As parents, one of the biggest and most important decisions you make will be who looks after your child when you cannot. But which type of child care is best for your offspring? And how do you know who to trust?

Who should watch my child?
Your child care options are not limited to just daycares. You just have to choose which setting is best for you and your child:

• Child Care Centers, such as daycares, allow your child to socialize. They must be licensed by the state, which sets those minimum safety standards and often requires background checks on staff. This also means that they are inspected on a regular basis. Many parents feel their child will be safer in numbers, with a guarantee that the state is watching. There may also be more learning opportunities for your child in such a center.
• Family Child Care is in a more intimate setting, typically in someone’s home with few children. Many parents prefer the home-like environment to the larger school-like setting. However, home-based daycares are not regulated in the same way as child care centers.
• In-Home Caregivers keep your child in your home, but can be pricier because they are usually considered nannies. Although they provide a stable and familiar environment for impressionable children and can be more convenient, they are not strictly regulated by the state, if at all.
• Family and friends can also watch your child. Often very convenient and flexible in location, it can also be far cheaper and more personable. However, because states typically do not regulate such caregivers, you must implicitly trust the person you choose.

Once you decide on a type of care, you can move on to finding the best caregiver.

Where to start
When seeking child care, word of mouth can sometimes be your most trusted form of advertising. Ask parents in your area if they can recommend childcare in your area. Talk to your pediatrician and see if they know of providers their clients use. Talk with family members and co-workers about the options they use.

Know the law
Most states require certain types of child care providers — such as daycares — to be licensed and receive safety training. They are checked by state investigators for safety and must follow certain requirements in order to operate, such as limiting the number of children being watched by one adult.

There are local government Web sites that either list accredited child care members or link to the resources in your state to find out if that person or agency has the proper licensing and accrediting. The Web site ChildCareAware.org has valuable information on making sure the child care center you are considering is following all licensing laws.

ChildCareAware.org recommends that you call the local officials to find out what the laws say in your state, but also to find out if the child care center on your list has ever had any complaints filed against it by other parents. Other sites that can tell you if a child care provider is accredited or a member of national child care organizations include www.naccrra.org and www.nafcc.org. Licensing and accreditation are good indicators, but is not the only thing to consider in choosing child care.

How do I choose?

Ask potential care providers lots of questions until you are satisfied. Some questions to ask:

• Are they trained to care for children? Can they perform CPR? Do they have early childhood development training? It’s better if they do.
• How many children are being watched by one adult? The lower the ratio, the better for your child.
• What are their policies on discipline? It’s important to know what will happen to your child if they act up.
• What are their safety precautions, and how do they react if there’s an emergency?
• If you’re considering a center, what is their turnover rate? The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies says that one of the biggest issues facing child care centers providers is high turnover, which can be detrimental to the children and worrisome for parents, who should be concerned if someone they haven’t vetted is now caring for their child. Find out how high that rate is at a center you’re considering.
• Can you afford them? Child Care Aware has an online calculator that can help you determine whether the caregiver you’d like can fit into your budget.

If considering a center or family child care, visit the location and note the cleanliness and demeanor of the caregivers. Do the children seem happy, or are they out of control? What kind of activities do they offer to help the kids learn? Where do the kids play? Is the outside playground safe? The answers to those can indicate a well-run child care center, or a poor one that lets the kids fend for themselves. Make sure to speak to the person who will be your child’s main caregiver.

Finally, trust your instincts — if they’re telling you not to let this person watch your kid, don’t!