Moms (and dads)- how did you select a daycare?

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I have an interview tomorrow for a part-time teaching position. If I get the job, I will have to find arrangements for Lyra, and it's honestly stressful. I don't really want to work because I love staying home with Lyra, but we could use the money right now.

How do you select somewhere you trust? What are some things I should look for? How do I know if they are doing a good job when my baby can't talk to me yet? Help, please!

[Cataholic]

I think for most people, this is a huge hurdle to jump over. Huge. Your most precious gift in the care of someone you don't know. I have been more than blessed to have my mother care for J since he was 8 weeks old. Even then, it pulls at your heart tremendously. For me, not because of trust, but, cause I missed him so very much. 5 years later, I still miss him every single moment I am away from him. I haven't outgrown it. I don't yearn for 'me time', girl time, etc. I yearn for more J time! I might be weird.

I would seriously search for a way to stay at home with your daughter for as long as you can, or search for ways that your partner can care for her while you work PT in the evenings or on weekends. By the time she is 3, she will possibly be in preschool up to 3 mornings a week, and by the time she is 6, school full day. It is such a short period of time, I would try to do whatever you can to stay at home.

If that just isn't able to work out, I would search for a small, in home provider through your church or circle of friends. Maybe even another mom that would swap out days with you? I think having someone come into your home would be really a luxury.

I think most places you search will seem okay. After all, they wouldn't stay in business otherwise. At your daughter's age, I would focus most on the ratio of caregivers to infants. Your daughter needs to be held and coddled, more so than a 3 year old that is off and running. I would look for someplace that will work with you on providing BM if you are still BFing and not treat it like toxic foodstuff. I would look for a place that provides a nice napping area, quiet and a bit out of the main thoroughfare. I would look for a place that has longevity in employment relationships.

I would trust your gut, ask lots of questions and observe as much as you can. Good luck, I do not envy you your position.

[Grace]

I don't envy you young ones today - looking for reliable child-care.

Back when my son was small, my husband and I worked different shifts, so that one of us was home. I was a nurse, so it was easy to get non-day shifts. And I really preferred them. Only once in awhile did we need someone to cover for an hour or two, and there were several good teens in the neighborhood.

Good luck - whatever you do.

[Moesha]

I have no choosing daycare advice. I would suggest though calculating how much income your new part time job will actually bring in once you figure the cost of child care. Depending on your daycare choice and pricing, you may find that your new job isn't really adding that much to the family income. I sure hope things work out well for you.

[sparks19]

well I don't have a lot of info about infant daycare. but I do send hannah to daycare once a week.

We actually ended up sending her to a daycare where my hsubands boss/friend sends his son so we were pointed in this direction by referral.

but I would look at the ratio of caregivers to children. at ours the infants have a one to one ratio. one caregiver for each infant. as they get older there are less caregivers per child as they don't need so much one on one time. If I had to send hannah to daycare as an infant I don't think I would be comfortable if the ratio was more than 1:1

Look at their policies... feeding, nap times, play times, what happens if your child is sick and can't come in, what if you child becomes sick while at daycare, outings etc etc.

go in and meet the teachers. What really makes me feel much better about hannah being at daycare is so MANY of the teachers have their own kids there as well. and I have never been under the impression that their children get any more special treatment than the other kids (usually the parent isn't the teacher for that childs class most of the time) and ALL of the teachers know every child in every class even if it's not their own.

Find out what kind of activities they do with the kids, do they get to go outside? how often? if they can't go outside what is the alternative. etc

I'll let you know if I think of anything else

[Freedom]

I have no choosing daycare advice. I would suggest though calculating how much income your new part time job will actually bring in once you figure the cost of child care. Depending on your daycare choice and pricing, you may find that your new job isn't really adding that much to the family income. I sure hope things work out well for you.

Good point, one I was going to make.

Take your time selecting one. Go visit them, with NO appointment, just drop in.

Ask about the adult / child ratio.

