Breastfeeding Pump 'n' Go

Daycare

If mom is going back to work and dad is not going to stay at home, how can you be sure you are choosing the right daycare provider for your baby?  The following are tips, things to look for, and questions to ask any potential daycare providers.

Did you know...

• Approximately one in five people in US has a criminal record.

• 85% of care provided in childcare centers is barely adequate

When initially choosing a daycare, here are tips for finding a location:

• Is it close to your work so that on your lunch hour you can run over and breastfeed your baby?
• Do your friends have any recommendations?
• Does your work provide daycare?

After you have narrowed down some of your locations, now you are ready to go in and observe.  Take your baby with you so that they can get a feel for the place, and so you can observe interactions between baby and the staff.

Look for:

• Childproofing
• A neat and clean food preparation area
• Posted emergency phone numbers
• Age appropriate toys for you child
• The appropriate number of staff to children (a ratio legally in Arizona of 5 infants to every one care giver)
• A daycare that will be sensitive to the needs of a breastfeeding mother  i.e.: scheduling, ounces of milk to be given, etc.

When talking with a staff member do they:

• Encourage parents to drop by unexpectedly
• Seem attentive to your child
• Seem attentive to safety
• Know CPR and first aid
• Seem interested in your baby: i.e.: do they pick him/her up, make eye contact, talk or play with your baby, seem more concerned about your child's comfort than yours.  Additionally, does your baby respond well to the staff person?

If you are still unsure, you can use these resources:

• Arizona Family Day Care Providers 345-9388
• Child Care Resource and Referral-244-2678
• Child Care Resource Network-829-0500

Here are some of Doris' recommendations:

Bright Horizons Family Solutions (Motorola uses this center) located at Ray Road and Alma School & Price and Elliott (by the ASU Research Park)

Triple R Daycare located at Chandler and I 10 & on Desert Foothills Parkway

Central Christian Church

Dayspring United Methodist Church

If you are interested in getting a nanny, here are a few places to begin your search:

Peace of Mind Referral Service Inc  (480) 732-1234

Arizona Children's Nanny Services (602) 667-0100

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