Finding good, safe and dependable child care in your own area and neighborhood is often a bit stressful and even somewhat concerning. Start by checking your local or state child care regulatory organization and ask for a list of certified or credentialed child care service providers in your area.

Be prepared to interview a visit several child care facilities in your area before deciding on which one is right for you and your child. Make a list of question that you would like to ask, phone and book an appointment time and then go and interview each agency or individual. Your first question should probably be "Are you certified or credentialed and what are your employee's qualifications?"

Do some research ahead of time on the internet. Most child care facilities have a website where you can find information about programs, qualifications, specialization and even support for children with special needs. If you don’t like what you see on the webpage, you may want to reconsider even setting an interview.