Dear Blythe,
I just had a baby three weeks ago and need to find in-home daycare for my daughter. My adorable baby Chloe gets up every three hours to eat and I am just exhausted. I didn’t realize how much my life would change once I had a baby, but I love it! I wish I could be a stay-at-home mom but with this economy it’s just not possible. I have three months to find the perfect day care home for my baby and I am so scared!
What do I look for? How can I trust someone else to care for my precious bundle? Could you please give me some guidance to find the perfect daycare home for baby Chloe?
Thanks so much.
Sincerely,
Wendy (scared first-time mommy)
Dear Wendy,
Having a baby is one of life’s greatest miracles. But along with this miracle comes some pretty difficult decisions. I applaud you for asking for help.
Finding daycare for your infant is one of the most important and scary jobs any new parent faces. One that brings many parents to tears. You are searching for that perfect “mommy substitute” that will answer your baby’s every need. One with experience, warmth and love to nurture your little one as she blossoms. You need to feel safe and secure as you drop Chloe off each morning.
Parents Time Out (www.ptofamily.com) is a helpful resource. You can also Google in-home daycare/insert your city, which provides many leads in this area as well. And don’t forget to ask your friends.
The following list of questions should help you find exactly what you are looking for:
The Home
Is this home licensed and registered by the state? ___Yes ___No
If no, why not? _________________________________________________________
Are there permits posted? ___Yes __No
Does her home look clean? ___Yes ___No
Does it smell clean? ___Yes ___No
Is there music playing? ___Yes ___No
Is the television blaring? ___Yes ___No
Are there pets in the home? ___Yes ___No
Where are they kept during child care hours?_______________________________
Are there other visitors or friends staying in her home? ___Yes ___No
Are the electrical outlets covered? ___Yes ___No
Is her home safe and child-proofed? ___Yes ___No
Are there cribs for each baby? ___Yes ___No
Are the cribs in good condition?(are they wobbly or have screws missing?) ___Yes ___No
Are there enough swings, exersaucers, high chairs, bouncy seats, toys, etc and are they in good condition?
___Yes ___No
Where are the babies changed? __________________________________________
Are the changing tables clean? ___Yes ___No
Is the equipment cleaned with bleach solution each day? ___Yes ___No
Are the toys washed in a bleach solution each day? ___Yes ___No
Is the bleach solution kept in a locked cabinet? ___Yes ___No
Are there medicine bottles or any other unsafe substances sitting on her counters? ___Yes ___No
Where does she store the baby food and snacks? _____________________________
If you use her bedding, will it be washed each day? ___Yes ___No
Does her home have a fenced-in yard? ___Yes ___No
Does her home have a pool? ___Yes ___No
Does the pool have a locked gate? ___Yes ___No
The Child- care Provider
How many years has she cared for infants? ________
Will she supply you with references? ___Yes ___No
Is her appearance neat and clean? ___Yes ___No
Does she smoke? ___Yes ___No
Do she and her caregivers have current CPR and First Aid Certification? ___Yes ___No
Are there emergency numbers posted? (poison control, hospital, etc.) ___Yes ___No
Do she and her other caregivers have up-to-date TB tests or chest X-rays and can she provide documentation? ___Yes ___No
Does the child care provider have any specialized training? ___Yes ___No
Is there at least one child care provider for every four babies? _Yes ___No
Do the same child care providers care for the babies each day? ___ Yes ___No
Does she do activities with the babies? (music, tummy time, read and sing to them, etc)
___Yes ___No
Do the babies seem happy and well-cared for? ___Yes ___No
Will she be taking the babies outside each nice day? ___Yes ___No
Does she plan on taking the babies in the car? ___Yes ___No
Where and why? ______________________________________________________
Does she have enough car seats? ___Yes ___No
When does she take breaks or eat lunch and who will watch the babies? _____________________________________________________________________
Does she have someone to care for your baby should she get sick? ___Yes ___No
What would she do if your baby was having a cranky day, had a fever or just wasn’t herself? ______________________________________________________________
Does she ask you questions about your baby’s care? ___Yes ___No
Does she give you the feeling that you are the boss and it’s okay to ask her to care for your baby the way you like? ___Yes ___No
Does she seem happy being a child care provider? ___Yes ___No
Will a report be sent home each day sharing the baby’s activities, diaper changes and feeding schedule? ___Yes ___No
Is she upfront about the payment schedule and late charges? ___Yes ___No
Does this child care provider make you feel good about leaving your baby with her? ___Yes ___No
Does this child care home meet all your requirements ___Yes ___No
My final words:
Once you think you’ve found the perfect daycare home, drop in for a couple of surprise visits at different times of the day. We all make sure to tidy up when we know guests will be coming.
If you visit a home where everything looks fine, but your gut is still telling you different, this is not the right place, trust yourself. A woman’s intuition is usually right!
Blythe Lipman is the president of Baby Instructions. She is passionate about babies, toddlers and their parents. After working in the field for over twenty-five years, she wrote her third award-winning book, HELP! MY BABY CAME WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS which is available at www.babyinstructions.com, .Tune into Blythe’s weekly radio show on Mondays, 11am EST @ www.toginet.com Blythe is available for in-home, video and telephone consultations.
©Blythe Lipman 2010
