It’s summertime, and that means school is out. While some parents may enjoy the luxury of spending all day, every day, with their children, others have careers that require finding someone to keep their child during the workday.

Whether you are hiring a nanny or leaving your child at a child care facility, trusting someone else with the care of your child can be a scary thing. Many try to find a family member to babysit their child, but sometimes life situations require that you turn to strangers in caring for your most precious possession. Here are a few tips when looking for the perfect person or facility to care for your child:

Make a list and check it twice

Before you begin visiting care facilities or asking friends for recommendations, be sure to make a list of qualifications or qualities you would like your caregiver to possess. Some of the items on your list may be essential qualifications, while others may be negotiable, but you can be the judge of that. A list will give you a better idea of what is most important to you.

Mom super-vision

Use your mom eyes to pay attention to detail while visiting the facility. Is the home clean? How does the caregiver treat the children?

Photo credit: Shutterstock

Is the caregiver down on the ground interacting with the children, or do they seem to only provide supervision? Keep in mind that the early years of a child’s life are often the most important and one-on-one time with an adult is crucial.

“It's especially important that babies' first caregivers be warm and responsive,” an article on parents.com states. “And that even in group care, infants and older babies get a healthy dose of one-on-one time.”

You may not be able to spend the kind of quality time with your child that you would like to, but it is important to make sure that someone can do so.

By the numbers

The fee for child care will obviously be important to discuss, but other numbers should be set in stone.

First, a consistent schedule is essential in a child’s development. Discuss hours from the beginning and create an agreement. According to the University of Alabama, this consistency is vital because it frees a child’s mind of worry and teaches him accountability for his actions.

Another number to consider is the adult-to-child ratio. While some states have regulations in place to ensure that your child receives an adequate amount of one-on-one attention, others do not. According to childcareaware.org, if a person or facility is caring for babies, the ratio should be no more than 1 to 4 (one adult for four infants), but 4-year-olds or older can handle being in a group of up to 10 children for every adult.

More important than a job interview

Some may consider looking for child care a less important task than hiring someone at the workplace, but considering the far-reaching effects of this decision, you will see it is of the utmost importance. So treat it like the most important job interview you will ever conduct.

First, ask the right questions. Find out what a potential caregiver's qualifications are and ask if they do anything to improve their skills. Ask about their life experiences. Discuss what methods of discipline they use with children.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

Second, get recommendations. Ask your friends for referrals. If you don’t have any luck finding someone through referrals, ask caregivers for references who can vouch for their abilities and expertise.

If you are choosing a facility, you may consider stopping by unexpectedly just to get a peek into how it operates when it isn’t expecting you.

Develop an open and honest relationship

Start your relationship with the caregiver with open communication and continue that practice throughout their time caring for your child. Be sure to speak with the caregiver each morning when you drop your child off in the mornings and when you pick him up at night. If you see a problem, address it. If you feel something is off, ask.

If the time comes you feel there may be a better care option for your child, don’t be afraid to make a change. Your child has been entrusted to your care as a parent. Obviously, you can place that trust in someone else, but remember that you know what is best for your child. Follow your heart and be aware of your child’s needs.

With nearly 600 listings, KSL Local may be a great place to start researching options in your area.

Related topics