✕
☰

The Daycare Dilemma

by

Finding quality childcare requires research and soul-searching

    It’s a business decision that can cost you $10,000 before your child ever starts kindergarten, and yet that business decision is packed with emotion. Who can you really trust to give your precious commodity the best care possible while you’re working? 

    Some parents immediately know which type of daycare setting they want for their child. Knowing right off the bat whether you want an in-home provider, a daycare facility or even a church-based center can help steer you in your search for quality childcare. First-time mother of twins Tricia Luedke knew she needed a daycare provider that remained open until 6:00 in the evening. The Johnson County mom says, “I needed flexibility.” If you don’t know yet which type of daycare you want for your child, that’s okay. It doesn’t have to be the first decision made in this journey. 

    It’s never too early to start the process of choosing a daycare. The process takes time and research, and often you’ll find waiting lists especially when it comes to infant care. Jill Bartlett, executive director with Northland Early Education Center says, “If parents wait until a couple of months before their baby is due, they may have to place their child somewhere they’re not completely comfortable.” 

    Health and safety are critical considerations. Make sure the daycare is registered with the state and/or licensed. The requirements vary from state to state. Start with a childcare resource and referral agency like The Family Conservancy, which provides a list of all registered childcare for your zip code. And just because a center is registered with the state doesn’t mean it’s licensed. Katrina Ball with The Family Conservancy says it doesn’t mean one center is more qualified than the other. It just lets you know which ones are reviewed annually by the state. Ball says, “Parents want to make sure there’s some oversight. They’ll ask for just licensed providers sometimes. And then we do encourage parents to review their licensing records.” Ball says The Family Conservancy can also show parents how to check state records for complaints and licensing violations. Keep in mind, just because a daycare provider is on a resource and referral list doesn’t mean they’re free of complaints or violations. 

    Once you’ve done some research, it’s time to start visiting daycares. Visit at least three and stay long enough to observe the staff with the children. Bartlett recommends visiting centers unannounced, because “if you have to have an appointment just to take a tour, I think it’s a red flag.” 

    During these visits, pay attention to staff/child ratios. Daycare facilities are required to have one staff member for every four infants. How does the daycare handle these ratios when a staff member goes on break? Ask questions about the staff. Do the caregivers go through special training, attend workshops to improve skills and take CPR training? It’s not required but could be important in making your childcare decision. Ball says, “A lot of providers do have these requirements, which is good and we certainly encourage it. If you’re leaving your baby, it’s something you probably want to ask.” And don’t hesitate to ask the staff questions about their interest in childcare and how long they’ve worked there. In a daycare facility, a high staff turnover rate could be an indicator of something else going on. 

    Before you leave your visit, get a sense of what the children do all day. Is there an educational component to their day? Luedke says it was important to her to know the daycare she chose in Olathe began implementing educational activities with her twin infants as early as six months. She says, “They work on color and shape recognition which is great.” 

    Also check to see if the center is accredited by a national organization. Often these standards are higher than state requirements and will tell you something about the daycare provider’s commitment to their profession. “Those are people who’ve taken that extra step to ensure quality. To me that says a lot,” Ball says. “They’re really interested in their program.” The two accreditations you’ll see among daycare providers include the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC). 

    Finally, there’s cost to consider. Infant care in the Kansas City metropolitan area averages about $175 to $225 a week. For some families, cost can make or break their daycare decision. But childcare advocates say it’s important to look at the big picture of your child’s care and not just focus on the dollar amount.

Once you’ve done all your research, visited several centers and weighed the cost, don’t forget to do a “gut check.” Ball says, “If it doesn’t feel right maybe it’s not the best one for you. Don’t ignore your instincts. If you’re not sure it’s what’s best for your child, keep looking.” The time you invest early on, from man hours to emotional hours, will help give you piece of mind--wherever you arrange care for your baby.

 

8 things to consider when choosing daycare

What childcare providers expect from you:

Heather Claybrook is a Northland mother of three with one still in daycare.

Back to topbutton