Trustworthy Childcare

When you are Looking at Childcare, you are looking to find a place that you can feel a peace of mind in knowing your children are being provided for while you are away. There are a few things that you can look for while touring a childcare establishment to ensure that you are getting an establishment that puts your child’s safety first.

Licensing

One of the first things you can look up about a place if your local government licenses them. You can find out that they are authorized as well as if there have been any violations such as child safety or if the establishment had been closed for any period recently. You will also want to ensure that at least one staff member is CPR and first aid certified.

Childproofing

When a parent first has a child, they go through their house and systematically ensure that it is a safe environment for their kid. This is called childproofing your home. A childcare establishment should also be childproofed. There should be socket protectors, no sharp corners, window blind strings should be out of reach of children, stairs are blocked by stair gates, and toys are clean and have no choking hazards. You also want to ensure that their hygiene is taken into consideration.

Changing stations should be away from play areas, and eating areas and they should have all the proper straps to ensure that baby’s safety.

Staff to child ratio

There is a generally accepted ratio of caretaker to children in these establishments. For the most part, it is considered safe if there are:

• one adult caregiver for every 4 infants (birth to 18 months)
• one adult caregiver for every 4 young toddlers (18 months to 2 years)
• one adult caregiver for every 6 older toddlers (2 to 3 years)
• one adult caregiver for every 9 preschool aged kids (older than 3 years of age)
• Everything is in writing