Finding Quality Childcare

            If you’re looking for trustworthy childcare for your child and are feeling a bit flustered, you’re not alone. The search for quality childcare can be tough, whether you’re looking for a part-time babysitter, full-time daycare or a full-time nanny. The most important things you’ll want to look for are convenience, cost and childcare that is safe, healthy and offers learning for your child. Finding the right caregiver for your little one can be a bit overwhelming, but with a little research and a lot of questions, you’ll be on the right track in no time.

• Choose your childcare type. If you’re just needing a night out or an occasional afternoon free to go shopping, a babysitter is ideal. However, if you’re in need of someone to be with your child daily in your home, then you’ll want to look for a nanny. Looking for childcare outside your home? Then you’ll want to explore a family daycare center. With daycare, you’ll want to decide whether you prefer a smaller center or one that’s larger with more staff and space.
• Start early. No matter what type of care you’re considering, start the search as far in advance as you can. Finding the right childcare can take quite a bit of time.
• Get recommendations. Ask around! One of the best ways to find great childcare locally is to ask friends and family. They can give you more detailed inside information, such as how their child reacts to a particular babysitter or whether a daycare center is clean and  hands out reports on what the children accomplish each day. Don’t be afraid to check things out yourself, too. Schedule appointments to meet with a potential babysitter, nanny or childcare center director.
• Look for licenses, certifications and accreditations Although childcare centers are required to be licensed in all states, licensing doesn’t ensure quality. It does, however, set minimum health, safety and caregiver training standards that centers have to maintain. Licenses and certifications don’t guarantee perfect childcare, but they’re still worth considering. A great place to start is by researching the National Association for the Education of Young Children website (NAEYC.org). Look for accredited childcare centers in your area, which show that the centers have met the highest quality of standards and processes for childcare and education.
• Visit and ask questions. If you’re looking for a childcare center, set up a visit so you can see the facilities, talk with the director and find out whether it’s a good fit. Look around and see whether the place is clean and tidy. Are the children engaged and happy? Are children and infants supervised at all times, even when sleeping? Does the center have see-through cribs? Teachers should be able to see your baby every minute of the day. You’ll also want to ask how they put babies to bed and what’s allowed in the crib, as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies sleep on their backs without pillows, blankets or toys in the bed with them to reduce the risk of SIDS. Does the atmosphere feel warm and welcoming? Don’t be afraid to ask questions. (The same goes for interviewing a potential babysitter or nanny.) Spend time with them and ask as many questions as you wish. Good teachers will really listen to you and answer your queries. This is a wonderful sign they’ll be there to communicate with you every step of the way, even after you’ve enrolled.  
• Check references. Before hiring a nanny or babysitter, or signing up with a daycare, check with at least two references. They can fill you in on the positives and possible negatives of working with the person or facility. When checking references for babysitters or nannies, you can call past employers, do a background check and maybe ask for a driving record or for him/her to take a drug test. Many nanny agencies out there will administer drug tests, but you also can purchase an over-the-counter drug test kit. For daycare centers, make sure their state license is up to date, check whether any formal complaints have been filed with the state licensing agency or the Better Business Bureau, and ask other parents whether they’re satisfied with the center.
• Try it out. Before committing to a sitter or childcare center, give it a trial run to see whether the situation is a good fit for your family. Be extra observant. Watch how your child behaves. How does the provider interact with your child? Red flags to watch for include your child refusing to go to the daycare or a provider who’s reluctant to give you a progress report. Always trust your gut. Recognize that every new situation will feel strange at first and require time to adjust. However, if you have a feeling something isn’t right, trust it and move on, even if you don’t have any evidence. If you don’t have the peace of mind that your child is in good hands, then that’s not the caregiver for you.
• Make your choice. Look at all the information you gathered from your visits and interviews. Which one felt like the right fit for your family?
• Stay involved. Once you’ve found the right childcare for your family, work on building a strong relationship with your provider. This will help your child’s learning and development. Meet up regularly and ask questions. Share information about your child with your provider, including updates on what happens at home. If your child is in daycare, visit regularly, including occasional surprise visits. Work together with your provider on your child’s learning plan.

It's not always easy finding the right childcare for your family. The daycare you want may have a wait list, or maybe the sitters or nannies you interviewed didn’t meet your standards. Don’t give up. Talk to friends, neighbors and people at your work, school, church or community center. Discuss your childcare need with your employer and coworkers. Make a short-term plan until you’re able to find the childcare that will work for your family. Get on a waiting list with the daycare centers that you liked. These lists can be shorter than anticipated, so don’t let a long wait keep you from adding your name. Keep with it, and don’t give up on finding the care your family desires. It will happen.

A few indicators of high-quality childcare:

• Small group size
• Low child/teacher ratios
• Staff with higher education and on-going training
• Low teacher turnover
• Positive teacher/child interactions
• Accreditation or higher than minimum licensing standards
• Good health and safety practices

Gina Klein resides in Kansas City with her husband, two daughters and a houseful of animals.