parents who take their kids to a day care?

Question

i am scared to take my daughter to a day care but i am going to have to get a job because of money situation. this morning i seen a story online that a baby boy is in a coma cause the sitter shook it. now that really scares me. how do i find a good one what kind of thing do i look for. please help me thanx

i don't have any family that lives close

Answer 1

I take my son to a daycare center. I have read the story on the baby that was shaken... that is heartbreaking. Not to say that there aren't some good home daycare options out there, but I feel more comfortable with my son in a center for the following reasons...

1 - I never have to worry about the daycare provider calling in sick or taking a vacation and causing me to have to take time off of work

2 - I think that with other caregivers around, there is less of a chance of something like the shaken baby issue to happen because there are people to see what is going on

3 - The daycare that my son attends has a set schedule for every day. Not only does he have plenty of playtime, but they also teach him different things and have a theme every month that they focus their learning sessions around. Also, there are no TV's in the center so I don't have to worry that someone is just putting him in front of a TV every day

4 - They give me periodic progress reports on how my child is coming along with different skill sets

5 - I get a daily sheet that tells me everything that my child ate for the day, naptime, diaper changes (what time and what exactly happened - wet, BM)

6 - He loves interacting with the different teachers and children. His center is very diversified and he is learning that friends have all different kinds of backgrounds.

I would recommmend that you visit any centers that you are considering... do not go on an appointment... drop in at any time. If they do not want to give you a tour when you show up, then I would not consider their center because I would feel like they are trying to hide something... if you can bring your child with you, you can also see what his reaction is to the center and how do the care givers respond to him during your visit. Trust your gut instinct.

Like I said, not all home daycare programs are bad, but I feel more secure with my son in a center. I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Becuase me and my husband are both in the military we don't have any other option. WHen i was looking for a day care i went and checked out 15 that were around my. I always looked for How clean they were, what there lesson plan was (yes they have lesson plans for infants too), What there Care giver to child ration was. Most were for every 5 there were 2 caregivers somtimes it was 1 for every five. I made sure i felt like it was a safe place becuase they might apper to be clean but a buisness that is well kept doesn't nessacery mean the workers do there job. Finally when i chose a daycare i would do surprise visits without calling not that you would have to call before you go but just to check up on her. Also just becuase they are very exspensive doesn't mean there the best becuase i had my child in Kinda Care a well known Day care all over the worl and i was getting charged 190 a week plus i brought all my childs stuff. I got off early one day and went to pick my child up she was in a size 2 diaper that wasn't her's and was filthy. You bet i was a very upset parent. Another thing is daycare is great for children they get to interact with other kids and my daughter is very friendly now she know how to share and they teach them so much in day care it like haveing them in a preschool from age 0. So i think it is great that she will bein daycare but make sure you feel safe about the people taking care of child.

Answer 3

You really have to use your gut instinct and do research and background checks.

I don't want to scare you more, but the parents of that baby (baby Kaleb) also did background checks on the sitter and interviewed her for 2 hours before choosing her as the child's caretaker.

You just have to be responsible in your decision. Since money is an issue, you'll probably be looking for the cheapest. But keep in mind, the cheapest may not be the best. But who really knows these days.

Make pop-in visits to the place you are considering without making an appointment. This way, things are "as-is" and not set up to impress the parents.

But everything should turn out fine.
Best of wishes to you!

Answer 4

I think if you do your research and do unsceduled "pop in's" as frequently as possible you should be all right... I think whether it's a regular day care/ or home care there are risks in either case... I would tour the facility talk to the staff on a one on one basis and not just when there is a boss around... If you choose a at-home sitter get the names/numbers of other parents and meet with them and see what there concerns are...I think being informed is the best way.... Those horror stories I think are far and few between. However, there's nothing wrong with doing what's best for you and your child..

Answer 5

References, references, REFERENCES!!! Ask them for as many references as they can give. Cal them, all of them. Find out what they thought of the place. I have used both in home and daycare centers and I have to say that as far as structure goes, daycare centers win, but Aunt Bea's in home day care might show your child a little more tender loving care.

Make sure the center/daycare is licensed. Check with your state to make sure that that center/daycare has had no complaints or investigations against it. This can be a big help.

You may be able to go online and find a service to help you locate centers/daycares in your area. I know Chicago has one.

It all depends on what you are looking for in a day care. If you have a job that you can't ever call in sick because your provider is sick, go with a center.

