Call your local elementary school, social service agencies, and churches to ask for a list of childcare providers in the area. If money is an issue, ask about childcare subsidy programs also. This will be income based assistance to help you pay for childcare and hopefully will allow you to choose a better quality program. Then contact those providers and ask about their license, what credentials their teachers have, and what sort of program they provide for the children. Visit programs personally to see how clean the facility is and how the teachers interact with the children.

Reliable and inexpensive? Why should a person who is capable of giving your child adequate care be relegated to receiving little pay for that service? You should be looking for the best care you can find, not the least expensive.

Another option would be to scope out babysitters or daytime nannies in your area. You can set requirements such as them being CPR/first-aid certified, DCFS teacher-qualfied, having own transportation (or mention which bus/train lines run near your place), references–and do check on them, legnth of commitment you expect, and daily/hourly price. Throwing in that your job could be a good starter one for recent grads in early-childhood or education related field may be a good way to get some responses.

Hope this helps

you can check with your local childcare association, usually found thru the community agency or united way…they should have a list of accredited or licencsed childcare providers and centers and then you can check this list next to one from the local better business bureau and of course best of all call and visit the centers you choose as the best for your child and you and then ask the parents who go their how their opinions of the place are.

first, I just wanted to say I’m sorry a couple people are being rude (that drives me crazy about Y!A) of course your first concern is for your daughter but you have to be able to afford it, right?

anyway … I would start by looking for stay at home moms who babysit in their home. It is usually less than day cares and alot less children per adult. Also look at The YMCA’s childcare, it is income based.

best of luck!

so you want the cheapest care for your most precious gift ??