A Guide to Selecting a Child Care Program for New Moms

Even though you and your husband decided it was time to start a family three months ago, you are still shocked when the home pregnancy test you took is positive. You are ecstatic, shocked, nervous, happy, giddy, scared ... a million emotions surround you at once. You can't wait to tell your husband and spend the first night selfishly savoring the joy of the moment before telling friends and family the wonderful news.

You ask a few friends at work when you should start to look for a child care program, as you plan on returning to work when your baby is four months old but you are not prepared for what you hear next! All of your co-workers who have children in child care tell you there are waiting lists at all the best programs in town. They tell you that even if you get on these waiting lists right now, you may not have a spot assured by the time you need care.

This is the time for you to spend as much time as possible researching the most important decision of your life! Although your co-workers, friends and family members all have your best interest at heart, this is a decision that you and your husband/partner, or you alone, if you will be a single parent, have to make yourselves.

If you live in the United States, one of your first steps should be to contact your local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agency as soon as possible. You can find your local CCR&R by looking in the yellow pages, calling 411 or doing a google search for child care aware.org. This is a National organization that can provide CCR&R contacts for any city in the U.S. Trained staff will be able to tell you about child care options in your community and offer you a list of child care providers that match what you are looking for. These will be referrals only as they are not able to provide you with recommendations.

No one, not even your closest friend should recommend what child care program will be best for your baby, as the program your sister may love may not be the best option for you and your family. This is a decision you will have to make yourself.

In addition to a list of possible child care providers (child care centers, family child care homes, au-pair/nanny agencies), you will also receive information about quality indicators of care, such as adult/staff child ratios, staff education/experience, health/safety, curriculum, licensing, accreditation, parent involvement and more. They will also be able to tell you about other community resources that may be of benefit to you. Plan to visit several programs before making your final decision and contact your local licensing office to find out about any serious complaints about programs you are considering.

Spend the next nine months learning as much as you can about the new person that will be entering your life and about the type of child care program you want for this precious baby. Use this time wisely, to research, interview and select a child care provider, as once the baby is born, you will not have much time to devote to interviewing and visiting prospective child care providers.

While mothers in many other countries are able to stay home with their baby for the first year and receive a government subsidy, most employed mothers in the United States have to return to work within the first six months of having their baby. With the right amount of research and information, you will be able to make an informed child care decision and select a quality program that will benefit your baby and your family. Congratulations!