When it is time for parents to send that little piece of their own heart to a Crèche it is a time of great concern and worry. There are a lot of fears, anxieties and apprehensions about leaving the little one in the hands of someone else. Choosing a crèche indeed does merit consideration and thought because it is most often the first environment that will replace the security of home for the child. It is a place where the child receives day care while both parents work.

In one sense we are looking at the best possible replacement for parental love and that can be a tough task.

Crèche are now beginning to take in children as little as 3 months to cater to the needs of dual career couples. Crèches that cater to children around the years of 8 and above seem to be fewer and we are focusing in this article on the needs of infants to school going kids who may be going to day care after school.

While it is natural to feel anxious about this step, do remember that there is a positive side as well. Children who spend some time in a crèche learn to be independent and eventually more responsible. They also learn how to interact with children of a varied age group and learn the skills of survival and protecting oneself quite fast and well. They may have more stimulation and discipline at a crèche than with a maid at home. The sense of responsibility of an organization also makes one feel more secure unless one has a highly trusted household helper with whom you can leave the child. Some factors to be considered include:

How long has it been established

A well-established place is likely to have processes in place. You can also have an idea about staff turnover. At that age the caretaker is important to the emotional development of the child. Constant changes in them could lead to insecurity in a little one.

Health and safety aspects

Do they follow strict rules about whom they let the child go home with? Are electric sockets sealed or placed out of reach? Are balcony railings high enough and are windows grilled? Do they have inflammable objects? Is there sufficient ventilation and light? Most reputed organizations have all these checks in place and yet having examined it all for oneself makes a parent feel more secure.

Toilet training

There may be a time soon that your child will perhaps be going through this process and it is important to know how they will handle it too. For infants you may need to know the nappy changing rules.

Routine and Facilities

A tight, too strict routine is very stressful and not recommended for children. One definitely needs structure BUT with flexibility. You could find out about suitable sleeping facilities for children less than three years old away from the general play area. In most crèches the parents have to send the food and milk etc. What are the facilities for storing and heating food? In case food is being supplied, is it of good quality, nutritionally balanced and hygienically prepared? The Language spoken, so your child will be able to communicate comfortably in the new environment.

Number of children

It would be important to know how many children are there at the crèche at a time. A large number of children would mean that the staff is likely to be overworked and quality of care may be compromised. You would want caretakers who are not just talking and communicating [with children], but listening and responding too.

Staff

If possible try to observe the interactions between the staff. If adult relations are strained and staff is overworked, staff may not be responsive to children. When this happens, people move into efficiency mode and there's almost a "factory-like" atmosphere in the crèche.

Medical assistance

Do they have doctor identified close by for emergency assistance? Do they have basic emergency supplies? If possible, find a crèche that is close to either your or your spouse's workplace. This way you can get there fast in case of an emergency.

Timings and policy on emergencies

The timings of course should suit your office timings. It helps to know their policy if ever you are late to pick up your child. Since circumstances could be out of your control, it is important to know how they would handle this situation.

Openness

Openness to suggestions and contributions and parental involvement. Day cares that are run by people who are secure and confident that they do their best and want to continue doing their best are likely to be open to suggestions and also to observation. Start by making where would your priorities lie: education, healthy diet, experienced staff, and hygiene, outdoors play area etc. This would be a good time to share that you may not get all that you want and you might need to compromise on something less important. For e.g. you may find a clean and friendly place but a little distant from home. Knowing what you need most for your child, and what can be negotiated on would help.

First steps:

1. To begin with make a list of the crèches you are interested in and call to arrange a visit during working hours. It is best to schedule an appointment, as this will ensure that the manager will have plenty of time to speak with you personally.

2. Take your child along with you to visit the crèches (at least the short-listed ones), even if he or she is baby. This way you can watch how the manager and other staff interact with your child.

3. Find and talk to people whose children actually go there...they are usually the best people to take a reference from. Once you have taken these steps, we hope that you will find a place where you can safely leave your child, content that he / she is well cared for and looked after.

Happy Hunting!