I know this has been asked a million times. But DH and I are touring our first daycare which will be for our infant once he gets here. I have a list of questions but I want to make sure I am not forgetting anything! Would love to hear from experienced mamas what to ask!
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How do they handle biting on both sides (my LO was the biter)
How do they handle allergies (my LO is allergic to pineapple which is in a lot of mixed fruit)
What do they do with breastmilk (toss immediately after trying once, or offer multiple times)
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1) Where/how do they do naps? What if LO doesn't self sooth?
2) What do they do with feeding? What if LO refuses bottle? What's their policy on re-using breast milk that had been offered?
That were my 2 major concerns after DD arrived and after I had her for 3 months.
We didn't actually go to daycare yet but these 2 will still be big questions for now.
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Specifically for infants, I would ask:
-How often are the babies held.
-What do you work on?
-What is your schedule like? Do the babies get to stay on their own schedule?
-When do you let them sleep on their bellies?
-Where do the babies drink their bottles?
-When do you start solid food?
-Can we bring our own purees/solid foods?A big no-no for me was seeing a daycare that "taught" the babies to hold their own bottles. I was adamantly against that and the daycare we found did not allow that.
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I would ask how closely they follow the guidelines about back sleeping/no blankets in cribs, etc. My LOs first daycare told me they follow these guidelines, but didn't at all. I would walk in and find infants with blankets pulled up over their faces, propped on up bobbies in the crib, sleeping on pillows, sleeping on their tummies (before they could roll).
I was very, very clear that they could never do that with my LO and arranged a few surprise visits so I could check. My LO was the only baby in the infant room to use a sleep sack.
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Specifically for infants, I would ask about:
- Do they have a schedule? Will they require your LO to be on a schedule (yours or theirs?) or would they be ok giving naps and bottles on demand if that is what you prefer?
- If this is applicable to you, ask if they accept glass bottles (our daycare does not) or cloth diapers
- If you plan to provide breastmilk - Will they accept it frozen? Will they re-offer it or throw it away?
- If you plan to provide formula - Do they require you to mix it ahead of time?I would also note where the babies sleep and if it is noisy and bright, or dim and quiet.
Also agree with @Anagram's comments about sleeping. We provided a sleep sack but most of the other babies did not have one.
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How much experience they have with breastfed babies (if you are breastfeeding)? How much do they expect to feed the baby. Have they done paced feedings? I'm my case we want them to cloth diaper but that's probably unique. But it seemed breastfeeding issues come up over and over again.
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