https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 28 Jun 2026 10:31:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-651769 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:47:41 +0000 Lozza 651769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is almost two and he loves daycare and does so well there. I know it's hard not to feel guilt, but if you find a center you really like (and you totally will- you live in an area with tons of options), it will be great for her.<br /> I think a lot of the usefulness of daycare visits is in the intangibles. Our daycare isn't the nicest facility we visited, but the kids were just really happy there. Every time I visited (and I visited a total of three times, once alone, once w/ DH and once with my mom), the atmosphere felt calm, the kids seemed happy and occupied, etc. Whereas another very highly regarded daycare in our area just felt hectic to me when I visited. I also really like LO's particular teacher, and I really like the Assistant Director (who has more of a hands-on admin role than the actual director, who does a lot of paperwork and fundraising and the like).<br /> One thing that I like at LO's current daycare is that there is a lot of interaction between the different ages. That wasn't the case at other centers I visited, where kids were basically in the same single room all day long with the same kids. Our daycare has certain times of the day where kids are in their designated rooms doing activities, but at other times all of the doors are open and kids kind of migrate around the rooms (each of which has different stuff- there's a sand table in one room, a train table in another, etc.). Outside time was also really important to me- our daycare takes them out twice a day if possible.<br /> If you go around drop off or pickup time, don't be afraid to ask other parents why they chose the center- I had a really nice chat with one lady that also helped to make up my mind. I really love the other parents at my daycare, and that was helpful- I feel like we all have pretty similar goals and values for our kids, so it feels like a good group to be in when it comes to working with the school on policies, and I enjoy hanging out with them, which is nice now that I have a child who wants to do playdates and birthday parties. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-651711 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:25:45 +0000 LivsMama 651711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>thanks guys. I got a lot of good ideas from this.</p> <p>One made me think though - "how do you handle comforting?" Now Im panicked thinking of Liv standing there sobbing alone while kids play all around her and nobody comforting her. Ugh. Mommy guilt is the worst... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-651688 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:14:58 +0000 JoJoGirl 651688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used this: </p> <p><a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_home-daycare-provider-interview-sheet_1452147.bc" rel="nofollow">http://www.babycenter.com/0_home-daycare-provider-interview-sheet_1452147.bc</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-651666 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:07:47 +0000 mamabolt 651666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here's some things from our list:</p> <p>*security measures and pickup/dropoff process (i.e. if you are sending an alternate person).<br /> *why type of info you will get about her day<br /> *what their policy is on sick children (what symptoms will require them to be sent home)<br /> *What belongings do you leave at school and how are they kept separate from other children's things?<br /> *how do they handle discipline?<br /> *how do they handle potty training?<br /> *do they follow any kind of educational curriculum or is it just play based?<br /> *what is a typical daily schedule like? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-651643 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:01:14 +0000 LivsMama 651643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have decided we are going to transition Liv from her nanny to daycare/school this summer when shes around 2. Our nanny is moving at that time, so we think it might be best to get Liv around other kids her age 4 days a week, and she will be at home with me on Fridays when I work from home. Since shes had a nanny since she was born, I dont really know what questions to ask of the daycare center we are looking at. I already know their ratio and day plan, so what else? I came up with:</p> <p>*Are Diaper changes at scheduled times? Or when wet/dirty?<br /> *Is water accessible all day, or only scheduled times?<br /> *Do I bring food daily, or Is it provided? What if I don’t want juice, etc given? What are the snacks you state that you provide? I feed mainly organic, can I send all her snacks?<br /> *What if she won’t take a nap during nap time? What does she nap on? Do I bring something?</p> <p>What else? This is really stressing me out. Im very anxious about this. </p>