Childcare is very important that must be considered heavily. In the past few years, more and more parents are looking into the home day care option for their toddlers. It is already heart breaking to leave your toddler and go back to work. Thus, it is essential that you choose a toddler childcare provider that perfectly caters to your toddlers needs.

The decision to choose home day care than an actual day care center is now more favored since it scares parents to not know how their child is doing outside of their home. When it comes to choosing a home day care provider for your little one, it is important to consider two aspects – your budget and your toddler’s emotional and social demands.

What to Look For In A Home Day Care Provider

Home day care is all about keeping your toddler safe and secure through the guardian of a caregiver. Screening various home day care providers can be exhausting since you only want what is best for your tot. You need to know what to look for to make the situation easier. Here are the things you need to consider when selecting one:

1.) The guidelines

A good home day care provider must allow you to observe or check in at your own time. Check if the provider made an appointment to give you a consultation. It is essential that you can drop in with your toddler anytime you please. As much as possible, the home day care provider must have an open-door policy. The best places to start your search will be in your area. Check out classified ads in newspapers and magazines, the yellow pages or in your community resource center.

2.) The type of services it offers

It is important for you to be well aware of how home day care providers operate. It is best to call up each prospect and ask for a personal meeting. Inquire about the asking rate, hours, schedule and other important matters you want to ask. Pick the one you are most comfortable with. A good home day care provider must be eager and honest to answer any questions you have. Visiting your prospective home day care is also a must so you can see for yourself what activities goes on. This will also give you an excellent idea of how a caregiver will treat your little one.

There are also different rules set by providers, such as whether you need to provide snacks or meals, or if these are integrated in your weekly charges. Generally, providers include one meal, such as lunch and a snack in their fees. However, you will need to pack all of the basics for your toddler such as bottles, formula milk, diapers, extra clothes and the likes.

3.) The environment

You are entrusting your toddler to someone not close to you. So it is important to consider the surroundings of the home day care. Check whether the place is well kept, clean, tidy and child proofed. Observe how well cared are the other toddlers, whether they are happy and energetic. Pay close attention to how the caregivers treat the toddlers and how the toddlers respond to the caregivers, whether they like them or not. It is also necessary to check every area of the home day care. Take a tour and see the areas where your toddler will eat, sleep and play. If you find yourself enjoying the place, then most probably your little one will feel comfortable and safe in it too.

4.) The way they instil discipline to toddlers

Another very important factor to pay close attention is a home day care’s discipline style. How you discipline your toddler at home must also be the manner how the home day care provider disciplines your child. See to it that the provider meets and agrees your own discipline techniques.

5.) The feedback of the references

Always check for the home day care provider’s background and references. See if they have the right credentials, certification and papers. Check each of the provider’s staff. Each staff must be professionally well-trained and have the right qualifications. Check the provider’s listed references one by one. Contact each of them and ask about the home day care provider’s performance. To make it more secure, have it background checked by a professional. You need to be sure your toddler is in good hands while you are away.