New parents have major decisions to consider. Baby names, nursery colors, and car seat choices to name a few. But for working parents, one of the biggest decisions they have to face is the child care provider they select for their child.

“What’s really ironic is that parents will spend more time considering what kind of car to buy versus the type of child care that is best for their child” says Hugh Bolton, Director of the Child Development Center for Camp Fire First Texas Council. “They will evaluate the gas mileage and make and model of the car but do little to evaluate child care options. To me it seems like a reverse logic. They invest so much on the front end of a car versus the front end of child care.”

Not doing the appropriate amount of homework before selecting a child care can have devastating effects on the child and the entire family. According to an article titled, “Top 10 Pitfalls to Avoid When Choosing Child Care”, other pitfalls include selecting a child care because it’s a bargain versus considering the quality of the care, or selecting a child care based primarily on location (McClure, 2007). The key is taking the time to ask the right questions and looking into more than one option before making the decision. But what questions should you ask? Here are a few tips:

Staffing
This is by far the most important thing to consider when selecting a child care. Ask about their child to staff ratio. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than five infants per one adult can be problematic (www.aap.org). Also, ask how the staff members are trained. Have the received CPR education? Are they certified care givers and what does it mean to be certified. What is the style of interaction between the staff member and child? Are the care givers relaxed and friendly? Do you observe listening and mutual respect?

“Remember, in many cases, the staff will be spending more waking hours with your child than you,” says Bolton. “Make sure you are comfortable having these staff members as extended family members.”

Open Door Policy
A wonderful way to assess the quality of the childcare facility is to drop in unannounced. Find out if their policy allows for such visits. Caregivers will be incented to be at their best every single day in case they receive an unexpected visit from a parent.

General Sanitation and Safety
What are the sanitation procedures regarding toys and play equipment? What about the diapering stations and where are they in proximity to food preparation? It is also important that you consider what types of child proofing or safety procedures have been implemented to prevent accidents. Remember, your child will be susceptible to illness and accidents unless proper sanitation and safety guidelines are employed.

Playground Area
The outdoor play ground should be equipped with age appropriate equipment. Swings sets should be in good working condition and slides and jungle gyms should not be too tall to cause injury during periodic falls. In addition, the area should be properly fenced with separation between the toddlers and the infants. Take the time to look around and make sure the play area is clean and safe for your child.

Philosophy
What is the philosophy of the child care center? In other words, what methods are used to insure developmentally appropriate practice? Bolton uses this example when describing this type of learning. “Remember the movie ‘The Karate Kid’? Mr. Miyagi insists that Daniel Son paint the fence and wash the car. Through those ordinary tasks, Daniel learned to defend himself. This is the same for developmentally appropriate practice, they learn through play.” The big question is, are they being intentional about the children learning through play and interaction? Do they have curriculum that they are using? And finally, what is a typical day like – what is the schedule?

There are many factors to consider before deciding on a child care. To make the process a little less painful, I developed a Child Care Checklist. This is to be used as a tool when interviewing child care providers. Bolton says, “if you are buying a car, more than likely you go to more than one dealership before you make the big purchase. When it comes to something as valuable as your child, look at several places before you decide.” With a little elbow grease and a little help from the Child Care Checklist, you can make sure you are not getting a lemon for a child care provider.