Christine Hernandez
Early childhood educator, writer, and mother. Your friendly neighborhood guide to all things parenting.
As a parent, you want to ensure your child receives the best possible care while you are away. Once you've found a daycare you trust, the next question is how much you'll actually hear from them. Here's what's typical by age and type of care, what providers are required by law to tell you, and when a lack of updates is worth worrying about.
How often should your daycare be updating you during the day?
It's understandable to want updates throughout the day, especially if it's your first time leaving your child for an extended period. However, it's important to remember that daycare providers should be prioritizing taking care of children over sending a constant stream of updates. How much communication you can expect will also vary by age and type of care:
- Infants: logs of feeding, naps and diapers throughout the day, plus a same-day call for any incident or illness.
- Toddlers and preschoolers: a daily summary, a weekly or monthly newsletter, and parent-teacher conferences once or twice a year.
- Home daycares versus centers: home providers may communicate via text or email; centers tend to use an app and set procedures.
You can ask about communication during your tour and share your expectations up front so you can agree on a plan together.
What about cameras?
Some childcare providers have live streaming cameras to help parents stay informed about their child's daily activities.
Pros:
- Can provide peace of mind to parents who want to check in on their child throughout the day.
- May help daycare providers to stay accountable and ensure that all children are receiving proper care.
- Useful for reviewing any incidents or accidents that may occur during the day.
Cons:
- Can be expensive to install and maintain.
- May create privacy concerns for staff members and other children who attend the daycare.
- May give parents a false sense of security and may not always provide a full picture of what is happening during the day.
It's important to ask about their policies and procedures for camera use, as well as any associated costs or fees. Additionally, keep in mind that while cameras can be helpful, they should not be relied on as a replacement for good communication and building a trusting relationship with your daycare provider.
What kinds of updates should you expect?
The type of updates you receive will depend on the daycare provider's policies and the technology they use. Some providers may send pictures or videos throughout the day to show you what your child is up to, while others may send daily reports at the end of the day. Daily reports can include details about your child's eating and sleeping habits, diaper changes, and daily activities. Some daycares may use apps that allow you to check in on your child's progress throughout the day, while others may prefer to send updates via text message or email.
What is your provider required to tell you?
Some updates are required by law. Every state sets its own licensing rules, and most require licensed child care providers to tell parents promptly when their child is hurt or involved in an incident. That usually means a written incident report on the same day, and an immediate call for anything serious, like an injury that needs medical attention.
Providers are also generally required to let families know when a contagious illness, such as strep or hand, foot and mouth disease, is going around the classroom, and to contact you if your child becomes sick during the day.
Many states also require programs to share key policies in writing when you enroll, including how they handle emergencies, medication and discipline.
Is a lack of updates a red flag?
Fewer photos than usual, or a slow reply during the work day, is normal. Be more concerned if you hear about incidents only from your child, you're discouraged from dropping in, you get vague answers about staffing or ratios, or staff avoid conversations at pickup.
You can raise your concerns with your child's teacher or the director of the program. If nothing changes after you've shared your expectations, it may be time to look elsewhere.
What can I do if I want more communication from my childcare provider?
If you find that you want more communication than what your daycare provider is currently providing, there are a few steps you can take to address your concerns. First, schedule a meeting or phone call with the daycare director or lead teacher to discuss your needs and expectations. Explain why frequent updates are important to you and ask if any additional reporting options are available.
Additionally, you can ask if there are any tech tools or apps that can help keep you more connected to your child during the day. Some daycare providers may use apps that allow for more frequent updates, photos, and video sharing, while others may prefer email or text messaging.
Remember that communication works both ways. Letting your provider know about a rough night's sleep, a schedule change or a new food helps them care for your child, and makes it easier for them to keep you in the loop. By taking an active role in staying informed and communicating your needs, you can help build a strong relationship with your daycare provider and feel more at ease while your child is in their care.
