Juggling children's needs and work is one of the main challenges parents face. As a result, you have to look for a viable solution that ensures your child is well cared for while you are at work. One of the best solutions you can opt for is a daycare center.

However, you have to ensure that the daycare center is ideal for your child before enrolling them. Here are three factors you need to consider when choosing a daycare center for your child. 

1. The Flexibility of Operational Hours 

You should know that work will often interfere with your parenting duties. For instance, you may intend to work a regular 9-5 workday, but your work duties may force you to stay in the office a little longer. As a result, you may delay picking up your child from a daycare center. 

Or, you might have an early morning meeting at work. Hence, you will have to drop your child at a daycare center earlier than usual. 

You have to ensure that the daycare center has flexible working hours in both scenarios. Flexible hours ensure the daycare center will look after your child even when you are running late to pick them up. 

Thus, one of the main factors you need to consider when choosing a daycare center is their willingness to be flexible with their operational hours. 

2. Training and Certifications of the Staff 

Training and certification of the staff play a major role in your child's experience and safety at a daycare center. Thus, the essential staff qualifications to look for include:

• Level of experience in teaching toddlers 
• The medical capabilities of the staff

Let's say your child incurs an injury during playtime or another child shares a snack with your child, resulting in an allergic reaction. If the staff are not qualified to provide first aid care or CPR, you may have to skip work and take your child to a hospital. However, in the case of severe allergic reactions or injuries, the time it takes to get to your child could mean the difference between life and death. 

Thus, before enlisting your child in any daycare center, ensure that the staff has the necessary skills to handle any medical emergency. 

3. Curriculum and Activities Offered

A daycare center isn't just a place where kids spend time playing as their parents work. Instead, it is the first place your children gain exposure to a learning environment. 

As a result, an ideal daycare center should have a comprehensive curriculum and learning activities. You need to review the curriculum and activities offered by different daycare facilities before choosing one.