Check on line with your state web site to see what registration info is posted. Some states will put "on probation" notices up there! Or phone in to see what info is available.

Referrals are a great source.

Check napping plans: will she be in her carrier, or do they have mats/ cribs/etc.

Good luck!

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Thanks for all the good advice! Well, I found out at the interview it is a VERY part time job, only 2 hours twice a week. It pays well per hour and I would like the job, though, so if they offer it I will probably take it.

My husband will be able to watch Lyra one of those days, so if she has to go to daycare it will only be for about 3 hours a week. I'm going to ask my sister in law first (she would love the opportunity to watch Lyra, but she works and may not be able to do it every week), and have a daycare picked out for backup. Eventually I will need to return to work for more hours than 4 hours a week, so it will be good to have one I trust anyway. I will look for all the things mentioned. It's scary to think about entrusting my daughter to strangers though, even for just a few hours.

[Cataholic]

PC- at least here in my part of the state of Ohio, part time/infrequent use of a daycare really doesn't exist, unless you are talking about a drop in type center. Here, you struggle to find a facility willing to take you even 3 days a week! They want/need to fill their spaces, and the state usually limits the number of beds they can have/fill. So, if your daughter is there only a few hours a week you will probably either pay for time you simply will not use OR not be able to get her into a daycare.

You might be better off finding an individual person looking to make a few dollars during the week.

[Husky_mom]

well.. not exactly daycare but more like kindergarden... I chose it because it was a few blocks away from my moms house, mil´s house and my job... he went when he was 2 (not officially kindergarden until 3) and only from 9 to 1p.m same as my job hours..

I was never late for either and if anything happened that needed me I´d be there in less than a minute...

now for elementary we found a school that´s also a couple blocks away... so I´d be there in a sec....

a good thing is that you check out as stated before prices, staff, other kids, location, safety and security, and most of all if Lyra likes it there

[AdoreMyDogs]

Thanks for all the good advice! Well, I found out at the interview it is a VERY part time job, only 2 hours twice a week. It pays well per hour and I would like the job, though, so if they offer it I will probably take it.

My husband will be able to watch Lyra one of those days, so if she has to go to daycare it will only be for about 3 hours a week. I'm going to ask my sister in law first (she would love the opportunity to watch Lyra, but she works and may not be able to do it every week), and have a daycare picked out for backup. Eventually I will need to return to work for more hours than 4 hours a week, so it will be good to have one I trust anyway. I will look for all the things mentioned. It's scary to think about entrusting my daughter to strangers though, even for just a few hours.

Gosh, I wish I could find a job for 3-4 hours a week that pays well. We're totally broke and living paycheck to paycheck, but that, unfortunately, is the reality since I quit work to be home with Quinn when she was born Is this a local place you're applying at, or online or what? I'm curious because I could use a job with so few hours to bring in a few extra bucks hehe.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Gosh, I wish I could find a job for 3-4 hours a week that pays well. We're totally broke and living paycheck to paycheck, but that, unfortunately, is the reality since I quit work to be home with Quinn when she was born Is this a local place you're applying at, or online or what? I'm curious because I could use a job with so few hours to bring in a few extra bucks hehe.

Well, they still haven't called me back so I don't know if I got the job or not, but I know how you feel about being broke! We just have so many bills that even a few hundred dollars a month will help, but I don't want to be away from Lyra for long....I know you must feel the same way about your kids.

I found the job online (on craigslist- the jobs are nearly all legitimate now that they have started to charge money to post employment ads), it's a local education company that is hired by school districts to teach kids after school who are eligible for title 1 funds. Basically I just always check the jobs I'm qualified for on different websites, and ignore the ones that aren't part time. I hope you can find something!

[beeniesmom]

Hey! Here's a thought: Can't you work from home?

If you sign up at www.care.com, you can babysit, do lessons/tutor or pet sit from your house.
That way you can be at home with Lyra, save on gas and be working a bit!
I've found several tutoring jobs on the site as well as dog sitting jobs.