Four Steps to Selecting A Child Care Provider

1. Interview Caregivers:

Call the caregiver and ask these questions:

Is there an opening for my child?
What hours and days are you open? Where are you located?
How much does care cost? Is financial assistance available?
How many children are in your care? How many adults?
What age groups do you serve?
Do you provide transportation?
Do you provide meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks)?
Do you have a license, accreditation, or other certification?
When can I visit?

Next, visit the childcare facility or home; visit more than once and stay as long as you can. Look for these indicators of a healthy environment:

Responsive, nurturing, warm interactions between caregiver and children.
Children who are happily involved in daily activities and comfortable with caregivers.
A clean, safe and healthy indoor and outdoor environment, especially napping, eating and toilet areas.
A variety of toys and learning materials that your child will find interesting and that will contribute to growth and development.
Children getting individual attention.

Ask the caregiver:

How do you handle discipline?
What do you do if a child is sick?
What would you do in the case of an emergency?
What training have you and other staff/substitutes had?
Are all children and staff required to be immunized?
May I see a copy of your license or other certification?
Do you have a substitute or back-up caregiver?
May I have a list of parents who use or have used your care?
Where do children nap? Are babies put to sleep on their backs?

2. Check References

Ask other parents who use the caregiver these questions:

Is the caregiver reliable on a daily basis?
How does the caregiver discipline your child?
Does your child enjoy the child care experience?
If your child is no longer with the caregiver, why did you leave?
How does the caregiver respond to you as a parent?
Is the caregiver respectful of your values and cultures?
Would you recommend the caregiver without reservation?

Ask the local childcare resource and referral program or licensing office:

What regulations should childcare providers in my area meet?
Is there a record of complaints about the child care provider I am considering, and if so, what can I find out about it?

3. Make the Decision for Quality Care

From what you heard and saw, ask yourself these questions:

Which childcare should I choose so that my child will be happy and safe?

Which caregiver can meet the special needs of my child?
Are the caregiver’s values compatible with my family’s values?
Is the childcare available and affordable according to my family’s needs and resources?
Do I feel good about my decision?

4. Stay Involved

Ask yourself these questions about your child care arrangement:

How can I work with my caregiver to resolve issues and concerns that may arise?
How will I stay informed about my child’s developmental accomplishments?
How can I promote good working conditions for my child care provider?
How can I network with other parents?
How can I arrange my schedule so that I can talk to my caregiver every day, visit and observe my child in care at different times of the day, and be involved in my child’s activities at the day care?

Is it a “Good Fit?”

Watch your baby for signs of a good or bad “fit” with new childcare arrangements.
Signs that suggest things aren’t going well for your baby include fewer smiles or clinginess and irritability. Another red flag is a caregiver who shows no delight in your baby – no welcoming smile, no cute stories at the end of the day. If you get the sense your baby is “just another mouth to feed,” it’s time to find another caregiver.

Source: “Caring for Kids” by Patricia A Keener,MD for Riley Hospital for Children

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