Every parent wants to choose the best daycare to ensure that their child is in a safe and nurturing environment that suits their personality and temperament. The first step in selecting the right childcare is to determine whether you're looking for a nanny, homecare provider or a professional childcare centre. Then, review the following information to help you assess the quality of these options in your neighborhood.

Licenses
Most childcare providers require licenses, from either the state, county or local government, depending on your location. This license determines the number of children they can care for. In some areas, in-home daycare or childcare for a small number of children may not require a license, so find out about the legal requirements for your area before you start your search. But remember, having a license doesn't guarantee good quality daycare - you still need to research a number of facilities and ask lots of questions. Friends, family and colleagues with young kids in your neighborhood are often a good source of information about local centers.

Accreditation
Some daycare providers have accreditation with professional daycare associations. This may be an indicator of better-than-average childcare, because professional associations typically require higher standards than the minimum licensing criteria. For instance, most of these associations require that childcare providers have training in early childhood development and education, as well as an approved program for their childcare facility. Ask which accreditations each daycare has and research the associations they're affiliated with - policies and rules vary widely among different accrediting agencies.

Intuition
It's critical that you visit all of the daycares that you're considering, because your gut feeling about these facilities will be one of the most important indicators of whether your or not your child will thrive there. You know your child best. Trust your instincts, and check for the following elements at each daycare:

• The children are generally happy, engaged, clean and comfortable.
• You are welcomed when you make unexpected visits, and the children are busy with age-specific, constructive activities.
• The teachers have a genuine interest in the children.
• The center appears clean and safe.

Once you've examined all of the local options, visited neighborhood centers and inquired about licensing, accreditation and programming, you'll be in a good position to make the choice that feels right for your family and your child. You'll also have the information you need to prepare your child for a stress-free transition to daycare.