One of the toughest decisions I had to make as a new parent-to-be was finding the right daycare for baby. I knew that I had to go back to work just six weeks after giving birth, so I began my daycare search long before my son was born. And I was thankful I did. Many daycares were already full or had waiting lists! Some were simply outside of my budget, and others did not cater to young infants. Here are some tips:

Hunt Early

Begin your quest for a daycare as soon as you realize that you will need it. Many daycares require a deposit to hold a spot for your little one. If your child has special needs, inquire about if and how the daycare can support the needs and whether you will be comfortable with the effort. You can also explore hiring a nanny or in-home provider.

Ask Around

I asked daycare-seasoned parents about the sites they used before I began a blind research. Their input helped me decide the kind of environment that I wanted my child to be in. Determine your parameters: location, cost, hours/days needed, and in-home versus a church-based or commercial center. Schedule a tour for each daycare that made it on your final list of options. Feel comfortable asking questions.

Inviting Environment

Children require nurturing to grow healthy minds and bodies. Observe the environment as you tour the home or facility. What is the daily schedule? How are children treated? What is the caregiver to child ratio? How does the daycare “feel”? How do the employees transition children into new rooms?

Be A-OK with Discipline Method

Ask how the daycare disciplines a child! If you are not comfortable with its methods, walk out. I did not think about asking about discipline until my son, an only child at that time, was kicked out of daycare at the ripe age of 12 months for biting. I found another in-home daycare for him and tearfully told the caregiver the truth. She gave me a big hug and said, “Well, that’s normal!” My son’s aggression and biting disappeared within days because he was nurtured more. She also had him potty-trained at 14 months. He stayed with her until he began kindergarten.

Safe & clean?

Ask about security procedures. Does the daycare enforce them? Check out the bathrooms and the kitchen. Find out if the caregivers and staff members wear gloves when cleaning up bodily fluids. Are rooms fully cleaned and how often? Are cots disinfected? Is bedding washed or sent home with you on a consistent basis? Are the tables and other furniture appropriately child-sized? How about the toilets and sinks? What is the outdoor play area like?

Assess Communication

How proactive is the daycare with communication? Will you get a summary of your child’s day, down to the number of dirty diapers and time/length of nap? Will you be called immediately if there is a concern? Is the caregiver approachable for questions and discussion?

Understand Expectations

Are you expected to pay for a full-time week over a certain number of days? How do vacations and holidays work? What hours is the daycare open? Will the daycare be able to take your child early or keep him late if necessary? If so, what is the charge for extra time?

Know The Sick policy

Most daycares are specific about what constitutes a sick child or an infection that will not be allowed. A child in my son’s daycare came down with the highly contagious conjunctivitis (also known as pinkeye). I was relieved the affected child was sent home immediately and could not return to daycare until a doctor said he was no longer contagious.

As a parent, you hope the daycare will follow the policies they have in place. Understand that adhering to the procedure is important not only for your child, but for others as well.