Daycare Secrets You Don't Want To Know

Tour a daycare before nap time. This lets the facility dim lights, hiding dirt. You avoid seeing how teachers and kids interact. Tour the place when things run.

Source: /u/blue_avocado

Watch for signs besides this list. See if children are alone, ignored when they ask for help, or brushed off when crying. Young tots need love. If the facility fails to give that, look elsewhere.

Daycares value donations. You might have extra toys or books. If your child doesn't need items, ask the daycare about donations. Other kids can use them.

Source: PFCCA of Georgia

Struggling to say goodbye each morning? Most daycares let parents visit sometimes. This lets you see how the center works daily. It also lets you watch your child grow.

Childcare often becomes the biggest family cost, even when families need jobs. Childcare costs in the US beat rent in 22 states. California costs for full-time care hit 40% of a single mother's median income.

Source: New Republic

Children repeat what they hear, like parrots. If your child speaks, the daycare hears everything from dinner the night before. Even when you tell the worker news, their surprised look is usually practiced.

Organization makes or breaks a daycare, affecting your child long term. A planned program needs good management, clear plans, and flexibility. If the daycare has a set schedule, you likely found a good provider. Ask your kids about daily activities; if they miss a planned activity, contact the administrator.

Source: /u/kit25

Daycares have rules for fevers, coughs, and viruses, but not all parents follow them. Some parents give fever reducers before drop-off, instead of keeping the child home.

Most providers stop sick kids from entering. However, some children slip through, raising your child's infection risk.

Source: How Stuff Works

Most US states require a license for anyone caring for over 12 children. This license claims the daycare meets minimum health, safety, and teacher training standards.

Agencies monitor daycares, but do not trust them completely. Inspections happen once a year. Most facilities meet the basic safety rules.

Source: How Stuff Works

Some US states regulate daycare cleanliness. However, it is hard to know if these sanitary rules hold up. Daycare inspections occur once or twice yearly. Few centers clean toys daily or weekly. Children put everything in their mouths. Expect toys to have been spit on by another child first. Limit infection by keeping kids immunized and teaching good handwashing.

Source: How Stuff Works

Daycare workers in the US hold your child's life daily. Yet, these workers earn some of the lowest wages in the country. Pay varies by education and experience. Most workers barely make minimum wage despite high costs.

Source: How Stuff Works

Talk to other parents about daycare issues. Check how available the director is to talk. See how open the caregiver allows contact with your child. If you struggle to schedule visits with staff or management, that signals bad business.

Source: Care.com

More evidence shows the United States does not care about providing access to decent, affordable childcare. Official data collection is low. There are no regular quality surveys or national safety problem databases.

Source: New Republic

Rules and routines govern daycare operations. A good daycare must set specific guidelines for daily tasks and emergency handling. Rules cover open days, total work hours, and overtime procedures. Rules create a better experience for your child.

Never ask a director or staff member directly if the center has faced child abuse write-ups. They will likely say no, which dismisses your concern. Call your state's Child Care Licensing office for daycare information.

Source: /u/blue_avocado

Touring a daycare? Use the bathroom, even if you don't need to go. The bathroom shows how clean the whole place is. If they skip cleaning the bathroom, assume they treat the rest of the facility the same.

Children need discipline. How else will they learn right from wrong? Before choosing a daycare, ask for their disciplinary tactics in writing. If no document exists, ask staff for real examples. If the tactics don't match yours, you have a problem. If the daycare won't share tactics, that is a major warning sign.

Source: Today's Parent

You should see how little your provider earns. If they charge you for late pickups, for watching your child when they weren't actually in daycare, or for advance payments, your provider can charge you. These extra fees fund the center and pay the workers' salaries.

Source: About Parenting

You found a daycare center, but its reputation is poor. You won't find a perfect center. Still, consider a slightly bad reputation. To find the right center, ask the provider for current client names and numbers, then call them for references.

If you don't hear good things and your gut says it's wrong, keep looking.

Source: Babycenter

Young tots group together, and germs spread. Germs are a big issue. On average, daycare kids visit the doctor twice as often as kids who aren't in daycare. Blame poor sanitation and toy sharing, but daycare providers legally must keep their spaces clean. Germs happen, but check your center's cleanliness rules to keep your child healthy.

Source: Fox News