Researching Child Care Providers

Selecting a child care provider is one of the biggest decisions you'll make when ensuring the well-being of your child. Leaving your child in the care of someone else is always a challenging prospect, but doing the research to make sure your child is in a stimulating, safe and loving environment can ease your mind and help ensure your little one's future success.

Once you've chosen the type of child care provider that best suits your needs, consider researching the field for some potential candidates. We've compiled some tips and suggestions below to help you with your search:

Make a List of Potential Providers

Get started on your search for quality child care by talking to friends and family, especially if any of them have small children. First, find out if their needs were similar to your own. For instance, if you need a full-time arrangement, your best advice may not come from a stay-at-home mom who just needs child care for a few mornings each week. You can also check with referral agencies and non-profit organizations like the YMCA to find reputable child care providers near you.

Get Informed and Get References

After you've made a list of potential child care providers, start calling the providers on your list. Here are some basic but important questions to ask each one:

Are you licensed by the state?
Are you accredited by the state?
What are your child-to-staff ratios?
How are children grouped and how many children do you allow per group?
How long have you been a caregiver?
How long has your center been operating?
What kind of training have you or your caregivers received?
What types of fees do you require?
Do you have any openings at this time? And if not, how long is the waiting list?
Do you have any references available from other parents who have children in your care?

If any of these answers aren't reassuring or satisfactory to you, or if the caregiver can't clearly answer all of these questions, move on. For the caregivers who provide answers acceptable to you, set up a time to pay a personal visit.

See for Yourself

Visiting a daycare center yourself, or setting up a meeting with a potential child care provider, gives you a first-hand look at where and with whom your child will be spending his or her days. This is crucial to determining whether that arrangement will be a good experience for you and your child, so don't hesitate to pay close attention and to ask direct, pointed questions during your visit.

Consider taking the following steps when meeting with a caregiver or going to a daycare center for the first time:

Confirm the Child-to-Staff Ratios You Were Given by Phone. Remember, with infants under 12 months, there should be no more than three babies for each adult caregiver.
Ask Caregivers Directly About Their Experience and Training. Ideally, this should include child development education and first-aid training.
Ask About Safety and Hygiene Standards. Also, be sure to observe the caregivers to see if they follow these standards.
Observe the Cleanliness and Comfort Level of the Room. Do you feel assured that your child will be happy and safe there?
Observe the Children in the Room and in Other Rooms. Do they seem happy and healthy? Do they seem connected and engaged with the caregivers?
Ask About the Importance of Routine at the Center. You may also wish to ask for a clear explanation of that routine.

Stay Connected

Once you've arranged for child care, the work of creating a positive experience doesn't stop there. Keep an active relationship with your caregiver by providing pertinent details about your child as well as some basics about yourself, like your contact information. Keep the communication open, honest, and encouraging, and watch the relationships between you, your child, and your child's caregiver grow.

For more information about the types of child care available in most communities, visit our Consider Your Child Care Options page.