In a perfect world, parents would be able to stay with their children all day until they make their way onto the school bus for their very first day of kindergarten. Unfortunately, in today's economy it is no longer feasible for one parent to stay home and watch the children forcing parents across the nation to find suitable child care alternatives. Many new parents are afraid to leave their children even for a few hours during the first few months so looking outside the family for childcare may seem terrifying. If you're maternity or paternity leave is coming to an end, you may be forced to ask your self a very important question. Who will care for my child while I'm at work? If you find your self pondering this question here are some of your options and what pro's and con's come with each.

What are my options?

If you are a first time parent or you stayed home with previous children, you may not be aware of what your options are. In general, there are four childcare option available to parents. They are as follows:

• Day Care/ Child Care Centers: Day Care or Child Care centers are places that offer group care for children. While some parents are leery of these places due to bad wraps they had in the past, many parents look to these places as one of the most reliable sources of child care.

Positives:

• Multiple care givers who are trained in early childhood education.

• Day Care Centers need to be licensed and are heavily regulated.

• Children have the opportunity to socialize and interact with peers.

Negatives:

• Care givers are often responsible for watching several children.

• Not all centers will care for infants making them hard to find.

• Often lack the flexibility you may need in your child care -- Parents are often held to very specific time frames when dropping off or picking up children and most centers and many centers are closed on holidays and weekends.

• Family /Home Day Care: For parents who do not want to place their child in a stereotypical daycare, home or family daycares offer a suitable alternative. In this type of child care takes place in the care givers home.

Positives:

• Care takes place in a home environment.

• Smaller number of children than in a day care center.

• Generally more flexibly and can work with your work schedule.

Negatives:

• While a day center will still function if an employee gets sick, a home care center may not stay open should the care giver be ill or have an emergency.

• There are no supervisors who monitor the care your child receives.

• Home care centers are not held to the same licensing and requirements that a day care center is.

• Nanny/Sitter: A nanny or a sitter is often a terrific option for parents who wish to keep their child in the house and out of large day care centers or home care centers.

Positives:

• Children can remain in the home while they are being supervised.

• Often much more flexible than other child care options.

• Nanny or Sitter provides one on one care for your baby.

• Convenient for parents who don't have time to drive to a care center.

Negatives:

• You child does not have the opportunity to interact with other children unless it is organized by your or the care giver.

• The are little if any rules or licensing that regulate your nanny.

• You will be required to keep paperwork documenting the hours your nanny work, what they revive as pay, and what taxes are being withheld if any.

• You are left with no care option should she/he quit, become ill, or have an emergency.

• Care by Relatives: For parents who are lucky enough to have in family child care aviable this can be a terrific option for child care.

Positives:

• Family and friends will often have a vested interest in the well being of your child.

• Family and friends are often more in tune to what you value in child care.

• Your child is always with a familiar face.

Negatives:

• The age of family or friend responsible for your child can often effect their ability to effectively care for them. This is especially true for the elderly.

• A difference in child care methods may cause problems between you and the friend or family member.

• May be hard to establish guidelines and pay rates with a friend or family member.

What to Look For in A Child Care Program

Regardless of what type of child care you use, you should always be observant and ask your self the following questions

• Am I comfortable with the adult to child ratio

• Does the facility appear to be clean and well maintained?

• Are children left unattended?

• Are the children happy?

• Are their any obvious signs of neglect?

• Can I drop in whenever I want? (If the answer is no, do not leave your child there regardless of their reasoning)

• How does/do the caregiver(s) interact with the children?

• What accreditation, experience and licensing does the facility or care giver have?