FINDING APPROPRIATE CHILD CARE

By Roberta Cox, Home Economist

Regardless of how much you love your children and want to be with them, there comes a time when you will have to leave them in someone else's care. There are numerous options available - family or friends, day-care centers, family day care providers, co-ops, or someone who comes in to sit in your home. Deciding which to use may not be easy. Don't wait until the last minute. Considering your options can take time.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How many hours a day or week are you going to need to have child care?
• Do you, or your partner, have flexible work hours which can reduce the length of time a child care giver is needed?
• Does your child have any individual or special needs that might require special consideration?
• How much can you afford to spend?

If your are considering a day care center or family day care, visit the center, take a good look around, ask questions, check references and take your time.

Questions you might want to ask are:

• Is it a licensed daycare?
• What is the caregiver's training and experience? How long have they been in business?
• What is the child/staff ratio?
• What ages, and how many of each age, are they licensed to take care of? What is the minimum age?
• What are the hours of operation? What happens if you are late picking up your child? Is the daycare closed for staff holidays?
• What does the program at the daycare include?
• Does the daycare assist with toilet training?
• What kind of meals are children served?
• What policies do they have on child guidance - discipline, routines, nap times, etc.?
• Are they certified in CPR and first aid? What are their emergency procedures?
• Do they have parent meetings? How often? Under what circumstances?
• Do they have a list of references?
• What are the cancellation policies?
• What is the policy when a child is sick?
• Is this a smoke free facility?
• Are the toys washed and sanitized? How often is this done?

While you are visiting the day care, observe the following:

• Do the children and staff appear happy?
• What kinds of activities are the children involved in? How do the children interact with each other?
• Is the facility clean and pleasant? Does is smell fresh? Are the bathrooms clean and well-equipped?
• Is there an enclosed outdoor play area?
• Does the staff pay attention to the children and respond to them?
• Are proper safety procedures being followed?

Choosing an occasional babysitter

If you are just looking for a sitter for the odd occasion, it's important to find someone with whom both you and your child are comfortable.

• Ask friends and relatives for names of reliable baby-sitters.
• Have they taken a baby-sitting course? How much experience have they had? Have they looked after a child around the same age as yours?
• Do they have CPR, and first aid training, and do they know what to do in case of a fire or accident?
• Can they supply references?
• Ask them what activities they do with children. What stories do they like to read to children?

If possible interview the potential sitter with your child present. Watch to see how they get along with each other. Hire the sitter to look after your children for a period of time when you are home to assess his/her abilities.

If you expect them to do more than just look after your child, provide a list of these expectations and find out if they are able to do these things. For example, if your expect them to cook a meal while your are away, you may need to assess their ability.

Find out what the going rate of pay for baby-sitters in your area is and ask them if this rate is acceptable. Of course, if you require additional duties you should expect to pay more.

Once you have hired a sitter, take them through your home and show them the fire extinguisher, first aid kit, phone, emergency exits, and how to use window and door locks. Tell them what your child is allowed to do, and not allowed to do.

Leave the sitter a checklist that includes the following:

• Address and phone number of the home (for easy reference in case of emergency)
• Phone number and address where you can be reached.
• Someone they can contact if they can't reach you immediately
• Name and phone number of child's doctor
• Other special instructions or routines to follow, for example what time is bedtime, what snacks are allowed, and what television or movies they are allowed to watch, do they have a special toy or blanket for bed, do they have any allergies, do they take medication, how much and when, etc. Don't rely on the baby-sitter to remember all this information. Write it down!

Following these tips should make finding a baby-sitter an easier task and you can leave your child with some 'peace of mind'.