https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:19:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-the-most-essential-deal-breaker-y-questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-2103858 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:27:35 +0000 daniellemybelle 2103858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone. We visited this morning and it went well. I think we are going to send her there. The location, hours and cost are right for what we need and we had a good experience visiting her future class. </p> <p>The only potentially red flag was that the door was not locked when I got there, but it was only 9:30 and drop off is at 9. The director was sure to tell me that they usually lock it at 9:15 but they had a dad doing a late drop-off today, which I saw as I was pulling up. Everything else security/safety-wise was the same as her current school.</p> <p>The teachers and director were not quite as sweet as our current school, but it's temporary. The kids in her class are older, and the class was overall more organized and compliant. When we got there, they were all sitting at a table reading a book and then they did the Itsy Bitsy spider, and then they lined up and went to the play area down the hall. LO's class is never that formal, but I kind of liked seeing the structure and learning. The kids were all very sweet, friendly and happy.</p> <p>The main differences will be that there is not a separate nap room, and they don't do snack, or milk other than at lunch. At LO's current school, they have two snacks in addition to lunch and she is offered milk frequently. But since it's two days per week and I pick her up at 2:30, I don't think that matters.</p> <p>@blackbird: @looch: @Corduroy: @Kimberlybee: @spaniellove: Thanks for the well wishes for my mom. I am so upset for her - I know she is having such a hard time with how long her recovery will have to be. I just hope I can be able to help her as much as she has helped me when I have needed it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-the-most-essential-deal-breaker-y-questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-2103452 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 08:18:34 +0000 LuLu Mom 2103452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the case of 2 days for a couple months, I would be pretty lenient. As long as it was safe and clean and I had a good feeling in there, I would probably go with it. I would go off of my gut feeling, if I have a good feeling then I say go for it, it's so temporary I wouldn't be too picky. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-the-most-essential-deal-breaker-y-questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-2103444 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 08:09:59 +0000 lizzywiz 2103444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: a question that I learned to ask after our first horrible situation is 'what do you do if a baby/child is crying constantly or inconsolable?' (non-emergency)<br /> My baby had a hard transition to daycare made worse by our first provider's apparent impatience for crying babies (crazy, I know).<br /> She is a toddler, now, and it probably wouldn't come up, but I have found the answer gives me a lot of insight into the person/ program.<br /> That being said, I agree w/ @blackbird: for a temporary, 2 day a week placement, there is a lot I wouldn't care about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-the-most-essential-deal-breaker-y-questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-2103355 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 06:50:37 +0000 blackbird 2103355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OMG your mom! What a horrible thing </p> <p>Honestly for only two days a week, not a lot is a dealbreaker. E goes to a sort of...meh....sitter on Fridays. For one or two days a week, I'm ok with it. I wouldn't want her full time. So if the kids seem well cared for and its been recommended, and nothing jumps out at you or you get a bad feeling, I'd roll with it. More than likely, they'll inundate you with info on a tour </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-the-most-essential-deal-breaker-y-questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-2103334 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 06:26:51 +0000 ILoveLettie 2103334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I honestly didn't have any questions for our daycare at our visit. I was in a similar boat: desperate and I finally found ours which is medium sized and church based and wonderful. When I visited she gave me a tour which really answered any ?s about security, who has access to the kids, and the schedule she showed us broke down outdoor play, etc. So don't necessarily feel like you're a bad parent by bot having questions: a good center might hive you a great overview at your visit. Mine did and she's been there 3 months now and I am fully satisfied. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-the-most-essential-deal-breaker-y-questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-2103333 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 06:25:53 +0000 looch 2103333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, it's gut feeling, has been at every single place we've looked at. So many places look great on paper, but I just "know" when I walk in if I feel comfortable with the place or not. Cleanliness is huge for me, as well as the state of the place, is it maintained, or are the fixtures in need of a facelift.