It is hard to be a working parent when you have children. If they are small and not in school, how can you find someone to care for them who you can sure will keep them safe? Even though you check references, the references could be written by friends. I found this out the hard way and had an unpleasant experience. Fortunately, I always knew to have a neighbor stop by to see how things were going, so I was able to handle the problems that arose.
If you are going to put your child in a commercial childcare facility, you will want to check it out thoroughly. I have visited some that were pretty bad. The facility should be licensed and it is always a good idea to talk to some of the mothers who have children there. Stopping by at different times of the day can show you if the children are happy and clean. I would ask what the policy is about sick children. Do they send them home or have a separate room where they can go? I had one patient who was always sick a few days after he had been in a childcare facility. I had another one who got into dishwasher detergent under the kitchen sink and ended up with surgery on the esophagus or feeding tube.
It is important that you know the medical history of any childcare worker either in your home or in a childcare facility. Have the workers had recent chest X-ray, had their fingerprints taken and are they smokers? Did they give a letter from their physician?
Some good resources to find help are college employment agencies, au pair agencies, your child's doctor, and parent newsletters. Networking with others parents can be helpful. My son found two different good nannies from the agency, Nanny Care. Both women were college educated and were great.
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