Questions to Ask Day Care Providers

Below are questions to ask when inspecting day care providers

Immunizations

· Is your child up-to-date on all of the required immunizations?

· Does the child care program have records proving that the other children in care are up-to-date on all their required immunizations?

Toxic Substances

· Are toxic substances like cleaning supplies and pest killers kept away from children?

· Has the building been checked for dangerous substances like radon, lead and asbestos?

· Is poison control information posted?

Emergency Plan

· Does the child care program have an emergency plan if a child is injured, sick, or lost?

· Does the child care program have first-aid kits?

· Does the child care program have information about who to contact in an emergency?

Fire/Emergency Drills

· Does the child care program have a plan in case of a disaster like a fire, tornado, flood, blizzard, or earthquake?

· Does the child care program do practice drills once every month?

Child Abuse

· Can caregivers be seen by others at all times, so a child is never alone with one caregiver?

· Have all caregivers undergone background check?

· Have the caregivers been trained on how to prevent child abuse, how to recognize signs of child abuse, and how to report suspected child abuse?

Medications

· Does the child care program keep medication out of reach from children?

· Are the caregivers trained and the medications labeled to make sure the right child gets the right amount of the right medication at the right time?

Staff Training/First Aid

· Have caregivers been trained how to keep children healthy and safe from injury and illness?

· Do they know how to do first aid and rescue breathing?

· Have they been trained to understand and meet the needs of children of different ages?

· Are all child care staff, volunteers, and substitutes trained on and implementing infant back sleeping and safe sleep policies to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, crib death)? (When infants are sleeping, are they on their backs with no pillows, quilts, stuffed toys, or other soft bedding in the crib with them?)

Playgrounds

· Is the playground regularly inspected for safety?

· Is the playground surrounded by a fence?

· If there is a sandbox, is it clean?

· Are the soil and playground surfaces checked often for dangerous substances and hazards?

· Is equipment the right size and type for the age of children who use it?