Ask the center for the names/numbers of some current parents as references. I told my center I would be happy to do that and I get phone calls from interested parents, and I can let them know my experience with the center and some tips for a new parent.

Get a pacifier clip and label that.

Masking tape and a marker works pretty well, or you can order labels from Mabel's Labels or Oliver's Labels.

With an infant, I would do a couple of half days and then transition to full days.

How old is DS? That will largely impact transition. We recently moved and for my 1yo there was no transition really, for my 3yo we did 4 days of 2-3 hours before going full-time. We could have done less, but the center preferred it and honestly I think it was better that way.

As far as the center, ask (again depends a bit on age):
- are the teachers CPR certified
- what type of education do the teachers have (college, childhood development background)?
- Longevity of the teaching staff who will be in your kids' room (is there high turnover?)
- How many staff in your kids' room are full time and/or part time?
- Do they do parent-teacher conferences
- how is food provided (e.g., do you bring, what do they provide), what is the schedule
- what extra activities are there throughout the year (some centers have activity fees, special fitness or dance classes, etc.)
- Hours: what is late-pickup fee
- Sick policy
- Billing process
- Closures: what days are they closed, is it just holidays or do they have teacher work days as well (some centers close for a day or two here or there, others for a week in the summer)
- Drop off documentation: Do you fill out a paper sheet with food/sleep schedule and other info, is there an app?
- Other info about kids' day: do they give you a sheet at all, what info is provided about what DC did
- Do they have events/field trips where you interact with other parents
- How do they communicate with parents...is there a newsletter, emails, etc.? Is there any interaction with the teachers other than DO/PU?
- How do they determine what room your kid is in? When does your kid move up to the next room?
- Teacher / student ratios
- Do they enforce a particular nap schedule or is it tailored to the kid? (e.g., some centers require kids go down to 1 nap at 12 months, others are more flexible when the kids are younger...most centers have one nap per day for toddlers)
- Typical day or activities (music, toys, reading, stations, stem, etc. again depending upon age)
- Discipline approach
- Potty training approach (if your kid is not potty trained)
- Who can pick up kid
- Amount of outdoor time / where

As far as labeling, get masking tape and a marker. That is what we use to label everything daily. Maybe just initials on the pacifier.

I was planning on using a nanny but just got off the wait list for a center in my neighborhood. It's less expensive and the violations on the www.dss.virginia.gov don't look too bad. We toured and it looked fine -- a little louder than I would like for napping purposes, but I think that's just what you get with daycare. What else do I need to consider before we enroll? I have been interviewing nannies and have NO IDEA what to ask at a center.

Also, what's the best way to transition DS in? Half days for a few days?

And tips for how to label things? How in the world do I label a pacifier?

Thank you!