Make a list of the exact specification that you need for child care. This list will change as your children mature and grow. If you have more than one child make a list for each child as you may find that one child care facility is best for a younger child but is not as appropriate for an older child or vise versa.

When deciding on child care one of the first choices that parents must make is choosing a smaller, in residence child care provider or a larger, more structured type of child care. Each has both benefits and drawbacks that are unique to the various types of settings. Hours that you need child care will also be a determining factor in this decision.

There is a wide range of prices and costs for child care depending on the hours or supervision required, they type of service provide, the needs of the child and the average cost of child care for the area. There is often a strong correlation between price and service, but this is not always the case so careful shopping around is important.