Whether you’re returning to a job after maternity leave or rejoining the workforce after years of staying at home, you’ll probably need to find regular child care at some point. Nearly 11 million children under age 5 spend a portion of their week in the care of someone other than their mother—on average, about 35 hours per week. Here are five steps to help make the process of finding care less intimidating—and more successful. 

 1. Start looking now.
It is never too early to start looking for child care. Begin your search as far in advance as possible. It’s not a race—it’s just that no matter the age of your child or what type of facility you are considering, locating the right child care setting for your family may take a while.

2. Pick up the phone.
One of the best ways to help you navigate the sea of child care choices is to call an expert. Your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency can give you the facts about child care and a list of child care options in your area—both child care centers and family child care homes that may be right for you. You can find your local CCR&R by calling 800-424-2246 or visiting childcareaware.org.

Your CCR&R can also help you make sense of important state regulations that help ensure child care facilities operate safely. You’ll want to ask about the licensing requirements in your area and how you can obtain data about complaints and licensing violations (some states post this information online). Your CCR&R can also help you determine if you are eligible for any child care financial assistance programs.

 3. Visit and ask questions.
Once you’ve come up with a short list of facilities with the help of your CCR&R, recommendations from family and friends and other sources, it’s time to plan a site visit. A quality child care facility should let you drop in at any time, unannounced (if it doesn’t, it’s probably not for you).

What to look for during a drop-in: 

• Adult to Child Ratio. Ask how many children there are for each adult. The fewer the children for each adult, the better for your child. The younger your child, the more important this is. Babies need an adult to child ratio of no more than 1:4 (one adult for four infants), while 4-year-olds are usually fine with a ratio of 1:10.
• Group Size. Find out how many children are in the group. The smaller the group, the better. Imagine a group of 25 2-year-olds with 5 adults, compared to a group of 10 with 2 adults. Both have the same adult to child ratio. Which would be calmer and safer?
• Caregiver Qualifications. Ask about the caregivers' training and education. Caregivers with degrees and/or special training in working with children will be better able to help your child learn. Are the caregivers involved in activities to improve their skills? Do they attend classes and workshops?
• Turnover. Check how long caregivers have been at the center or providing care in their homes. It's best if children stay with the same caregiver at least a year. Caregivers who come and go make it hard on your child. Getting used to new caregivers takes time and energy that could be spent learning new things.
• Accreditation. Find out if the child care provider has been accredited by a national organization. Providers that are accredited have met voluntary standards for child care that are higher than most state licensing requirements. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) are the two largest organizations that accredit child care programs.

Here’s a really great checklist endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics that parents can use when visiting potential child care providers.

4. Make an informed decision.
Think about what you saw at each visit, and make the best choice for your child and family.

5. Don’t be a stranger.
The hard part is over—you’ve found a caregiver for your child. But the work doesn’t end there. You and your provider are now partners in the ongoing care of your child.

Visiting and participating in events at your child's provider tells your child and your child's caregiver that you care. Try to have parent-caregiver meetings regularly, and ask plenty of questions. Offer to volunteer time when needed. Visit and read a book aloud. Join in field trips, holidays and special events. If you can't get time off from work during the day, make drop-off and pick-up times count by asking questions and showing interest in the day’s activities.