How to Choice a Child Care Provider

The working mom vs. at home mom is another stressful dilemma for new mothers, and yet another area where we beat ourselves up and feel guilty for no reason. I don't know any stay at home moms who don't miss the extra income from working or the prestige that comes from a full time job. I also don't know any mothers who didn't feel a twinge of sadness at dropping their baby off at day care. It's a hard choice either way, and no one can decide what's best for your family but you (and maybe your spouse)

If you are returning to work, there are some things you might want to consider when looking at child care providers. I worked in child care centers for over five years before becoming a mother, and I've been a private provider for several years as well.

Things to look for in centers:

1. Bigger is not better. There are many big new centers out there with lots of pretty new toys. They look very impressive. They are also usually very full. When looking at these centers, look at how many children/teachers are in a room. There are state ratios these centers must adhere to, but if square footage permits they can take the 6 to 1 ratio, and make it 12 to 2 or 18 to 3. Ultimately, the more children in a room the more crazy things will be during the day. A two year old room with twelve toddlers and two teachers isn't that bad, but when you're looking at infant care try to find a center with the least number of infants per room. If the room is combined, ask if each teacher has certain infants they care for, or if they all care for all the infants. If there are three teachers in a room, and they don't have specific infants they care for, then the babies that cry the most will get the most attention.

2. Make sure there's an open door policy, and use it. This means that you can come by to check on your child at any point during the day. Teachers might tell you it's disruptive to their routine, but do it anyway. See how lunchtime goes, how nap time is, how well supervised your child is on the playground. This will reassure you that your child is getting the care they need, and keep the teachers on their toes. If your child gets upset seeing you at odd intervals, try to find ways to observe the class without being seen.

3. Ask questions. Never hesitate to get all the information, even if a teacher or director is acting annoyed. This isn't their child, it's yours.

4. Consistency is very important in a child's life. While I don't prescribe strongly to any one child raising philosophy, if there's something that's important to you, make sure it's important to your center too. At the same time, check how they discipline and what their daily routine is, and make sure these are things that could work for you at home too.

If you're considering an at-home provider:

These can be great for infants and younger toddlers, if you can find one you trust.

1. If the provider is working from their own home, and is caring for other children as well, try to find one that cares for children of similar age to yours.

2. Whether in your home or theirs, make sure again that it's understood that you'll be dropping by throughout the day to check in.

3. Check references. Check as many references as you can. If there are other children currently under the provider's care, ask for their parent's contact info as well.

4. Build a relationship. When you're entrusting your child to one individual, you're building a relationship with them. Trust takes time to develop, but is so important to your piece of mind.

5. Have a back up plan. If the provider is working out of their home, find out if they have a sub for when they're sick. If so, interview with the sub as well. If you're hiring a private nanny, find a back up as well.

Just like everything else in parenting, there is no right or wrong to childcare providers, there's just finding what's right for you. Hope some of this helps!