How to interview a childcare provider

Parents need to ask certain questions and look for certain red flags when interviewing a childcare provider. Gaining a thorough impression is so important that two adults should participate in the interview. Single parents should take along a trusted friend or relative. Having two at the interview allows one person to focus on the discussion and the other to observe the environment. Decision-making after the interview will also be more informed when both of you can give input on things that the other may not have noticed.

Questions to ask childcare providers
  • Are you required to be regulated by the state? May I see a copy of your state credentials?
    Red flag: Refusal or hesitation to answer the question or present their state credentials. However, not all states require home-based providers to be credentialed.
  • Are you required to be inspected by the state? When was the last state inspection of this facility? How did you do? Did you have any violations? How did you correct them? May I see a copy of your latest inspection?
    Red flag: Refusal or hesitation to answer the question or present their inspection record. In Texas, providers must always have their latest inspection available for viewing during business hours.
  • Are you and your staff required to have CPR and First Aid training? Is everyone on staff current in their CPR and First Aid for infants and children certification? May I see a copy of your current certification? What is your plan of action for first aid incidents and emergency events?
    Red flag: Refusal or hesitation to answer the question or present copies of their current certification.

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  • Are you required to have fire extinguishers and smoke detectors? Can you point them out to me? Are they in working order?
    Red flag: Check the fire extinguishers. They should be fully charged and have an inspection tag with the date of the last or next inspection. The last date should be within one calendar year.
  • What is your policy for caring for sick children? How sick is too sick for my child to attend your facility? Are you willing to give my child medicine during the day? If so, what are the constraints for doing so? Do you offer back-up child care in case of the illness of the provider or her child? How often has the provider been closed in the last six months for her own illness or that of her child?
    Red flag: No policy for a sick child, medication, or back-up child care. Having a written policy to hand the interviewing parent demonstrates planning and care. A provider should have a clear quarantine area (including toys, bedding, laundry, wipes, etc.) for sick children or not accept them. Medicine should be given only with parent's written permission and a log kept of dosing or not given at all.
  • Does each baby have its own crib or playpen to sleep in? How and how often are they disinfected? What do you permit in a crib/playpen with a sleeping baby (toys, books, blankets, etc.)?
    Red flag: Infants should have their own sleeping quarters. Too few cribs/playpens contributes to sickness among infants and may indicate overcrowding. Sleeping areas should be sprayed down daily with Lysol or other disinfectant until wet and after each occurrence of vomiting or diarrhea (diaper wipes or a damp cloth are insufficient). Any sleep time toys should also be disinfected daily. Pillows or blankets should never be placed in a crib with a child under two years old at home or day care.

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  • How do you discipline, train, or correct the children? Describe how you correct a child that hits, bites, won't calm down, screams and kicks, won't nap, etc. Note: All children crave discipline/training/correction. True discipline/training is the setting of routines and boundaries that are linked to age appropriate consequences. Even infants can be trained to eat, sleep, and play at routine times of the day and night. Discipline done correctly builds security and a sense of familiarity. Correction should always be age appropriate and directly linked to the infraction: a toy used to hit another child is a good toy to put into time-out; a child who takes a toy away from another child should be redirected into another activity or play with other children. Discipline/training/correction should never be shaming, physical, or embarrassing. Any of these ways to discipline are unacceptable and should never be tolerated.
    Red flag: Pay attention to the discipline/training/correction that occurs while you are interviewing. It is unlikely you will find someone who corrects exactly as you would. Keep in mind that discipline in a daycare must consider the needs of all the children, not only yours. However, you must be comfortable with the discipline/training your child receives while you are away.
  • What is the staff turn over rate? How many staff working with the children have been here more than a year? How many staff positions do you have? Have you added any over the last year? What is the provider's experience and education related to children and childcare?
    Red flag: A high staff turnover rate may indicate low staff pay, low educational experience, and low childcare experience. This diminishes the level of professionalism you can expect from the staff. High turnover also affects the stability of the environment in which you place your child. The more stable, professional, and routinized your child's daycare experience is, the more confident he or she will be in daycare.
  • Does the provider have an open door policy that allows parents to drop in unannounced at any time?
    Red flag: No provider should be considered unless they have an open door policy to parents. The policy should also exclude non-family or non-approved persons from entering the premises and interacting with or picking up your child.

