What to ask when visiting a nursery for the 1st time

[girlylala0807]

I have my first appointment to visit one on Thursday, what kind of things should I be asking?

The baby will be 5 months old(sniff), but I have to back to uni or I have to work. If I go back to uni the baby will only need 3 mornings or afternoons a week, work would mean 4 full days.

And yes, I am trying to justify this to myself, and everyone around me who thinks its a terrible idea!!

Anyway, as well as questions is there anything I should look out for? Websites I can check for reviews from other parents?

Thanks all.

xx

I went back to work FT when DS was 4.5 months old, and he went to a nursery - and at 2.7 is a very happy, bright and sociable toddler.

Things to look for - staff turnover/length of service, their interactions with the children (look for quieter children and more boisterous ones), the interaction of the manager who shows you round with the children (should be running up to them, manager should know their names straight off), how flexible they are to your needs(even if you don't use them, ask about cloth nappies/expressed breastmilk as its quite telling how they react to that sort of question), in the baby room do they always have continuity (ie one of two members of staff always there alongside small group of others, rather than the really floating staff you can get). Does the nappy changing area/toilets smell ? Is there a separate sleep area with cots for the babies. Do they have a nice all weather outside area ? What do they do with the babies outside ?

Go see as many as possible as you'll soon start to get an idea of them