5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Daycare
Choosing a daycare for your child is arguably one of the most important decisions you will make. Here are 5 questions to consider when you make this decision:
Can I afford to put my child in daycare?
Daycares could be the second highest item in your budget right behind your mortgage. If both you and your spouse work, a significant percentage of one your salaries will go to paying for daycare--which typically ranges from $500 up to $1,200 a month. You need to decide if remaining in the workforce is a good investment and critical to maintaining and/or advancing your career. If you are a single parent and really don’t have a choice, then make sure the daycare fits your budget. A rule of thumb is that it should not be more than 15-20% of your gross income. Let’s say you make $4,000 a month pre-tax; try to find a daycare that is no more than $7-800 per month per child. If you are a top earner ($150,000+) and you don’t want to take your child to daycare, then your primary alternative is to hire a full time nanny. Take note, this is the most expensive option; a qualified nanny will set you back approximately $40,000 in salary and benefits.
When do I start looking?
The sooner the better. If you are expecting your child, it makes sense to lock down on a daycare before they are born. Daycares, especially reputable ones, fill up fast and you probably will be put on a waiting list. Think about when you plan on having your child, add nine months + the 6 weeks to 3 months you’ll take off of work. Start from there and try to lock down at least 2-3 daycares before your second trimester. Choosing a daycare is like buying a house. Do your research, visit the facilities, and talk to the owner and the employees— all this takes time!
Where should I go--closer to home or closer to work?
Just like the real estate market, choosing a daycare is about location, location, location. Your daily routine is going to change significantly after you have your child and dropping off and picking up is going to be something new that takes time out of your schedule. The good news is that there are benefits to having a daycare closer to home or closer to work. Having a daycare closer to home gives you more flexibility in the morning so you can get you and your child ready to go (you won’t be just packing up your briefcase but also will be packing a diaper bag with either formula or the output of last night’s breast pumping session). The major downside of having this closer to home is fighting traffic on the way home. If you are late, daycares normally charge by the minute, that’s right, by the minute! Make sure you have a set schedule of hours at your office and no one sneaks a 4:30 PM meeting into your day, otherwise it will cost you. Having the daycare closer to work is sort of the opposite, you will be rushing in the morning to try and beat traffic in—but gain more flexibility in the evening knowing that it’s 5 minutes away. If the daycare is really close, you might have the option of visiting your child at lunch or breastfeeding them during an afternoon break. Think about what works best for your daily routine when figuring this out.
Who will be watching my child?
Quality daycare employees = happy children! When you choose a daycare, visit it and ask about their employee’s qualifications. Do they have an education/child development background, are they certified in special skills such as child CPR, how long have they been working at the daycare, what is the average attrition rate, etc.? The attrition rate question is really important because children do best when there is consistency and they are in a routine. Having new faces watching them all the time does not help. Once your child is talking and they tell you they miss the people watching them at daycare, then you know these daycare employees are quality people.
What kind of facilities will my child be in?
It is really important to make sure that the daycare is licensed by the state. In almost all cases, states have a set of minimum criteria that have to be met in order for the daycare to operate. This is where visiting the daycare is absolutely critical. Ask the staff how often the facilities are cleaned, from the bathroom toilet to the toys (a primary source of “germ sharing”). Look at the menu, if your child is older, what kind of food will they provide; how do they manage food allergies? Check out the educational tools. Are there computers, a good library of books, and other things that will help your child grow academically? Spend quality time looking around and don’t gloss over the details. The daycare will be a second home for your child while you are at work. Make sure that you’d be willing to spend 6-8 hours a day there.Questions to ask a Daycare provider, Child Care requirements, Daycare tips, Child Care provider questions, Interview questions and more
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