Finding excellent childcare is a parent’s number one concern. Leaving your children in the hands of strangers is not an appealing idea, but parents need to work and most jobs aren’t going to look too kindly at children working side-by-side with mom or dad. If you’re looking for infant day care in Anaheim, here are some suggestions to help you with the selection process. Home Childcare vs. Larger Facilities There are pros and cons to both types of childcare providers. However, knowing which on you prefer will help you narrow down your choices and also help you determine what to expect. For example, if you prefer a large childcare facility, it’s important that the center have a separate infant room. Infants should not be with older children in this kind of setting for their safety and care. In a home childcare setting, the rules are a little different. In this setting, mixed-age groups are common and infants are with older children. While this is standard practice, it’s important to make sure the home facility doesn’t have too many infants and that safety measures are in place to protect the babies in their care. Is the Facility Licensed? Just because a home center or a large facility looks clean and perfect at first glance that doesn’t mean that it meets state licensing regulations. It doesn’t even mean that the center is licensed to operate. To protect your child, it’s in your best interest to only consider licensed programs. These programs are held to a high standard of care, required to abide by state regulations in terms of food programs, teacher-child ratios, etc. A licensed childcare provider should always be able to show you proof of current licensing. Discipline Practices When you hand your sweet baby over to a caregiver, the last thing on your mind is discipline. However, as your child ages at the center there may be times when he or she is scolded or disciplined for a behavior. It’s imperative that the childcare provider’s discipline practices match your own. For example, do you use time out? The childcare provider you choose should too. Maybe you prefer redirection as opposed to pointing out bad behavior. The point is that how you plan to discipline at home should also be how discipline is handled at the childcare center. Corporal discipline should never be an option. Affordability Switching childcare providers isn’t ideal, especially if you find someone you love. Therefore, before committing to a provider or facility, it’s important that you determine the affordability of the center. Are you going to be able to afford the rates now and in the future? Not all childcare providers and centers charge the same amount for care. If you’re concerned about price, look around for a while until you find a provider that checks off every box from quality of care to affordability. Trust Your Gut Lastly, when looking for infant day care in Anaheim, listen to your instincts. If you feel bad about a facility or think something doesn’t look right, walk away. Keep looking. It may take some time, but with patience and research you’ll find the right person or childcare center to look after your precious baby.
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