How to Select a Safe Day Care Provider

Deciding on the best day care provider for your young child can feel like an insurmountable task. Approximately 70 percent of parents place their children in some sort of child care facility, according to KidsHealth.org. The ideal care center should offer a safe, educational and nurturing environment for your child.

Instructions

    • 1

      Identify and understand your child̵7;s specific needs, including his personality type, interests and behavior issues. Look for a nurturing day care for your infant that will be able to handle special health needs and offer one-on-one attention. Your older child may need individualized hands-on learning and creative play, and the opportunity for interaction with other children.

    • 2

      Take your family̵7;s personal values and beliefs into consideration while looking for a day care. Choose a setting that reflects your religious and disciplinary preferences.

    • 3

      Observe any day care center that you are considering for your child. Speak with parents who currently have children attending there and approach the center director with questions. You may want to ask about parental visitation, sick policies or the educational backgrounds of teachers. Inquire as to how they monitor child safety on the playground, if kids are separated by ages for all activities and if special-needs children attend. Investigate the playground equipment, toys and day care kitchen to insure that everything is clean and well-maintained. Ask about emergency plans and equipment like fire extinguishers.

    • 4

      Ask the day care director if the center follows the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines regarding the ratio of caregivers to children. Expect one primary caregiver for each baby younger than 12 months of age, and an overall child to staff ratio of 3 to 1. Note that the child-to-staff ratio increases as children get older, and one staff member can safely care for four children between the ages of 13 to 35 months.

    • 5

      Inquire if the day care facility is licensed and regularly inspected by the proper local government agency. Ask if all caregivers and staff are trained in CPR and childhood development, are up to date on immunizations and have clear criminal background checks. Request a copy of the center̵7;s written policies on health standards, discipline, medication, transportation and nutrition. Ask if staff members wear disposable gloves when they change diapers, disinfect toys and surfaces and promote handwashing throughout the day care.

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