You’ve spent your life so far caring for other people’s children, and now the shoe is about to go on the other foot. Like any concerned parent you want and deserve the very best for your child, so you’ll need to be armed with information not on just what’s available, but also the essential things that you will need to look out for when you find it.

Sadly, some people spend more time and energy choosing a car to buy than they do a carer for their child, so give it the time it deserves by doing some early preparation. When should you start looking? As soon as possible is the advice from Alison Kelly, manager of Nelly’s nursery, West Dulwich, London.

“It is difficult for parents because the last thing they want to be thinking of is returning to work before they’ve even had their baby,” she says. “But it is advisable for parents to register with us once they are around three months pregnant so that they won’t be disappointed. We have two nurseries both of which have two year waiting lists for baby places."

Your first port of call should be www.childcarelink.org.uk which is a free government funded children’s information service providing details of all registered day care provision all over the UK – simply click an area on a map and follow the links to find extensive lists of childminders, day nurseries, children’s centres, nursery schools, out of school clubs etc. wherever you like.

Take a peek at its last Ofsted inspection report - all reports are publicly available at www.ofsted.gov.uk. But don’t just go on the report alone, you need to reassure yourself that your child will be happy in that environment so here are some tips from the Daycare Trust, a national childcare charity, on things to look out for when visiting day care settings:

• Use only registered provision – you’ll need to get a childminders registration number to access their reports from Ofsted’s website 
• Find out if others recommend it 
• Good nurseries will be happy for you to visit unannounced, that way you can see the nursery as it is 
• First impressions count: happy, calm children and safe, clean premises bode well 
• Qualifications really matter. Research shows that children do best – socially as well as educationally, in childcare settings with high levels of qualified staff. And teachers will not be surprised to learn that the presence of at least one qualified teacher on the staff is one of the best indicators of quality. 
• Young children need stability and continuity of care from a reliable adult so ask about staff turnover. If there are more comings and goings than in a cabinet reshuffle, then you may need to look elsewhere. 
• Find out if there is an outdoor area as this is a real plus 
• Check how they manage children’s behaviour 
• Ask how they meet the individual needs of children, e.g. sleeping habits
• Have a look at the menu to see if meals are nutritionally balanced, interesting and appetizing

Not all children will be happy in a nursery setting; some fair better in a home environment so look at registered childminders, too. Childminders work in their own homes so often have other family members living with them. It’s a good idea to meet the family as they could well be in the house at the same time as your baby. Ask why she decided to become a childminder. Popular childminders often get their places filled quickly so again start your search for childcare early.

Both you and your baby will need to get on with the childminder, so see if there is a natural rapport between you. Note how she interacts with your baby and the type of questions she asks you.

Andrew Fletcher, director of communications for The National Childminding Association, a national charity for home-based child care, suggests five key questions: 

• Ask how many other children are cared for, ages and how long the childminder has been looking after them 
• Find out what kind of meals are provided and her views on healthy eating and sweets 
• Ask where she takes the children and how she transports them. If she takes them in her car, is there an adequate number of car seats and suitable insurance cover? 
• Find out what she would see as unacceptable behaviour and how she would manage it
• Ask what she would do in the event of an emergency

More ideas on questions to ask can be found by visiting
http://www.ncma.org.uk/mainwebsite/resources/document/choosing_home_childcare.pdf

Nannies are the least regulated form of day care for children, but offer great flexibility because they come to your home and work hours that suit your family’s needs. Often they are well-qualified and experienced, and some choose to register on Ofsted’s voluntary register which means they must meet certain standards but don’t automatically get inspected. Many parents choose to use an approved nanny agency as they carry out a series of checks including references, police checks, qualifications etc. You pay more for an individual nanny than you do for a childminder, but it’s possible to reduce costs by sharing a nanny.

Childcare is expensive and can easily be compared to the cost of a second mortgage so find out if you are entitled to any financial help – visit www.payingforchildcare.org.uk . Some schools offer childcare vouchers which allow you to pay less tax on your earnings, although it can affect any state benefits and pension funds. For more information see a booklet, ‘Family, work and you’ produced by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) available from its website http://www.atl.org.uk/atl_en/resources/publications/advice/family_work_and_you.asp

It may not be a simple as you thought, and it will take more time than you imagined and for good reason, says Alison Garnham, Daycare Trust’s Joint-Chief Executive.

“Choosing childcare can be a long, involved process – but it is one of the most important decisions any parent will make. Parents should never be afraid to ask searching questions of a childcare setting. We wouldn’t choose a school for our children without ensuring that it offered the highest-quality education available. So why would we settle for anything less when our children are at their youngest and most vulnerable?”

Tell us about your experiences of arranging childcare. jennifer.beckles@tes.co.uk