4 Vital Questions To Ask An In-Home Daycare Provider As A New Parent

If you have an infant and are returning to work soon, there s a good chance you'll be looking for some sort of daycare arrangement in the near future. For many, an in-home daycare can be a great option because it provides a personalized and comfortable environment for your child. Before you sign a contract for an at-home daycare provider, however, there are some important questions you need to ask.

Do You Have a Daycare License?

First and foremost, make sure the in-home daycare you're considering is fully licensed, as is legally required in all states. Keep in mind that there are a couple of exceptions to this, such as for those with certain religious affiliations. If a daycare provider is unable to show you proof of being licensed, make sure you find out exactly why this is the case. Never trust your child to a daycare that doesn't follow your state's licensing requirements.

Have You Been Recently Licensed in Infant CPR?

Standards and guidelines for infant CPR have changed significantly over the past few years, so finding a daycare provider who was trained in infant CPR even five years ago may not be good enough. Look for a daycare provider who has been licensed in CPR within the past two years for your peace of mind.

How Many Other Children Will You Be Watching?

Make sure you find out how many children the in-home daycare provider is legally able to watch at any given time, as well as their age groups. After all, it's much different caring for three infants than it is caring for an infant, a three-year old, and a six-year old.

How Do You Handle Naps?

Schedule an in-home visit and take a look at the sleeping arrangements within the daycare itself. Are the sleep environments safe? Infants should always be placed on their backs and on a flat surface to sleep, and there should never be anything inside the crib or other sleeping surface with them (blankets, stuffed animals, etc.). Be sure to also find out what the procedure is for putting infants down for a nap. Do they rock the babies to sleep? Do they provide white noise?

By taking the time to ask these important questions as you seek out an in-home daycare for your infant, you'll be on your way to finding somebody you can trust before you have to return to work. Contact a center, like Kidstown Drop-In Child Care Center, for more help.