Child Care: Questions to Ask About Infant/Toddler In-Home Care
Ask Your Prospective Caregiver:
- Can you tell me more about your background and
experience?
- What are some reasons you enjoy taking care of children?
Do you have children of your own?
- How will you get to and from work?
- How will my child be transported if you leave the house?
- What are your expectations regarding length of
commitment?
- Do you smoke? Do you have any health problems?
- Have you had training in first aid?
- What kinds of activities might you plan for my child?
- What are your views on discipline? Meals? Television?
- What would you do if . . . ? (Give examples relevant to
your situation: medical and personal emergencies, common
problems with child.)
- Can you give me several references, preferably from
former employers?
- What questions do you have for me?
Observe or Ask About:
Home
Does my home have:
- child-sized furniture?
- ample toys and art materials?
- plenty of indoor and outdoor space?
- special areas for quiet and active play?
Caregiver
Does the caregiver:
- genuinely seem to enjoy cuddling, holding, and talking to
my baby?
- welcome my questions and suggestions?
- share my childrearing philosophy?
- take time to share my child's experiences with me?
- remain gentle, yet firm? consistent, yet flexible?
- sensitively handle feelings of fear, shyness, upset, and
anger?
- respect my child's unique background and interests?
- really listen and talk to my child?
- seem cheerful, affectionate, and warm?
- have training and experience in early child education?
- kneel or sit at child's eye level?
- actively play with my child, indoors and out?
- emphasize my child's strengths and accomplishments?
- establish and consistently maintain limits?
- provide consistent care so my child has a stable,
predictable daily routine?
Program
Will the activities the caregiver provides:
- balance active, physical activities with quiet, restful
ones?
- provide ample rest and nap times?
- prohibit play that could quickly get out of hand?
- patiently encourage my child to solve some problems on
their own?
- help my child deal with feelings constructively?
- provide security through a well-defined, predictable
schedule of daily activities?
- balance structured and unstructured activities?
- encourage language development?
Health and Safety
- What is the procedure for medical emergencies?
- Is the caregiver trained in first aid?
- What procedures are in place to promote good health (adults wash hands
before diaper change, feeding, etc.)?
- Does my home have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers?
Regular fire drills? Alternate exits?
- Are important phone numbers posted near the phone?
(Examples include police, fire, poison control center,
hospital, children's physician, ambulance.)
- Does my caregiver always know how to get in touch with
both parents?
- Does my child receive constant supervision, indoors and
out? (Young children should never be left unattended
while on a bed, chair, changing table, high chair,
stroller, baby walker, baby swing, or in the water;
outdoor dangers include swimming pool, pond, garage
tools, driveway, streets, kidnapping, wandering off.)
- Is my baby checked often when in a crib or playpen?
- Is all baby equipment strong, stable, and in good repair?
- Are the crib slats no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart?
Does the crib have bumper pads? Does the mattress firmly
abut the side of the crib?
- Do strollers or infant seats have safety harnesses?
- Are the crib and playpen free of toys that could be used
to climb out?
- Can all doors, inside the home be opened from the outside
at all times?
- Are the outside doors and windows locked?
- Do strong screens or metal bars cover the windows?
(especially important above ground level)
- Do all glass doors have decals?
- Are the rooms well ventilated and comfortable year-round?
- Are latched safety gates placed at the top and/or bottom
of stairways?
- Are stairways and walkways free from clutter?
- Are small, sharp, or otherwise dangerous items out of
reach or locked in a cupboard, drawer, or cabinet?
(Examples include pins, thumbtacks, paper clips, matches,
lighters, knives, plastic bags, scissors, guns, razor
blades, glassware, and appliances.)
- Are poisonous items stored out of reach or locked in
cupboards, drawers, or cabinets? (Examples include
cleaning products, polish, bleach, medicines, cosmetics,
perfumes, aerosol cans, and first aid supplies.)
- Are the home and yard free from poisonous plants?
- Are all foods or drinks within reach safe for my child?
(Examples of dangerous foods or beverages: any food that
a child could choke on like popcorn or hard candy;
beverages that are hot or alcoholic.)
- Is my child kept away from dangerous places like the
stove or hot water faucets?
- Have furniture and other household objects with sharp
corners been padded or removed?
- Do all electrical sockets have protective covers?
- Has attention been paid to objects that could be pulled
or knocked over? (Examples include tablecloths,
electrical cords, lamps, furniture.)
- Is my child safe around pets? Are pet dishes out of
reach?
- Are toys safe, clean, and in good repair?
- Are play surfaces, indoors and out, softened with
carpeting or wood chips?
- Is the outdoor area fenced and free of hazards?
- Is the play equipment safe and appropriate for my child's
level of development?
Meals
- Is my caregiver knowledgeable about my baby's food
requirements and feeding schedule?
- Is my child allowed to leave food on the plate? (Children
should never be forced to eat.)
- Are portions small and second helpings given?
Written by Donna Warner Manczak, Ph.D., M.P.H.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.