https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:00:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-gauge-daycare-quality#post-379553 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:53:31 +0000 JoJoGirl 379553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks ladies. Now I keep googling "*my town* listserv" and "*my town* mom's group" and still not finding anything :-/ I know they exist but why are they so hard to find?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-gauge-daycare-quality#post-379537 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:50:13 +0000 Bluebonnet 379537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tour. You will just know. </p> <p>Join a Mom's group in your area. That is the best resource for recommendations for all things kid relate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-gauge-daycare-quality#post-379520 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:46:19 +0000 sunny 379520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been visiting different daycares and I think you start to get a "feel" for them especially if you talk to the primary care provider in the classroom your LO will be joining. You can also compare things like what is provided by the daycare like snack menus, supplies, etc. You can also ask about sanitizing practices.</p> <p>Another big thing for us was what kind of furniture and toys they had in the room. One of the daycares had Exersaucers, Bumbos, etc while another did not. I preferred the one that did not because I think there's a greater chance that my baby will be played with vs left alone in the toy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-gauge-daycare-quality#post-379468 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:36:57 +0000 Lozza 379468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you live in a city, there's a good chance there's some kind of local mom's group listserv or online forum... those are always good places to solicit recommendations.<br /> I had a hard time getting a handle on what I was looking for until I'd visited several very different centers and could see the differences. Also, I really love the other parents at my daycare, and that makes me feel better about the quality... I feel like they're pretty similar to us in a lot of ways and that if they're happy with the center, it's probably a good fit for us too. (The couple of times that I visited my current center, it was around drop off time in the morning, and I'd always kind of accost a parent or two coming out and ask them how they liked the center!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-gauge-daycare-quality#post-379410 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:22:44 +0000 Honeybee 379410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You should be able to call your state or local daycare licensing office and a) get a comprehensive list of daycares in your area and b) find out about any violations/complaints those daycares have received. Just google your state + daycare license and you should be able to find the proper office/number. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-gauge-daycare-quality#post-379379 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:16:51 +0000 JoJoGirl 379379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: @Thehistoryofus: @Mrsbells: @highwire: Thank you guys! Glad we're doing this so early so we'll have plenty of time to go check them out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-gauge-daycare-quality#post-379378 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:16:44 +0000 plaidpants 379378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you are on Facebook, you might be able to find a local mom's group with a page. I belong to one for the town I live in and people post questions like this all the time. I don't know a lot of moms (in person) in my area, so it's super helpful for stuff like this. It's also a good way to find out what kid-friendly activities are going on around you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-gauge-daycare-quality#post-379374 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:15:25 +0000 mediagirl 379374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had no personal recommendations. I did have one person tell me that friends of hers had a child in the one we picked. But I didn't get to talk to that mom. I believe you have to go to the daycares and visit them. Then, go with your gut. Once you get that gut feeling, go again. And again, if you have to. Make sure you are comfortable with it. The center should be more than happy to have you come in as often as you like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-gauge-daycare-quality#post-379364 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:13:58 +0000 T.H.O.U. 379364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you just need to go and ask a lot of questions. Get a feel for what you like/don't like. Plus, personal recommendations aren't a guarantee. For example, my best friend uses the same daycare and we have different pros/cons about it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-gauge-daycare-quality#post-379358 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:13:37 +0000 Mrsbells 379358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we went in to places, and you do have to follow your gut, NOw that LO has been in daycare for 3 months I feel like I truly know what to look for now based on our experience so far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-gauge-daycare-quality#post-379347 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:10:30 +0000 DillonLion 379347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were in the same scenario - no personal recommendations available (no one lived in our area that had kids). </p> <p>We just went to several places (I think four total) and felt the place out/took a tour. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-gauge-daycare-quality#post-379344 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:09:01 +0000 JoJoGirl 379344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are starting to call around and get some rates for daycares in the area in case we need to get on a waiting list. I'm a bit confused about how to comparison shop for this though! On Yelp most daycares only have 1-2 reviews, and I can't find a different website with more online feedback. I know people will probably say 'get a personal recommendation', but we don't have friends with kids in our immediate neighborhood (home or work). The only "name" I know nearby is Bright Horizons, and they just quoted me $2305/month for FT care - hahahahahahahhaha. I laugh.</p> <p>Any ideas? Did you guys just go check places out and go with your gut? Or call their other families to get a recommendation? </p>