Working outside the home can cause some stress for your spouse and you when you have to look for childcare. You don't just want anyone watching your precious little one, but someone that will truly provide quality childcare in a loving and nurturing manner. When my family moved to our current residence, we both worked outside of the home. We had to find childcare for three (a year later, four) children under the age of five. We wanted to find a childcare provider that could provide the care that they needed, but also at a lower cost. Through our many experiences as talking with other mothers and searching the Internet, I have discovered some things that can help you find quality childcare for your little one(s).
Tip #1: Decide Which Type of Childcare You Want
Believe it or not, but you have many options when choosing quality childcare. You can choose from the following: childcare center, in-home childcare at your home (childcare provider comes to your home), in-home childcare that is not state certified (you take your child to the childcare provider's home), state-certified in-home childcare (same as in-home, but the childcare provider has to attend classes, be licensed, and meet different state requirements), family childcare provider (family member provides childcare), before-and-after school programs (for children in kindergarten through sixth grade), or hire a nanny. In order to decide which type of childcare to choose you will need to look at the age of your child, number of children per provider (especially with childcare centers and in-home childcare), whether or not you want someone to be licensed or certified, cost, etc.
Tip #2: Contact Department of Human Services (DHS)
Many DHS offer parents a list of childcare providers (and sometimes childcare centers) that are state certified. They may refer you to a Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) center. You can also ask your DHS whether the childcare provider has ever been accused of child abuse or any other matters. It is important to know that a majority of childcare centers (unless provided through a church) are required to be licensed and meet certain requirements.
Tip #3: Check References
Even after you have contacted DHS and Child Care Resource and Referral center, it is still important to check references that are provided to you by the childcare provider. Then I would highly recommend that you ask the references if they know of additional references for that childcare provider. We were in a situation where we contacted DHS, the CCR&R, and references provided by the childcare provider and we still encountered an unpleasant experience. It is important to contact as many people as you can for references. If you have the parent gut feeling that something is not right, trust it.
Tip #4: Observe Your Child
It's not only as important to vigilant in searching for the perfect childcare provider as it is to stay in that mind frame when you take your child to a new childcare center. If your child starts having behavioral problems, not eating well, refusing to go to the childcare provider, diapers or clothes have not been changed, or you see bruises or cuts; you need to check into things further. If your child can talk or they have older siblings attending the same childcare provider, ask questions in words they can understand. Again, if you have that maternal or paternal instinct that something is not right, it may be time to look for a different childcare provider.
Tip #5: Check In
When your child starts going to a new childcare provider, if possible, try to stop periodically at different times. If you can't due to work obligations, ask if a family member or friend could stop by off and on. Continue doing this, especially if you start noticing warning signs as indicated in "Observer Your Child" section.
Finding quality childcare is a tough task in itself. First you have to contend with whether or not go back to work. Then you do your best to find the best qualified childcare provider for your child. Even after you have considered the five tips listed above, it is important to trust your "gut instinct." If you feel that the childcare provider is not a good fit for your child or that something is just not right, trust your gut.
