17 Key Considerations When Choosing a Day Care For Your Child

It makes sense that the fewer children each caregiver must attend to means each child will get a higher quality of care. Many states have legal guidelines when it comes to child-to-provider ratios, usually depending on the children's ages. In Illinois for example, in order to remain licensed, a daycare center must have one worker for every four infants, five toddlers, eight two-year-olds, or 10 preschoolers. Find out the requirements in your state, and make sure your center meets those guidelines at a minimum.

Daycare costs can seem astronomical, but this is one service you probably don't want to cheap out on. Call multiple centers to price compare, or talk to friends with older children to see what the general costs have been for them. Many daycares offer full and part-time options and price breaks for siblings, so factor in those options into overall cost as well.

A daycare might look perfect, but if it's located too far from your home — which means you'll have to make a major detour on your commute to work — it might make your day-to-day life a lot more difficult. Ideally, look for a center that's convenient geographically, whether that means it's close to home or close to the office, depending on what's more important to you.

Good daycare centers will come with a philosophy statement. Is the center's goal to keep kids in a comfortable, home-like setting? To lay the foundation for intellectual and emotional development? To partner with families to guide and challenge children to progress? Read the statement and make sure it corresponds with your own goals for your child.

It goes without saying that you want to send your child to a daycare that's properly accredited and licensed. Research what that means in your state, and make sure the daycare you're considering is up to date with all requirements, including having staff members that are CPR and first aid-certified.

The food question might seem like a formality, but it's actually a pretty big deal. How does the daycare deal with food allergies? Can you send in stored breastmilk, and how will they handle it? Do they provide lunch and snacks? If so, what can you expect the provided foods to be? And if not, how do they want you to send in and label your child's food? Are bottles and snacks given on demand or on a time schedule? These are all important things to know before you decide on a daycare.

Some daycare centers offer a discount for families enrolling multiple children. If you have twins or plan on having children close together, finding a daycare that offers such a discount can be a big money-saver over time.

If you're looking for a small daycare center, you'll want to consider the ages of other children already enrolled. Your 2-year-old probably won't love being in a center otherwise filled with infants, while your infant might not get the attention you'd want in a center filled with two many small babies or exclusively with preschoolers.

Ask about CPR and first-aid certification; emergency plans for situations like fire, live shooters, or major weather events; and what kinds of toys and equipment your child will be using and how they will be supervised during that play. Look for red flags like broken playground equipment, outdated cribs, or an entry system that doesn't provide adequate security.

Are caregivers down on the floor playing with children? Are they organizing games and crafts? Or do they appear disinterested or distracted? Observe and learn.

Any situation that puts multiple children together in one space is a breeding ground for mess and germs, so you'll want to make sure you're confident in the overall cleanliness of the daycare center you choose. Are the bathrooms clean? Is there a hand-washing station? Ask about how often toys are cleaned and if they have a general cleaning procedure daily, weekly, and monthly.

Do caregivers seem excited to see your child? Ask to observe the center and watch how the workers interact with children. Are they trying to comfort crying infants and toddlers? Do most of the children seem happy and are they actively laughing and playing? Those are all good signs of a caring environment.

Most daycare centers will have a basic schedule they follow. Ask to see it and make sure they provide enough age-appropriate activities (games, crafts, etc.) to keep your child entertained and engaged. If your child is preschool-aged, ask about what kind of basic teaching they provide, if any.

A daycare center that displays children's artwork and projects is probably one that takes pride in the work that they do and cares about giving its kids a loving, nurturing experience.

Every daycare will have a different framework for scheduling infant naps and feeding. This can be great if you're trying to get your baby on a schedule, but if it differs from the one you'd like for your child, it can also be a headache. Find a center that works with your preferred schedule and nap and feeding philosophies.

Communication with your daycare is key, so make sure your center prioritizes it as well. Ask how they'll let you know if your child is sick or having any problems during the day? Do they send home notes? Can you email or call them and get a quick response? Can you stop by at any time or do you need to call ahead? Make sure you're comfortable with all of the daycare's communication policies.

Finally, ask yourself if you get a good feeling from the center after taking a tour and doing some observation. Does it feel like a good fit for your child and your family? Will you feel comfortable leaving your child in the center's care every day? Do you think your child will be happy there? If the answer isn't yes, then keep looking for a daycare that will meet your and your child's needs.