When touring an infant daycare, it is important to ask a lot of questions to ensure the facility is a good fit for you and your child.
Choosing the right daycare can be a daunting task, as you want to ensure that your child is safe, happy, and in the hands of qualified professionals.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of essential questions to ask on a daycare facility tour to help you make an informed decision.
From caregiver qualifications to safety measures and daily routines, these questions will give you a thorough understanding of what a daycare center has to offer, and help you find the perfect fit for your child.
So let’s dive in and discover the top questions to ask on a daycare tour!
General Childcare Questions To Ask on an Infant Daycare Tour
- What is the daily routine like for infants, and what activities do they do?
- How often are diapers changed and how are they disposed of?
- How are feeding schedules and routines established and communicated with parents?
- How are infants put to sleep and monitored during naps?
- What kind of security measures are in place to keep infants safe?
- Is there a discounted rate if multiple children attend?
- Will the daycare accommodate any special diet needs?
- Will the daycare accommodate using cloth diapers?
- What is the tuition? Is there an application fee?
- Are there any other fees outside of tuition, like material or processing fees?
- Is there a waitlist and how long is it?
- Is the facility licensed or accredited, and by what agency?
- Is English the only language spoken, or are there other languages attendees will be exposed to like Spanish?
- Are meals provided once infants are introduced to food?
- Are parents expected to provide milk, diapers, wipes, creams, etc.?
Daycare Policies Questions To Ask on an Infant Daycare Tour
- What is the sick policy for infants?
- Is an annual contract required or can it be month to month?
- How do you handle discipline?
- What is the visitation policy for parents throughout the day? E.g., can mom stop in to breastfeed.
- What happens if we’re late for drop off or pickup?
- Do they have weekend or evening childcare options? (read my post about finding childcare, even last minute!)
Employee Questions To Ask on an Infant Daycare Tour
- What is the ratio of caregivers to infants?
- What kind of training and background checks do caregivers have?
- Are employees required to have a minimum amount of education? If so, what?
- Are there any non-employees who come into the facility and do they have any background checks?
Safety Questions To Ask on an Infant Daycare Tour
- What kind of security measures are in place to keep infants safe?
- How often do employees have to take CPR training?
- Do the infants/toddlers ever leave the facility? How do they get to locations outside the daycare? What safety measures are in place? E.g., Some daycares may take kids of a certain age to a local part once a day
- Is there a nurse on staff or someone who can administer medicine if needed? If not, daycare staff typically will not administer medicine and will call you to pick up your little one
- Are toys and other items the infants and toddlers come into contact with sanitized? How often?
- Is there a vaccination policy?
Communication Questions To Ask on an Infant Daycare
- How are developmental milestones tracked and communicated with parents?
- What kind of communication and updates can parents expect to receive throughout the day?
- How are illnesses communicated with parents regarding the facility’s sick policy?
Final Thoughts
Choosing an infant daycare center can be a daunting task, but with the right questions, you can make an informed decision for your child.
By asking about caregiver qualifications, safety measures, daily routines, and communication practices, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of what each daycare center has to offer.
Remember, you know your child best, and finding a daycare center that meets their unique needs is essential for their development and well-being.
So use these essential infant daycare tour questions as a guide, and don’t be afraid to ask additional questions or voice any concerns you may have.
With the right information and intuition, you’ll find the perfect daycare center for your little one.