Child Care Centres

[Mum2boy]

I am hoping to put Cooper in Child Care Centre for maybe a day or two per week, and I, like so many other Mums, am feeling unsure and very nervous about which centre to put him in.

I had a look around the last few days, and at the moment, ABC Learning Centre is looking like the best. What is important to look for with child care centres???

Firstly, can anyone recommend ABC Learning Centre?

Secondly, I am very concerned with how he will go with his sleeping. So far, I have only been the one to put him to bed (except for ONCE, when Mum did it - she has tried many times before), as I am a single Mum, and he is used to me.

Can anyone reassure me that things he may adjust and learn to go to sleep with anyone else but me?

[all girls]

I would go and see the centres nearby and you will get a good feel about the right one.

I wouldn't worry about the rest, they deal with kids all the time and putting them to sleep etc, he will get used to it really quickly and when you have picked the one you want then you can put him in on a day you don't have to work and only leave him there for part of the day and you will see that he will be fine.

He will eventually love having such a full and busy day painting, drawing and playing with friends.

[krysalyss]

Check out a few. I decided on Mother Duck who have a few around here and they are just awesome. I haven't heard great things about ABC but so much depends on the staff so go and visit to see what it is like.

[mrsr]

James was in an ABC centre in Brisbane and the staff and centres were great. We even got free tickets to the basketball as they sponsored the Brisbane Bullets.

From my experience, centres with slightly older staff seem to be the way to go. When we lived in Gosford, he was in a council-run day care centre at Niagara Park and they were just incredible AND supplied all meals!

[MantaRay]

I don't think the branding of the centre means as much as the staff at the particular centre. I would spend some time at each. Let your DS have a play around, and watch how the staff interact with the kids. Talk to the director and the staff that look after that age group (it doesn't have to be a spanish inquisition, you will get a feel for whether or not you like them just from a general chat). Ask for their centre policies and look at their programming.

Jack has been in 2 centres, the first was bought by ABC while he was there. I think any centre is only as good as the staff there at the time. That's what I would be focussing on most, don't worry what brand it is, how new the building is etc. That's not what Cooper will care about.

And yes, the sleeping will take care of itself. It might take a while, but it will work out one way or another. Jack used to have be rocked to sleep when at day care right up until the day he moved into the toddler room where they all sleep at the same time, and suddenly he became their best sleeper! Tom has been a good sleeper at day care since the second day!

And one other tip, two days a week is really expensive when you are not working, but they do settle in quicker if they are there more than 1 day a week, so that could be worth some thought. Good luck with it all. My boys love day care, I hope Cooper does too!

[Mother Goose]

I agree about it being the staff that make the centre. DD goes to a fantastic centre (which just happens to be an ABC). You need to pick a centre that you and your son feel comfortable with.
Things that were important to me included the children being happy, the centre being clean (but not sterile), the friendliness and competence of the staff.

On the sleep thing - try not to worry about it too much. As someone else said, the carers are experienced with and used to sending children off to sleep. If you are worried about it, you could send something with your scent on it to be placed in the cot with him. I send DD's comforter (a mini blanket with an animal head on it bought from Best and Less) each day as she sleeps with it at home.
And don't worry about being anxious. The staff are used to it and we've all been there. I was beside myself - would these people take as good a care of my daughter as I would? My DD LOVES child care and loves her carers - and they love her. And they can settle her just as well (if not better) than myself!

MG

[Peach]

Hello!

To be honest with you there are definatly some child care centres that are better than others. My advice is to write down what is important to you in a carer and visit as many centers as possible and assess each one with respect to what you are looking for. Some people want there children to "learn" in a very structured environment, where as other parents are just wanting their children to play and have fun - which imo is the highest quailty environment.

Look for the person who will be caring for your child, ask to meet them. Some tours of centres will only let you peep through the door, make sure you are introduced to the staff.

Some questions that indicate a high quality center are:
* Are the staff full time or casual?
* How long has the person caring for you child been employed there?
* If there is high staff turnover, you need to ask why that is.
* Community based child care centres in my experience have been the highest quality, because no one is making a "profit" all the money you pay goes back into buying supplies for the children.
* When you walk into the centre look at the surroundings? Is there alot of eye catching displays made by adults designed to give them "impression" of quality. Or are there diplays of the childrens artwork and creations put up with respect to the children who created them.
* Ask to read the Room leaders philosophy on caring for children... what is important to her or him.
* Are the staff QUALIFIED .. very important. Alot of centres will try to employ unqualified staff because they are cheaper.(This depends on what state you are in)
* The child to staff ratio I believe should no more than the number of children to 2 staff members, in a room. I have seen 20 Toddlers in 1 room with 4 carers and it is absolute chaos.
* I could go on and on

Once you have found a place that feels right and you are happy with the people caring for your baby spend the morning in the room playing with him, do the staff seem friendly? How do they speak to the children? Is it positive reinforment (ie: feet on the floor thomas rather than No thomas don't climb on the table.) Do they believe in "time out"? Are they happy for you to be in the room or do they try and persuade you to leave? Doi you get a feeling that the staff are uneasy with you there?

I try to advise parents of all age groups to leave your child only for an hour and have a coffee in the centre. You child may or may not cry, and if they become too distressed you can go and get him or her. Each visit leave him longer and longer .... and eventually he will settle. Believe me sometimes it is harder for the parents than the kids. I have had many a mums at my door bawling there eyes out while there little one plays beautifully. Me being one of them, when I first left my daughter she was almost 3 and she said bye mum theres the door go to the car. I left in tears thinking she didnt love me! But I would rather her be happy than crying at the door :/

The sleeping issue is a sensitive one, some carers will just leave the child to cry, while others will take the time to rock / pat. You have to ask what they do ... most (quality) carers will follow through with what you want. I would make a list of you little ones routine and bring it along on his first day. Include how he likes to sleep, what you do... if he has a comforter etc etc

This is only a short list of things to look out for and ways to cope in settling your child into day care. If I can be of anymore help please don't hesitate to message me!

Jen

[Lucy]

There is a good thread about this here:

independent VS ABC Centres - BellyBelly Forums ~ Pregnancy, Birth & Baby

[Mum2boy]

Sorry for the late reply - thanks everyone, and especially a huge thank you Jen. I wished I could send Cooper to the centre where you are! You sound sensitive to mothers' issues. I hope the one Cooper goes to has carers like you!

[Peach]

My pleasure mum2boy. Quality child care is something I am extremely passionate about (if you couldnt tel hehehe) and all children deserve the best care.

How did you go finding a place? Has he started yet?