As a new mother about to return to work, it's vital that you take care to choose the right child care services for your child. It will make your work days easier when you know that your child is well-cared for and happy and that the daycare provider is doing everything possible to keep you informed and treated fairly. Asking the following questions can help you during your search for the right facility.

What Kind of Employee Screening Do You Do?

The first thing you need to find out about any daycare provider is how they choose their employees. Do they require a certain amount of early childhood education? Do they do criminal background checks? Do they require a certain amount of experience working with children? Find out as much as you can about how a facility selects their staff before signing up your child.

What is the Schedule Like?

It's a good idea to compare the schedules of different child care services in the area. One facility might have children go out everyday throughout the year, while others have them stay inside most of the time. Some facilities may have television time, while others do not. Carefully examine schedules to know what your child will be doing.

Can You Meet the People Who Will Watch Your Child?

It's one thing to meet the director of the facility and other staff members, but before you decide on a certain center, it's vital that you see and interact with the people who will be responsible for your child on a day to day basis. You can get a feel for their personality and whether it will suit that of your child; you can also ask them specific questions that may help you to come to a final decision about where to place your child for the day.

When Would You Be Notified if Something Happens?

For most medical emergencies, parents will be notified right away. However, many things can happen throughout the course of the day that you might want to know about before the end of the day. For example, if your child has a bathroom accident or an incident with another child, you may wish to have that information after it happens rather than waiting for pickup to find out; ask each daycare facility you're considering about when they notify parents about various incidents.

With these questions answered, you can make the best decision for you and your child. Choosing the right child care services can make going back to work easier for your entire family.