List of Childcare Questions
A Questionnaire for Parents to Ask Potential Childcare Providers
Jan 6, 2009
Often many things are going on when someone is looking for childcare. Having a new baby or relocating can be hectic enough and first time parents can be unsure about what they should ask a potential childcare provider. These questions give parents some ideas for what may or may not be important to them as they hunt for a place they feel comfortable leaving their child every day.
Preliminary Questions
1. What ages do you care for?
2. Are there any openings for the child’s age group in (insert the time frame when childcare will be needed)?
3. What time do you open and close?
4. How much do you charge per week?
5. Is there a registration fee? How much is it? Is it an annual fee?
6. Are there any other fees? (Like late fees, workbook fees, etc.)
The answers to these questions can help weed out facilities that don’t have any space for the child(ren), don’t open early enough or close late enough to be able to drop off and pick up the child(ren) around work schedules, and whose costs are outside of the childcare budget.
Questions for Any Age Child
1. Are you licensed by the state? Ask to see the license.
2. Are you insured? It is important that the facility is insured for accidents. Children can get into any number of things. If something happens due to a worker’s negligence that causes damage to the child and the facility is uninsured the parents of the affected child will be forced to foot the sometimes costly medical bills.
3. How many caretakers are there per child in the facility?
4. How many children are there in my child(ren)’s age group?
5. What is the feeding schedule? Parents should ask for a menu to see if they are providing a well balanced diet.
6. What items am I required to keep in stock at the facility for my child? Some facilities require certain items always be on hand for the child; like a change of clothes, a box of tissue, diapers, wipes, etc.
7. Do you have cameras? Some facilities have cameras monitoring the children and at some places there is even a website parents can go to check on their children throughout the day.
8. Is the front door to the facility locked at any time during the day? Some parents like the door locked during the bulk of the day because that means any old person can’t just walk in off the street without someone who works at the facility knowing they are in the building. Some parents don’t because they want to be able to walk in and check on their child(ren) whenever they want.
9. Who can pick up my child? Parents need to be sure there is a system in place for who is allowed to pick up the children, especially in case of emergency when they may not be able to get there.
10. Is it ok if I pop in at any time for a visit?
11. What is the procedure if my child gets sick? This is great to know because some facilities require the child to be away for three days or more and/or doctor’s note.
12. What happens in case of an emergency? Who do they call first? What hospital do they use?
13. Who in the facility is trained and certified in CPR for infants and children?
Questions for Infants
1. How many caretakers work in the infant room? How do you take care of rotations for lunch? What happens if the normal caretaker is out on a given day?
2. Are your caretakers okay with handling breast milk? Because it is a bodily fluid some caretakers are uncomfortable with it. Breastfeeding mothers should also find out if they need to bring it the facility already in bottles.
3. How often do you change diapers?
4. How often are the feedings?
5. How do you keep track of diaper changes and feedings?
6. If there is an item on the food schedule that I feel my child is able to have will there be a problem with the child having it? There may be a day when they are serving oatmeal, or applesauce, etc. Some parents may be interested in having that fed to their child for breakfast or other meals.
Questions for Toddlers and Older Children
1. Do you help potty train?
2. Is there a biting policy?
3. How do you discipline the children when they misbehave?
4. Do you go on any field trips?
5. Do you pick up from school or the bus stop?
Selecting a Childcare Provider
Parents should ask any questions they may have to someone they are considering entrusting the daily care of their child to. The questions should be targeted at making sure the potential providers daily activities and discipline methods fit into what they have in mind for raising their child. However, it is important to remember, especially for new moms and dads, that no one will take care of their child exactly the way they would. Choosing a childcare provider can be a long and sometimes difficult process. For an easy and organized way to search for a day care read How to Select a Childcare Provider: An Easy Way to Find a Quality Day Care.
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