The Observer contacted experts to answer readers' questions about day care. They're usually sponsored by churches and charge a fee. They're not regulated, and caregivers don't have to be trained or certified to care for children.
Some centers offer drop-in care, especially if they have vacancies they're trying to fill.
But most rely on full-time enrollment to set staffing levels and to build a program where children bond with staff and take part in a daily routine. Q. A mom says her son has broken his arm twice in two years at day care. She asks how often that happens and whether it's a sign of bad care. Broken arms aren't always a sign of abuse or bad care, but they do raise a red flag. Parents should be more wary if the child with the broken limb is an infant.