Infant Care Checklist

If you’re an expectant mom planning to return to work after your baby arrives, choosing the right infant daycare should be one of your very first steps.

Why so early? Because those precious seven or eight months can fly by—and waiting too long may leave you scrambling for options when spots are limited. No new mother should face uncertainty about who will care for their baby during those early weeks back at work.

Sadly, we see it happen all the time. Parents delay their search, only to discover that their top choice is already full. That’s not a position you want to be in—and the good news is, you don’t have to be.

Here’s How to Get Started:

1. Start right away! Once you’ve made the good news official, create a list of what you are looking for in an infant care program. What requirements or expectations do you have of your infant care provider? Are you looking for something close to home or close to work? Do you want an established daycare or are you looking for home care (a nanny in your home or a home daycare)? When will you be needing care?
2. Ask your friends! Sure you can google local daycares, but wisdom is often found in a multitude of counselors and when it comes to your newborn, your friends and family are your most trusted advisers. What are their recommendations? Who do they trust to care for their children? What do they love about it? Have they experienced any difficulties or frustrations?
3. Tour! Tour! Tour! You definitely need to see first-hand the places you are considering. Make appointments to tour your top 3 selections. Consider the valuable opportunity of meeting potential infant care providers in person and talking with them, as well as touring the actual facility (or home). This will you give a much better feel for what exactly is involved in their infant care program and whether it meets or exceeds your expectations.