What questions should I ask when interviewing daycares for my 1 year old?
What is the infant (or child) to caregiver ratio? i.e. How many infants or children are taken care of by each caregiver? You’ll want to try to get as close to the standards recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as possible – and it’s not easy to do. You’ll have to pay for it. If you feel there are too many children or babies per caregiver, you’re probably right. And remember, some unscrupulous facilities have ways to fool the inspectors (and the parents, too!). Does the facility have high staff turnover? What is the turnover? Daycare workers are typically some of the lowest-paid workers in the nation. We don’t blame them if they get fed up. But a constant turnover of caregivers is highly detrimental to your child’s sense of security. Is the facility licensed? Are the caregivers licensed? Through whom? May I see the certificates? Being licensed isn’t legally required for all facilities, but some facilities volunteer for licensing. Safer Child recommends using a licensed faci
