Seeking advice: Twonky and daycare

[sigerson]

Today I cold-called about twenty local daycare centers (family and group) to ask about availability in January. While I found out some good information and have a few leads, talking with sen_no_ongaku made me realize: We don't know what we're really looking for in a daycare.


We don't know what things are must-haves, what things are nice-to-have but not essential, what things are entirely irrelevant. Distance from home? Accessibility to T? Flexible hours or strict pickup policies? Number of caretakers? Kinds of toys and activities? Hourly rates? Lots of kids or few kids?

So I'm asking the parents out there who have used daycare: What have been the best things and worst things about the place(s) you've used? What is your sine qua non? What things have you really liked but could live without?

I don't expect consensus, of course, nor do I expect to be wanting the same things--but right now, we don't really know where to start. So, internets: any advice?

Comments

[miraielle.livejournal.com]

I do not have children, but have several friends who've recently gone through the "finding a daycare" thing - the biggest thing I can recall them mentioning as an Absolute Dealbreaker - the place has to allow unscheduled drop-ins. If they aren't okay with parents popping by, that is a definite Red Flag that something fishy could be going on, or that they aren't as good as they appear at the interview.

My other recollections - they really all looked for something that fit with their lives, in terms of distance and transit-accessibility and schedule. If some days you're going to be able to pick Twonky up at 2 but others not until 5, probably you want a place that will allow that - but if you can never get there until 6, it isn't so important. I remember caregiver-to-child ratio being more important than number of caregivers or children, if that makes sense - 3 or 4 to 1, maybe? I think different states have laws about required ratios in daycare, so maybe check into that.

I hope that's useful! And maybe in a couple years, Steve and I will be asking you for your Boston-daycare-advice...

[esqgirl.livejournal.com]

Actually, this is the law in Massachusetts. To be a licensed facility, they MUST be ok with unscheduled drop-ins. So, hopefully, you can cross that off the list.