To Daycare... To Daycare (Things you need to know)

Many working mums or mums who work part time have to take the decision of putting their baby in a daycare. Its not an easy decision for sure, trust me, I recently put the toddler in a daycare. She goes for half a day (3-4 hrs) and has settled down well (touch-wood). She isn't happy to see us go but when we go to pick her up, she is busy  laughing and playing with her new friends.


This new experience had to be shared with all you moms out there. Before we get into the points that are to be taken care of when you choose the right daycare, let me list down the positives and negatives: Like everything day-cares also have their advantages and disadvantages, (this is more in comparison with a nanny):

Advantages:

• Formal, structured environment. As per me children (young ones) are happier when they follow a routine, which is not possible when you have a nanny.
• there are formal/written rules which you're aware of before enrolling your child
• I get to meet other moms/dads who are in a similar situation and we can share notes.
• A daycare (unlike a nanny) is more stable, care-centers do not fall sick and don't take leaves. As Deepa (mom of 1.5 year old Pranay) rightly point out: "I did hire nannies until Pranay was a year old. I was unhappy with the irregular timing and leaves without information.I had to turn in a sorry face at my work place every other day. So I turned to day care option, I had no option, my in-laws also left and I did not want the nanny to be alone with the kid at home. That was the triger for me to search for a suitable day care."
• A good Daycare environment is safe, security is taken care of at a nice daycare.
• A good daycare has different activities during the day such as storytelling, singing, painting dancing, etc. Kids get to learn new things. Nibedita (Mom of 1.5 year old Ishaani) says "I have a full time maid, who is doing well with the household work and if given chance, she could have handled Ishaani well, but I was worried with her learning part. Being toddler's mom we know how quickly these kids learn new things. So I searched for a decent daycare where my kid would be at least with few educated people & also presence of other kids would enhance her devolpment."
• And one of my top positives, The Toddler was becoming pretty anti-social off late, staying in a nuclear family. In the Daycare she gets to socialize with other children, which she may not get to do with a nanny or a relative.

Disadvantages:

• The Toddler attends daycare for half a day, but I do realize we at times are at the mercy of the Daycare. If I get stuck in traffic and she stays at the daycare for more than 5 hours, I have to pay extra. The Daycare the Toddler goes to is closed on Saturday (sanitization) and Sundays (week off) besides other holidays. We don't face a problem as my husband is off on weekends, but many parents who work need to seek for an alternate arrangement.
• If your child is sick (God Forbid) you will have to take an off.
• Children who stay in a daycare for 7-8 hours might not get one-on-one attention. An attendant simultaneously takes care of 4-5 kids in the daycare. Good centers make an effort to keep the teacher-child ratio as low as possible.
• Some children panic when there are a lot of new faces around, for them a nanny might be better, else you need to give the child more transition time. 

Now let's talk about choosing the right Daycare center. In India I have seen Care Centers cropping up in basement, garage, shop... etc. (Have seen loads of them in Delhi, my experience in Bangalore is better.) Every pre-school (mostly) has a daycare center. We need to be all the more cautious about the care center we choose. Make sure you have a check-list of these points ready:


Security:

One of my top two points. I wanted to make sure I send The Toddler in a safe and secure environment.

• speak to parents whose kids are already in the daycare
• check the interiors to confirm they're child-friendly. Avoid facilities which are located on the main road... or ones located in a commercial complex.
• Make sure the child is supervised at all times.

Health & Safety:

• Check if they have an in-house kitchen and inspect its cleanliness. Check the hygiene standards and basic cleanliness of the staff.
• Regular sanitization is important. 
• Clean toys in good condition with no sharp edges. 
• The diaper/potty training area should be separate. 
• All the electrical outlets covered with protective caps. 
• Cleaning supplies and other toxic materials should be in locked cabinet (very important). 
• Easily accessible first-aid kit, fire extinguishers and emergency numbers. 
• If there are stairs there should be kid safety gates at the bottom and top.
• The facility should be well-ventilated 

Proximity to your residence

Activities the kids involve in should be age appropriate and fun. 

Check the diet and nap schedule. Make sure you inform the care about allergies and special habits. 

Potty Training: Since the Toddler is being potty trained, I checked with them how they do it and follow a similar pattern.
Questions you might want to ask:

• Are the caregivers verified? Speak to the care-giver
• Can I examine all the areas my child will use?
• Is there a written schedule that includes active time, quiet time, rest, and snacks and meals?
• Are children supervised at all times?
• Is there TV viewing?  I it limited to short times and appropriate programming?
• Is smoking banned from the facility?
• Are there written policies for the care of ill children that include the responsibilities of the parents?
• Is there a pediatrician who is associated and visits in emergencies?
• Have staff members received up-to-date first-aid training and CPR training?
• How long have the caregivers been working there?

I hope you find this post helpful. Can you think of any other points, do share in the comment section so that we and the readers get some more details. 


If you are blessed to have a senior member of the family based in your house, nanny is a better option.