If Not You, Who?

Finding the Right Childcare

By Mark Stackpole

Of all the difficult choices parents have to make, finding the right childcare may be the hardest one of all. In 2005, 57 percent of children ages 3 to 5 were enrolled in early childhood care and education programs, including daycare, nursery school and preschool, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

When Momand Dad have to go back to work, who can they trust to take care of their baby? How can they find the right daycare? Should they consider in-home care with an au pair or a nanny? What is right for one family may not be right for another, and parents need to consider the myriad issues that go into finding just the right environment for their children, inside or outside of the home.

Sara Fisher recently went back to work after the birth of her son. An employee communications consultant for a PR firm and syndicated columnist, Fisher decided that a nanny was right for her son and family. "Finding a nanny is like dating; you get set up by friends of friends and ask around for the perfect match," she says. "Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't."

After watching friends have varying degrees of success with nanny placement agencies, Fisher decided to try to find a match over the Internet. So far, her methods have been working out very well. "You can talk to references or watch them interact with your child, but when finding my nannies, I trusted my gut," she says. "You don't know until you try it. Give yourself some time before you go back to work to test the nanny out when you're at home just to teach and watch how your nanny operates."

But some parents may not be able to trust their gut, especially if they have never made a decision about childcare before.

Rebecca Howard is a mother, former nanny and the founder of Bella Bambino Nannies, a nanny referral service based in San Diego, Calif. Her advice? "Take your time!" she says. "Give yourself four to six weeks to find someone. Do not wait until the last minute to start your nanny search or you will put yourself under unnecessary stress."

Howard also advises parents to take the following steps:

• Check references (forboth the nanny and any agency you may be using).
• Look only for candidates who have age-appropriate experience to your children.
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Want to see more?

• Need a Nanny? How to Make In-home Childcare Work for You
• Daycare Do's and Don'ts: 10 Tips to Prepare Yourself and Your Child
• Choosing Safe and Healthy Childcare Checklist
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