Family Law

Tips for Finding Childcare

By J. Benjamin Stevens

The transition back to work can be a very difficult time for new mothers.  Deciding, arranging, and feeling confident about the person or people that are essentially going to rear your child for the eight-plus hours you go to work is no small accomplishment.  The following tips can help make this process at least a little easier:

1. Map out your hours and figure out the math. Figure out what hours you will work to determine what hours you will need child care.  This will help you decide whether it will make more sense to hire a full-time nanny or use a day care. 
2. Cast a wide net. Utilize all resources available to you to help identify potential childcare providers.  These can include internet resources (such as Craigslist or Yahoo's Peachhead Nanny), local parenting classes, churches, friends, and family members.
3. Hire a teacher. Across the country, teachers are being laid off left and right. Many are looking for extra work after school hours, and teachers can make ideal childcare providers because (a) they have experience and backgrounds working with children and (b) they have been finger-printed and background-checked.
4. Give it time. Make sure you give your child (and his/her new caretaker) enough time to get adjusted. 
5. Give important information. No matter who is caring for your child (nanny, day care, even a family member), always make sure that you're leaving them with all pertinent information, including names and contact numbers of family members, allergies, medical conditions, and local numbers and addresses of ERs.

Source: "Returning To Work: Top 5 Tips for Finding Childcare" by Jennifer Brandt Herschko, published at Jobs.AOL.com.

Full post as published by SC Family Law Blog on April 20, 2010 (boomark / email).