Starting a Home Day Care - 8 Things Parents of Infants Look For
If you choose to accept infants into your home day care, what will prospective parents expect to see in your home? Baby proofing is the number 1 item on every parent's list.
Is your home day care baby proof? (1) Are all cleaning products under lock and key?They should either be moved to a high cabinet or kept locked up so that little hands will not be able to pry open the cabinet and get into something that is harmful.
(2) Are pets locked up?No matter how much you insist that your pooch is absolutely wonderful and would not hurt a fly, many parents will not be convinced, and may look elsewhere for service.
Ideally, your cat or dog should be out of sight, with a door in between the day care's space and the pet.
Gates are ok, but keep in mind that little hands might stick a finger through the mesh, and an inquisitive dog may see this as an invitation to play.
You must also consider that more and more children in today's world have pet allergies.
(3) Do you have a good stock of the little baby proofing gadgets you can get at the local mega mart or hardware store? Are they are all in one piece and used properly? (4) Are the toys that you have age appropriate for infants?Do they have detachable pieces that an infant could choke on?Conversely, are there broken off pieces that create sharp edges that might cut an infant? (5) Some parents will actually get down on their hands and knees and take a look around.
You should do this and see if you notice problems that are not obvious at normal adult heights.
Check especially for easy to miss items such as marbles, coins, nails, pins, or even larger items such as pillows and blankets.
Are there long lamp cords that could trip or choke? (6) Infants require naps.
Do you practice the "back to sleep" method to prevent SIDS? If a parent visits during the day and sees an infant sleeping on their tummy or on their side, the odds are that they will move on to their next possible day care provider.
(7) Do you have adequate security procedures in place that will ensure that only authorized people will be able to pick up an infant from your daycare? Perhaps this kind of security could take the form of a signing in and signing out procedure.
(8) Do you have a process by which you can insure that all your little charges are getting their required immunizations? What about a well-defined illness policy? Infants are very susceptible to communicable diseases, and a well-defined as well as properly followed sickness policy will ensure that only well children will attend your day care, thereby protecting all the other children.
Running a home day care is both a noble calling and a rewarding one.
The above 8 steps to a safe environment are a good start.
If you are a parent as well, you will be able to add to this list and have an awesome and popular home day care.
Is your home day care baby proof? (1) Are all cleaning products under lock and key?They should either be moved to a high cabinet or kept locked up so that little hands will not be able to pry open the cabinet and get into something that is harmful.
(2) Are pets locked up?No matter how much you insist that your pooch is absolutely wonderful and would not hurt a fly, many parents will not be convinced, and may look elsewhere for service.
Ideally, your cat or dog should be out of sight, with a door in between the day care's space and the pet.
Gates are ok, but keep in mind that little hands might stick a finger through the mesh, and an inquisitive dog may see this as an invitation to play.
You must also consider that more and more children in today's world have pet allergies.
(3) Do you have a good stock of the little baby proofing gadgets you can get at the local mega mart or hardware store? Are they are all in one piece and used properly? (4) Are the toys that you have age appropriate for infants?Do they have detachable pieces that an infant could choke on?Conversely, are there broken off pieces that create sharp edges that might cut an infant? (5) Some parents will actually get down on their hands and knees and take a look around.
You should do this and see if you notice problems that are not obvious at normal adult heights.
Check especially for easy to miss items such as marbles, coins, nails, pins, or even larger items such as pillows and blankets.
Are there long lamp cords that could trip or choke? (6) Infants require naps.
Do you practice the "back to sleep" method to prevent SIDS? If a parent visits during the day and sees an infant sleeping on their tummy or on their side, the odds are that they will move on to their next possible day care provider.
(7) Do you have adequate security procedures in place that will ensure that only authorized people will be able to pick up an infant from your daycare? Perhaps this kind of security could take the form of a signing in and signing out procedure.
(8) Do you have a process by which you can insure that all your little charges are getting their required immunizations? What about a well-defined illness policy? Infants are very susceptible to communicable diseases, and a well-defined as well as properly followed sickness policy will ensure that only well children will attend your day care, thereby protecting all the other children.
Running a home day care is both a noble calling and a rewarding one.
The above 8 steps to a safe environment are a good start.
If you are a parent as well, you will be able to add to this list and have an awesome and popular home day care.
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