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  • What is a typical day's routine like? Does the provider give parents daily, written notes on the child's activities during the day?
    Red flag: A daycare should have a routine for all children, including infants. This stimulates their growth, provides security, helps educate them, avoids boredom, and facilitates interaction with other children. Environments without routines or regularly planned activities are little more than warehouses for children. Many daycares provide brief written notes of the day's activities; requests for more diapers, wipes, ointments, etc., sometimes accompany these notes. Parents should keep these notes to monitor the frequency of diaper requests.
  • May I come during the day and breast feed my infant? Would you store frozen breast milk at your facility for my infant?
    Red flag: Daycares differ on what they can provide in this area. Know your needs and find a daycare than can accomodate them. If a daycare will keep frozen breast milk, be sure it is clearly labeled with the child's name and the date it was pumped. Ask to see where provider stores frozen breast milk.
  • Are there additional charges to the base fee such as an early drop-off or late pick-up fee, craft or activity fees, charges for field trips, or fees for late payment? Must you pay when your child is absent for vacation days or sick days? Must you pay when the provider is closed for vacation or illness?
    Red flag: Unexpected fees are a nuisance and demonstrate poor planning and communication by the provider. Parents should receive an explanation of all possible charges and when to expect them when they make their deposit to enroll their child.
  • How can parents be involved in the daycare of their child? How can the provider be a resource to the parents in the raising of their child?
    Red flag: The more experienced and professional caregivers can readily answer this question and explore possibilities with you.

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Observations to make during the interview
  • Do the caregivers seem to really enjoy working with the children? Do the children seem to have a bond with the caregivers? Does the provider readily interact with your child and does your child have a positive reaction to the caregiver?
  • Are children's needs met in a timely manner and in appropriate ways?
  • Is the staff large enough to serve the children and to meet any state requirements? In a daycare center, are the ratios of staff to children per class or for the facility as a whole? Some larger centers maintain the staff to student ratio required by their professional associations by using "floaters" — staff who are not regularly assigned to a specific group of children.
  • In a daycare center, how are the children supervised during mixed-age or mixed-class play time? Are head counts done before and after a group of children moves to a new location (e.g., from classroom to play area; from play area to eating area)?
  • Is the environment bright and cheerful? Are child-proof products used throughout? Is the outside play area fenced? Is there a pool and, if so, is it securely fenced off?
  • In a daycare center, how are the instruction areas separated? Does normal noise or activity in one area distract in another? Some larger centers divide a large common room into instructional areas with short barriers that allow adults to view (and hear) the entire room, but not the children.
  • Are the sinks and toilets located adjoining or very near the instruction areas? Are the fixtures clean and is there ample soap for the children to practice good handwashing? Are the fixtures child-sized or adult-sized? If they are adult-sized, are there step stools available for the children? Do the toilet areas have ample room for an adult to aid a child in distress?
  • Are door and cabinet locks used appropriately to secure medicines and cleaners from the children's reach?
  • Are the toys used clean, age appropriate, and in good repair? Are there enough books for the number of children?
  • Are you able to communicate well with the caregiver? Does she actively listen to your concerns and ideas? Does she ask questions to better understand and get to know you and your child?
  • Does the caregiver seem to be in good health? Does she smoke? Has she had a TB test recently? Does she have any health problems that concern you?

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Please also remember that some things may seem like a red flag but could have a reasonable explanation. For example, many children calm down when someone hugs, holds, rocks them, or uses common comforting techniques. A few children, however, only cry longer and louder when a caregiver attempts to comfort them. These children benefit most not from being ignored but by being distracted with a toy or game, mindfully watched from a step or two away, encouraged by words and actions that everything is all right. If you come across a questionable situation, ask the caregiver or ask another provider for possible explanations. Also, please use our FAQ page to post your question and we will answer or comment for other parents to benefit as well.

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