Licensed or unlicensed facilities?

There is a potential hidden risk at unlicensed daycare facilities that you need to know about, right now. Licensed Daycare owner, Becky Wyzykowski showed me around her daycare and explained to me the abc’s of picking your child’s daycare.

She said, “With unlicensed daycares, they are not monitored by anyone. No one goes inside to see if they are monitored or safe or meet the state guidelines to be a licensed daycare provider.” Becky says she and her licensed industry have stringent requirements and inspections by the state to keep your kids safe. I asked her, “What is the biggest fear of unlicensed homes?” Wyzykowski said, “Injuries. If a child chokes, they don’t have any training to take care of the situation. I’ve gone through training and I’ve had to use it three times. I’ve had to use the Heimlich maneuver on an infant, toddler and a four year old boy when he choked on a piece of prime rib during holiday time.”

That training for licensed daycare providers is also for simple medical tasks. Becky told me that something simple like giving a child an over the counter pain med is also part of the training. Becky said, “A nurse has to train us and give us her permission to give your children the medication. We have go through periodic training and pay 45 dollars for it.”

Wyzykowski also showed me the inspection that has to be done in her home which is only allowed a certain number of children based on her license. An unlicensed daycare provider can have more than a dozen kids because no one is monitoring them. She said ultimately when it comes to the choice of unlicensed versus licensed, the choice is clear. Becky said, “I’ve gone through the training. I’m qualified to take care of your kids and I take the time and care to be trained.”

Go to the front page of krdo.com and links we mentioned for a link so you can see if a daycare is licensed and if it’s had complaints against it. You can also complain to the state about unlicensed facilities, too.