We think we found the right day care...?

After interviewing several local day cares, my husband and I are focusing on one in particular. We have a list of references - past and present clients - for this particular day care and plan to call every one of them. What are good questions to ask when we call? Also, isn't there a website or somewhere (the county?) that we can check their child care record - different than a background check, but similar. Thanks in advance!

In our state the Department of Health and Human Services keeps records on day cares. On their website a section is devoted to day care licensing. I called the contact number listed to check ours out.

Based on how old your child is, I would ask the parents about diaper rashes and if their baby was kept clean and dry (both diaper wise and clothing wise). I would ask about the flexibility of the workers ... are they willing to do things like put creams on, keep an eye on problems, make special concessions for your child (at 6 months, my duaghter got very interested in her surroundings and refused to eat if anything was going on ... they had to remove her from the room and feed her in a corner so she would eat ... they were happy to do it). Also, how do they administer medicine. At our day care they keep a sheet showing you everything that goes in and out of your child. I would ask if they ever doubted anything on the sheet. Ask about continuity of care. Our day care has a low turnover which is great. There is always the open ended, do you have anything else to add. Just keep them talking about it and I am sure you will find out lots of information.

If you have an older child I doubt this is very helpful, but hopefully you have found a high quality center that your child will love.

Good luck.

The right day care thats hard i run a day care my self its not really wat u can ask its how your child gets along and how well they help the child to develope education and behavior around others

Make sure you visit them without an appointment. I walked into a potential day care and found the kids unattended and the caregivers in the back having coffee.

Ask clients how the kids are disciplined (hit, spanked, mouth washed out, etc) or if they are not disciplined at all (like time outs). Neither is acceptable. Ask how hard the kids are pushed to learn. One day care I interviewed was like sending them to prep school - way to much school work and homework. Everything from music to math was included.
Ask about meals (if left all day). Consequences of picking a child up late (things happen like traffic jams and some schools have a no excuse policy or a limited number of times and you are out). How sick a child has to be before they won't let him attend - just the sniffles or a headache as an example. Ask if they feel the school does a good job screening people picking up your child besides you. One school had to have a copy of the approved peoples drivers licenses on file before they would release the child, plus a call from you.