Ava started daycare at 17 months old. I was very reluctant to send her to daycare. Why? Because I work from home and felt I had to keep her at home. But the truth is, she needed a little friend. Something I couldn’t give her (being an only child). So we started part-time daycare so she could have the best of both worlds: a little time with friends her own age, and time at home with mommy.
When it comes to choosing daycare, every family has different needs, so you need to know what is important to you long before you step foot in the facility. These may be small questions to ask a daycare provider, but they are very important questions.
What is your policy regarding pacifiers?
Some daycare centers allow pacifiers up until 20 months of age. Ava’s daycare allowed them during nap time, but we eventually had to discontinue them. It worked out much better than we expected.
How much time do your children spend playing outside?
You have to ask about the hours and times you are allowed to let your kids play outside. Our kids played outside for an hour or so a couple of times. Of course depending on the weather.
Sample Food Menu
Also, check the food menu and what they feed the babies and children at the nursery. My child was asked about allergies at the first appointment and the nursery provided me with a month’s supply of the food they were feeding her, which put my mind at ease.
Your child’s teacher is the person your child will spend most of their time with. We chose this facility because Ava was looked after by a very warm teacher. Ava never cried. It was as if the teacher really understood her. We knew at that moment that we had made the right choice. It was a positive, loving environment where we could see Ava thriving.
Source: My Spiced Life: Beauty + Lifestyle Blog – www.spicedbeauty.com
