Parents of children these days live fast-paced lives, full of work, educational, religious, social, and family commitments. At the same time, well-informed parents of young children are concerned about the safety of their kids when childcare is required, so what do parents do to ensure their kids are getting the best--and the safest--childcare in their absence, whether it is a temporary childcare solution or a regular part of a child's daily routine?

Every parent knows there will be occasions when they may need to provide childcare for their child. During the day when they are at work, on weekends when they have adult social commitments, when parents must travel away from home for business or family, have doctor's or dentist appointments, or being ill or incapacitated are only a few instances when childcare in your home or at another location may be necessary and desirable.

Certain decisions must be made to determine whether a childcare provider is right for you and your child.  And, yes, childcare providers should provide several references. But parents need to do their homework too.  Talking to other parents about childcare providers and consulting the Better Business Bureau if the childcare provider is a business entity are good ideas.   Very good resources on whether a childcare provider could be a fit for your child can be your neighbors, friends and family members, and other parents in your church or social groups who have used a childcare provider's services over a period of time. 

The first rule of thumb in selecting a childcare provider is determining they are mature and responsible. In most cases, gone are the days when you could ask your neighbor's 13 year old to come over and watch little Joey--and feel totally okay about it. Also, your child should feel comfortable and safe with your selection of a childcare provider--and the childcare provider needs to understand your requirements--and respond well to your child's needs.  Parents need to feel comfortable that if a minor crisis should arise in their absence, the childcare provider could at least take care of things temporarily until parents are able to be with their child. 

In addition, parents need to know that their child is safe with a childcare provider.  In some locales, lists of licensed childcare providers may be available from a county department of social services, local schools, or community-resource centers, but parents still need to check the providers' employment backgrounds and get references and identification information (i.e., driver's license number, address and phone numbers).  Interviewing prospective childcare providers is important too, and parents need to take the time to interview, get resumés, talk with past employers, teachers, relatives, friends, or neighbors and ask them about your prospective childcare provider's childcare qualifications. Parents may even want to consult their state's law enforcement departments to learn how they may access the sex-offender registries and criminal history checks on file.  To learn how to do this, parents may go to:  http://www.nsopr.gov, the U.S. Department of Justice's National Sex Offender Public Registry.

Once you have selected a childcare provider, it's important to make sure the one you do select understands what you want them to do in your absence. Writing a job description and setting down basic rules, especially when the care is to be provided in your home, noting what your child can or cannot do in your absence, such as what your child can eat or drink, when they can watch TV or use the computer, what they can or cannot access on TV or the computer, when they should be in bed are some examples. What a childcare provider is expected and permitted to do in your home in your absence should be a part of those rules as well. 

It's a good idea to discuss fees and any other administrative arrangements with your childcare provider in advance, clearly noting the amount of time you expect to be away from home and where you or a trusted family member or family friend can be contacted in case of emergency.  Childsafetyblog.org thinks these tips will help you take some of the worry out of selecting dependable, safe childcare for your child in your home.