them and take a look around. Check if their facilities are complete, childproofed, well-stocked, and clean. See if the areas are divided depending on age, as well. If the spaces are shared between older and younger kids, check if there aren’t any toys that can be dangerous for infants. Similarly, see if there is enough space for every child to go around and play without running into or hurting other kids.
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Check the daycare policy
What are the daycare’s policies regarding discipline, feeding, sleeping, and other vital factors of child care? Check the daycare’s policy to see if your parenting style is aligned with theirs and if you’re comfortable with everything that they do. Don’t hesitate to ask questions as well. In this way, there will be fewer problems if you decide to sign up your child with that particular daycare.
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Observe the caregivers
While checking out the daycare’s facilities, make sure to observe how the caregivers interact with the children, too. Caregivers, ideally, should have lots of interaction with the children (i.e. on the ground and playing with them), often giving one-on-one contact with each child. Moreover, it’s also recommended that only three children up to two years of age are allowed per caregiver. So if you see too many kids for only a handful of workers, it’s probably better to find another daycare.
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Ask about health requirements
When you’re leaving your child in someone else’s care, you should check to see if they are healthy enough to not make your child sick. Ask if the daycare workers have regular and complete medical checkups, including TB tests and vaccinations. Similarly, ask if the daycare requires all the kids to be fully vaccinated. If they’re lax about immunizations, don’t risk it.
Many new parents aren’t sure about the best way to find a suitable daycare for their child, and that’s completely normal. With these simple tips, you can choose a reputable daycare that will keep your child safe, happy, and well-adjusted while you do other important things.