Choosing the type of care that is best for your child can seem like a fulltime job by itself. There are many options available. Among them are:nn• Child Care Centersn• Family Child Caren• In-home Caregiversn• Care Provided by Relatives, Friends and NeighborsnnIt is important to choose quality child care no matter which kind of provider you decide upon.nnA child care center cares for children in groups. Centers must be state licensed. Each state or territory has its own definition of licensed child care. Possessing a state license does not insure quality, however, it does set minimum health, safety and caregiver training standards which centers must maintain. All state licensed child care centers are inspected at least once a year.nnParents choose child care centers for a variety of reasons that include:nn• They believe larger groups, multiple caregivers and state inspections make programs safer and more dependable for their children.n• Parents respect the reputation of the child care program.n• Many parents think more staff, space equipment, toys and organized activities provide a better learning environment for their children. nnResearch continually tells us healthy development in children depends on safe and positive experiences during the first few years of life. Choosing good child care during these early years is one of the most important decisions you will ever make for your child.nnResearchers have identified several key guidelines to help you make the right choice for your child. Among those guidelines include:nn1. Appropriate Supervisionn2. Qualifications of the Directorn3. Child:Staff Ratio and Group Sizen4. Playgroundsn5. Lead Teacher Qualificationsn6. Immunizationsn7. Toxic Substancesn8. Emergency Plansn9. Fire Drillsn10. Child Abusen11. Medicationsn12. Staff Training/First AidnnQuestions you need to find answers for include:nn• Are the children supervised at all times?n• What kind of discipline is used?n• What about hand washing and diapering?n• Do all caregivers and children wash their hands often, before eating and after using the bathroom or changing diapers?n• Is the place where diapers are changed clean?n• Notice the technique used for changing diapers. Do caregivers always keep a hand on the child while diapering?n• Do caregivers take care in removing the soiled diaper without dirtying surfaces not already in contact with stool or urine?n• Do caregivers clean and sanitize surfaces after changing diapers? Do they wash their hands for at least 10 seconds and then rinse and dry? Is the water faucet turned off with a paper towel?n• Does the child care facility director have a bachelor’s degree in a child-related field?n• Has the director worked in child care for at least 2 years?n• Does the director understand what children need to grow and learn?n• Does the lead teacher have a bachelor’s degree in a child-related field?n• Has the lead teacher worked in child care for at least 1 year?n• Does the teacher use age appropriate lessons and toys?n• How many children are in the child care program?n• How many caregivers are present? The younger the children are, the more caregivers there should be.n• Is your child up-to-date on all required immunizations?n• Does the child care center have records proving the other children are up-to-date on immunizations?n• Are cleaning supplies, pest killers and other toxic substances kept in a safe place away from the children?n• Have there been checks for dangerous substances such as radon, lead, and asbestos?n• Is there a poison control number and information posted in a very visible location?n• Does the child care program have an emergency plan for sick, lost or injured children?n• Does the child care center have appropriate information about who to contact in the case of an emergency?n• Does the child care program have a disaster plan such as a fire, tornado, flood, blizzard or earthquake? Ask to see exactly what would happen in any of these disasters.n• Does the child care center practice drills once every month?n• Are the child caregivers visible by others at all times, so a child is never alone with any one caregiver in case of abuse situations?n• Have all caregivers gone through a background check? Ask to see the documents?n• Have all the caregivers been trained on how to prevent child abuse, how to recognize signs of child abuse, and how to report suspected child abuse?n• Does the child care program keep all medications out of the reach from children?n• Are caregivers trained and the medications labeled appropriately to be sure the right child gets the right amount of the right medication at the right time?n• Have caregivers been trained on how to keep children healthy and safe from injury and illness?n• Do caregivers know how to do first aid and CPR?n• Have child caregivers been trained to understand and meet the needs of children of all different ages?n• Do all child care staff, volunteers and substitutes know to place infants on their back for sleeping to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome?n• Are the playgrounds inspected for safety often?n• Is there a fence around the playground?n• Is there a sandbox and is the sandbox clean?n• Is the soil and playground surfaces checked often for dangerous substances and other hazards?n• Is the playground equipment the right size and type for the age of children who use it?nnSource: National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care. For more information call 1-800-598-5437, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center at Fitzsimons Campus Mail Stop F541, P.O. Box 5608, Aurora, CO 80045nnnnThis article is FREE to publish with the resource box.nn© 2007 Connie Limon All rights reservedn