Where to Find Infant Care: A Starting Point for Parents

The best place to start looking for infant care is with people and resources close to home: friends and coworkers with young children, your pediatrician, the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, and the state's guidance on choosing a provider. Start earlier than you think you need to, because openings for babies are often limited. Then call a handful of programs, check their licensing records, and visit the ones that fit your schedule.

Start your search early

Care for babies is in high demand in many communities, and infant rooms usually have room for only a few children at a time. If you will need care soon after your baby arrives, it is reasonable to begin looking during pregnancy. Starting early gives you time to compare options instead of taking the first available spot.

Where to look

• People you trust. Ask parents you know where their babies go and what they like. A local parenting group can help if you are new to the area.
• Your doctor's office. Pediatricians and OB-GYN offices often hear from families about local care.
• The Early Learning Coalition. The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County is a helpful resource for families, including information on financial assistance for those who are eligible.
• State guidance. Florida DCF's page on choosing a child care provider is a good overview before you start calling.
• Online searches. These can help you build a list, but read reviews with some care and give more weight to what you see for yourself.

Call before you visit

A phone call can quickly rule programs in or out. Ask:

• Do you care for babies my child's age, and do you have openings when we need to start?
• What schedule options do you have, and what happens if I am late at pickup?
• How do you handle feeding, including breast milk, formula and introducing solid foods?
• What is your policy when a baby is sick?
• How will I know how my baby's day went, including feedings, sleep and diaper changes?
• Can you share contact information for a current or former family?

Check the licensing record

Before you commit, look up each program's history. In Pinellas County, the Pinellas County License Board, on the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County's child care licensing pages, takes complaints and investigates licensing violations. Families can review inspection reports and a facility's licensing history, with file reviews by appointment.

What to look for when you visit

For more detail, see our guide on what to look for in a baby or toddler program. The essentials:

A calm, comfortable room

Babies can be overstimulated by noise, bright lights and clutter. Look for soft lighting, a quiet atmosphere and a space that feels warm and lived in, such as family photos at a baby's eye level.

Separate areas for each part of the day

Sleeping, eating, diaper changing and play should each have their own space. Changing areas should be well away from where food is prepared, and caregivers should wash their hands between changes.

Safe sleep practices

Ask exactly how babies are put down to sleep. Safe sleep guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, summarized on HealthyChildren.org, calls for babies to sleep on their backs on a firm, flat surface without pillows, bumpers, blankets or soft toys. Each baby should have their own crib, and staff should be checking on sleeping babies.

Room to move

Babies need time on the floor to roll, crawl and pull up, not long stretches in carriers, swings or seats. Look for clean floor space, sturdy low furniture they can hold onto, and baby-proofing such as outlet covers, gates and secured cabinets.

Simple, safe materials

Good choices include board books, soft blocks, rattles, balls and sturdy toys too big to fit in a baby's mouth. Toys that babies mouth should be cleaned regularly. Small parts, button batteries and magnets have no place in a baby room.

Caregivers who know each baby

The most important thing you will see is how caregivers interact with the babies. Do they talk, sing and make eye contact? Do they respond quickly to crying? Do they seem to know each baby's cues and preferences? Ask about staff training, including CPR and first aid, and whether the same caregivers usually work with the same babies.

A routine that follows the baby

Young babies eat and sleep on their own rhythms, and a good program follows each baby's schedule rather than putting everyone on the same clock. As babies get older, the day gradually settles into a more shared routine.

Trust what you notice

After your visits, think about where you could picture your baby feeling safe and known. If something felt off, pay attention to that. Your observations, the answers you got and the licensing record together will usually point you to the right choice.

Questions about New Horizons

New Horizons Country Day School in Palm Harbor offers preschool and Florida VPK. You can read about our our programs, and call (727) 785-8591 to ask whether New Horizons has a place for your child's age. If it looks like a fit, you can arrange a visit.