So terrified

Monday I am going to check out a daycare center we are considering for Benji. I am so terribly worried about it.

What do I look for, what questions do I ask, how do I know I can trust these people with my precious boy?

I keep on having these thoughts in my head that he may be mistreated, that the teachers will not be nice to him or just not treat him with love and affection or that other children will not be nice to him. He will be almost 17 months when we want to start him in September and most of the other kids will be older than him.

I know, I know, I am a paranoid, crazy pain in the azz mom

Anyone have any advice. How does it work? How did you know it was save to leave you baby in the center you chose? Any words of wisdom or advice will be greatly appreciated!

Re: So terrified

Go to babycenter.com - there is a checklist of questions to ask the daycare center - I used it and found it EXTREMELY helpful. Also check your local agencies to make sure they are accredited - in PA, where I live, it's different so I don't know where to direct you for that.

Last, but not least, to truly feel comfortable the best thing to do is to drop by unnanounced on several occasions. During my maternity leave I took Alex with me and would stop by at least once a week, unannounced, so I could get an idea of how they operated. When I went back to work, I made sure to do the same at least once a week for the first 3 months.

Last, ask for references so you can call other parents for their experiences...

Re: So terrified

It's scary, but here are a few things that helped me pick a daycare:

1. Size: I picked a school. It has different rooms for all the children. There were so many kids there, I figured they had to have a good reputation (not to mention a 6 month waiting list). With more people its less likely that DD would be mistreated or neglected.

2. Talk to other mothers. The place I chose another mother I met in a park recommended, but its was too far from her home. Also, talk to the parents who also go there to get their feedback.

3. Its not forever. If for any reason you are unhappy, you can always take your child out.

4. Visit the place during drop off/pick up hours. YOu can get a small sense of the parents who go there and the way the interact with their children.

5. Check the department of license. The link has been here before. You can search the daycare to see if they have had any violations.

6. See if the place has an open door policy. The place she is in now does, so I know I can drop by anytime and check in on her.

Re: So terrified

These are great tips. I also went with an overall feeling I got. Trust your instincts.

Good Luck!

Message edited 8/18/2006 2:54:09 PM.

Re: So terrified

Thank you so much ladies! So good to knwo there are others in my shoes!

Beth, I could't find that list on baby center