</p> <p>I also want to see a place that has the front door locked and doesn't let random people wander in all over the place. They should have a sign in and sign out protocol as well.</p> <p>One thing I always ask is what is the policy with personal cell phones, are they allowed in the classroom? I also asked about language that's spoken, there was a slight issue at our first center, where the main teachers spoke to each other in Spanish. I have no issue with Spanish being part of the cirriculum (it's great to hear my son say his colors and numbers in Spanish), but I needed him to also hear English.</p> <p>PS: Speedy recovery to your mom! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-the-most-essential-deal-breaker-y-questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-2103295 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 03:30:25 +0000 regberadaisy 2103295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The deal breaker for me will be safety and security. General child safety around the place for your child. Is it well child proof. And security of the place. How easy is it to get in and out of that place security wise.<br /> And out door play too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-the-most-essential-deal-breaker-y-questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-2103282 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 01:12:02 +0000 Corduroy 2103282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry about your mom. I've been desperate for daycare too and we worked through some less than ideal situations.</p> <p>At a small licensed (I assume) daycare I would ask how they handle employee breaks during the day and who covers when a teacher is out ill or on vacation. Do they have trained backup? </p> <p>One question I told myself to add to my list is do any of the caregivers smoke or what's the smoking policy? I haven't actually asked that one yet. I decided not to let a friend watch LO because of frequent smoke breaks (&amp; second hand smoke) but I never asked daycare.</p> <p>For in home I always ask about who has access to the kids. I left one daycare because every day there were extra people hanging out at the house and I didn't like not knowing who was around LO. Depending on the church daycare setup that might still apply if there's an active church community on the same grounds.</p> <p>Good luck with your search. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-the-most-essential-deal-breaker-y-questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-2103279 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 00:46:33 +0000 Kimberlybee 2103279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: I am so sorry about your mom breaking her legs. Wishing her a solid and speedy recovery. </p> <p>We're in the process of touring daycare centers also. DD will start out as part-time then transition to full time by September. My biggest concerns are diaper rashes because she has super sensitive skin. I know they won't be able to tend to her as quickly as I do at home. Also concerned about her not eating well since she is already such a picky eater. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-the-most-essential-deal-breaker-y-questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-2103214 Tue, 10 Mar 2015 22:02:15 +0000 spaniellove 2103214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following, because we're going to visit a school/daycare soon and I don't have a long list of options, it's kind of yes or no.</p> <p>@daniellemybelle: I'm sorry about your mom breaking her legs! Hope her recovery is smooth! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wanted-the-most-essential-deal-breaker-y-questions-to-ask-a-daycare#post-2103199 Tue, 10 Mar 2015 21:46:44 +0000 daniellemybelle 2103199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, currently LO goes to daycare two days per week and my mom watches her the other two days per week. I don't work on Fridays. Well, my mom sadly broke both her legs this weekend :( I am expecting she will be unable to babysit for at least 3 months as she recovers. We are looking for another part-time daycare for that time period, as LO's current daycare is completely full. (She'll go to both, alternating days.)</p> <p>I have called 5,000 daycares and most of them have a wait list. There are just a few that have openings that sound okay to me. The one on the top of my list is less than 10 minutes from us and is very similar to LO's current daycare in that it is a church-based preschool with 6 toddlers and 2 teachers. It was recommended to us by several, and at first they told us they were full and I was really happy to find out they did have a part-time spot after all.</p> <p>I'm going to visit tomorrow morning, and since I'm desperate, I'm not really sure how important it is for me to grill them on small things. The first time we looked for daycare, we had lots of options and lots of time so I poured over details. This time I need to know - what is the most important stuff, the deal breakers?</p> <p>Of course, I will ask definitely ask questions to get an idea of their daily routine so I can anticipate anything that will be an adjustment for LO. And if I get any "red flag" feelings, we'll go to the next place. I'm just trying to get together a short list of key questions so I don't feel overwhelmed. </p>