What do you wish you had asked before sending your child to daycare?

[jdbland]

DS has been at home with DH for the last 18 months (since I returned to work after maternity leave). DH has decided to return to work, and we are starting to look for a good daycare. I have found a lot of recommended questions, but want to know what others on this site wish they had asked in advance, especially anything that proved to be a big inconvenience or was just surprising.

Thanks for your advice in advance!

[Anonymous]

If you're looking at centers or licensed home daycares, they all will have similar procedures and schedules because of state liscensure requirements, i.e. they will all have regular diaper changing times, snack times, nap times, and outdoor play requirements. So once you tour one center, you'll find out about those basic procedures. Beyond that, I think searching the archives (or putting up a post) to get first hand comments from parents about the particular places you're considering the the best way to get useful information. Personally, I'd want to know how happy the staff is (you want to hear about good attitudes/moral) and how involved the parents are (the more of a community feel, the greater your comfort level in leaving your child there, as you'll know other parents who know you and your child will also have an eye on what is going on).

[Anonymous]

I think it is more imporant to meet the teachers than to go in with a list of questions. I would recommend going at a time when you can meet the director, the teachers that would be for DS's current age group, and at least the next age group up. The center may have perfect policies, procedures and curriculum--and the director may have all of the answers you want. However, if you don't hit it off with the person/people who is/are directly in charge of your child, then you are going to have problems.