Know what you are dropping your child off into. Drop by a daycare and check it out. Don't make an appointment to see it. Pick up your child early one day and see what they are doing. Suprise visits are the best way to tell what is going on.

Also, don't listen to the stories of children getting sick more often at daycare centers. If children aren't exposed to common illnesses (i.e. colds and such) they will have not built up immunities they use to fight such things next time and it will be worse.

DO NOT PUT YOUR CHILD IN A DAY CARE THAT USES HAND SANITIZERS. THESE CAN BE LETHAL TO CHILDREN. Don't beleive me? Look it up for yourself.www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/sanitizer.asp

Answer 6

My son is in a daycare center. Has been since about 8 months and he is 2 1/2 now. After my daughter is born and she is 8 weeks I will have to return to work and she will go to daycare. I hated going back to work but I had no choice. It is scary to see the stories like the one about little Kaleb so sad. The best thing to do is to go to each daycare and take a tour talk to the teachers and watch how they act around the children. After you find one then do surprise visits and drop ins to check. Also It depends where you are but you can go to your local health dept website and read the reviews of daycare inspections. Look at how clean the place is what does it smell like. Of course it's going to have a daycare-ish smell. But you dint want it to reek of urine and poop. Look at the toys are they clean? The outside play area does it look safe to you. Depending on the age of your child see what kind of actives they provide for them. What will they be learning. Meals. DO they provide their own or would you have to bring it. Most day cares do provide at least lunch and a snack. Some even do breakfast. Do they provide menus of the meals. Also at the end of the day will you get a progress type report. That says what your child did and such.

Answer 7

First, unless its someone you know and trust, don't put your child in a person's home or "fly by night" daycare. Price does matter:

Check to make sure the day care has the security features you desire.
Check to make sure the day care has the programs that you desire.
Make sure the day care is licensed, and that the employees have had a security check, that everyone is certified in first aid, and take a tour to make sure the facility is safe and clean.

Daycare can be a positive thing for your child. She will have the opportunity to socialize with other kids and do things that you may not be able/willing to do.

Your daycare is being given the job of taking care of your child, treat it as a job interview.... and make sure you ask and check up on references!

Answer 8

Here are some reasons that I am proud to be a working mother:

1.) Think of what an excellent role model you are to your kids. Do you have daughters? I do. And they see a mom who works, successfully yet always makes sure that dinner is on the table and that there is plenty of time to play, read, etc. Think of what a superwomen you are to your kids!

2.) Did you finish high school? College? Whatever your level of education, isn't it nice to be able to use it, daily? I got my master's degree...what am I going to do with that at home...bore my kids to death??

3.) Working makes me a better mother. I get tons of grown up time each day so I don't begrudge my kids any of my time when I get home!

Now, you bring up that tragic Kaleb story. That occurred at a BABYSITTER's, not at a daycare. Daycare centers have loads of staff that provide a built-in system of checks and balances. Plus, most have surveillance cameras.

Also, remember that many shaken babies are shaken by the hand of their own parents. So.

Now, the way we found our awesome daycare was work of mouth. My girls' cousins (both in college on academic scholarship-both really super kids) both went to the one we chose.

Also, stop by any daycares several tiems, always at a different time of day. Any daycare worth their mettle will not begrudge you visiting any time. See how your GUT feels about your visits. This will tell you a lot.

Good luck-I hope that your baby thrives there the way that my daughters have.

best-
DN

Oh-P.S. After an initial period of time where your kids build up their immunities, you will find that they almost NEVER get sick! My older daughter (just turned 4) has not been sick for nearly 2 years!!

Answer 9

Everyone can snap in a second (even your own family members), you just never know who is more susceptible to that....and that's one thing that scares me the most with anyone else taking care of my kids. The best you can do is conduct interviews of potentials babysitters, don't be afraid of ask as many questions as you need, ask for references, personal and previous jobs recommendations, do a background check and make sure they are alcohol, smoke and drug free or at least not do any of this at home, remember it is your daughter's life and well being you are allowing a stranger to take care of, you can't be enough cautious for this. Good Luck!!

Answer 10

Require a license, verify how long they have been in business, ask to speak to a parent with a child there. In addition, referrels from other parents are a good source to start. It will be down to your instincts.

My wife could not stand the woman who cared for our son through 3 years old at the beginning because she gave unsolicited advice. In the end, she was like a surrogate grandmother. Be thorough, but be patient. It is very traumatic to turn your child over to another individual under the best of circumstances.