First, be prepared to take a lot of time in your child care search. The process of finding high–quality care isn’t quick or easy, but a thorough examination of all your options is vital for your child’s well-being. No matter which child care option you choose, start by asking for word-of-mouth recommendations from friends, relatives and coworkers. If you’re thinking about an in-home caregiver, you may want to start your search at a child care agency that specializes in placing caregivers, nannies or semiprofessionals. Be aware, though, that the fees charged by such agencies can be high and that you must check out the agency as carefully as the candidates it refers. Let everyone know you’re looking for a trustworthy, loving, in-home caregiver for your child. Try your doctor, church, local senior citizen groups or YWCA. Place an ad on community bulletin boards or on Internet sites, dedicated to your local area.

If you’re looking for a child care center or family home care, ask about licensing requirements in your state. To find out about child care options in your community, call your local child care resource and referral agency, or visit Child Care Aware at www.childcareaware.org. Other sources include your local newspaper, pediatrician’s bulletin board, local churches and elementary schools. Also, local colleges or universities often have high–quality child care facilities open to the public.

Narrowing Your Options
One option does not automatically guarantee a better standard of care than the others. Some large facilities provide little more than baby-sitting services. Others, along with many family home caregivers or in-home caregivers, are dedicated to providing your child with individualized attention and learning experiences. In other cases, the reverse may be true. Parents have to search carefully for the right situation. To help narrow your choices, begin by conducting telephone interviews with potential caregivers. Here are some basic questions you should ask any child care provider:

• Why do you do child care? What do you like about it?
• Tell me about your center/home.
• What do you hope to accomplish in caring for each child?
• How do you handle various situations: if a child cries, if a child won’t eat, if a child hits other children?
• How long have you (and other staff members) been child care providers?
• What education and special training in child development have you (and your staff) received?
• Describe a child in your care. Listen to the tone of voice used and think about whether you would like your child talked about in that way.
• Are you (and your staff members) trained in first aid procedures and CPR?
• How much turnover have you had in your staff in the last two years (for day care centers and larger home settings)? Why have people left?
• How long do you think you’ll be doing child care in the future? Do you have other plans, such as changing careers or returning to school
• How much do you charge? Does the fee vary according to the child’s age? Is there a discount if I place more than one child in your care?
• Is care available on a part-time basis?
• What hours are you available or what hours is your facility open?
• Are you available/open on weekends and holidays?
• What is your policy regarding sick children? How do you handle situations in which a child becomes ill during the day?

Do you have references?
In addition, if you are interviewing child care center or family home care providers, you’ll want to ask these questions:

• What is the adult-child ratio in each group? According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, in a child care setting there should be at least one adult for every
  • four infants
  • five younger toddlers (12 to 24 months)
  • six older toddlers (2 to 3 years), including the caregiver’s own (with no more than two infants under one year).
• Are you licensed or registered? Is your facility accredited by the NAEYC or the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)? This indicates that the facility meets special, higher criteria than licensing standards.
• How many children are cared for and what are their age groupings?