Child Care
Choosing a child care provider is one of the most important decisions families make. Research shows that high-quality child care and early education can boost children's learning and social skills when they enter school. A good child care provider is someone who cares about children and interacts warmly with them. A good child care center is clean and safe. After choosing your child care provider, stay involved. Studies show that the children who achieve better in school have families who stay involved in their care and education.
The Visit
When planning a visit to observe potential child care providers, use the lists below (provided by North Carolina Division of Child Development). Remember that you are the consumer and have the right to ask as many questions as you want.
•• Checklist for Visiting a Family Child Care Home
•• Checklist for Visiting a Child Care Center
Quality Indicator The Star System
The majority of North Carolina child care centers will have a license ranging from 1 to 5 stars. Five stars is the highest quality. The star ratings are based on the center's performance in 3 areas:
- Program Standards
- Staff Education
- Compliance History with Child Care Regulations
•• For more information on the Star System and to find a center's star rating, click here.
Continue to Follow Up After Placement
Because children are in a child care program each day, they have the best knowledge of what the provider is or is not doing. Children need parents to constantly assess the child care arrangement. Here are some proactive ways parents can evaluate child care providers on an ongoing basis:
- Ask your child what he or she does during the day
- Find out how he or she interacts with the caregiver. Listen carefully to what your child says
- Spend a few minutes each day to talk with the caregiver about your child
- Drop in frequently and participate in activities
- Observe behavior during drop-off and pick-up, and explore unexplained changes
Health and Safety
Infant Toddler Safe Sleep Checklist
Help keep babies safe while they sleep. Follow these tips to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Safe Sleep
- Always put a healthy baby on the back to sleep.
- Do not switch baby from the back to the stomach or side.
- Do not put a baby in a crib with another baby.
Create a Safe Sleeping Place
- Use a safety-approved crib with a firm mattress and a tight-fitting sheet.
- Do not use sofas, chairs, pillows, waterbeds or an adult bed.
- Remove toys, stuffed animals, fluffy blankets and pillows from the crib when baby sleeps.
- Wedges and bumper pads are not needed.
- Keep cigarette smoke away from the baby.
Keep Baby Comfortable, Not Too Hot
- Do not over-bundle or over-wrap the baby.
- Use a light blanket. Tuck it in along the sides and foot-end of the mattress.
- Do not cover baby's face with blankets.
- Dress the baby in layers that can be removed.
- Set the room temperature at 68 ° to 72 ° F.
Inform Staff and Parents
- Review this checklist with other caregivers or substitute staff.
- Provide a written Safe Sleep policy.
- Get a written note from the doctor if the baby must sleep on the stomach or side for medical reasons.
Give Awake Babies Supervised Tummy Time
- For exercise, play and to explore surroundings.
