Welcome to our guide for families navigating the child care search process. Whether you're just starting out or looking to switch providers, we have collected the following valuable tips, resources, and tools to help you find the best care for your child. 

Tips for Finding Child Care 

Begin your search at least a few months in advance to ensure you have plenty of time to explore all options. If you are looking for child care for a younger child (under 3 years of age), we recommend beginning your search several months in advance, as waitlists for young children can be very long.

Determine the type of care that best suits your family's needs. Consider factors such as: 

  • Type of Care: Full-time, part-time, in-home, or center-based. 
  • Hours of Operation: Ensure the provider's hours align with your work schedule. 
  • Special Requirements: Any specific needs your child may have, such as dietary restrictions, allergies, or special education needs. 
  • Location: Proximity to your home or workplace for convenience. 

Schedule visits to at least three to five child care providers. During your visits, observe the following: 

  • Environment: Cleanliness, safety measures, and overall atmosphere. 
  • Staff Interactions: How staff members interact with children and their approach to discipline and education. 
  • Facilities: Availability of age-appropriate toys, books, and outdoor play areas. 
  • Activities and Materials: Observe the types of activities staff member offer children. Look for age-appropriate toys and materials, as well as whether these items are freely available to children. Observe the types of activities staff member offer children.

Ask each provider for references from current or past clients. Contact these references to ask about their experiences, including: 

  • Quality of Care: How satisfied they are with the care their child received. 
  • Communication: How well the provider communicates with parents about their child's progress and any issues. 
  • Reliability: Consistency and dependability of the provider. 

Ensure the provider is licensed and has up-to-date certifications. Important credentials to look for include: 

  • Licensing: Verify that the provider is licensed (if center-based) or registered (if home-based) by the State of Iowa. 
  • CPR and First Aid: Ensure all staff members are certified in CPR and first aid. 
  • Background Checks: Confirm that all staff members have undergone thorough background checks. 
  • Training and Professional Development: Ask about the type and amount of training and professional development staff members are required to complete every year.

Your intuition is a powerful tool when choosing child care. Consider how you feel about the provider and the environment: 

  • Comfort Level: Do you feel comfortable and confident leaving your child in their care?
  • Child's Reaction: Observe how your child responds to the environment and staff members during visits. 
  • Gut Feeling: Trust your instincts if something doesn't feel right and continue your search until you find a provider that meets your expectations. 

Tools to Aid Your Search

To assist you in your child care search, we've compiled a list of useful tools. These resources can help you find, compare, and connect with child care providers in your area, making the process more manageable and efficient.

  • Iowa Child Care Connect (C3)

    This online tool boasts a guided search feature that asks specific questions to match families with suitable child care providers. Users can also explore an interactive map, enter routes, and customize their search to find both home-based and center-based child care programs. 

  • Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R)

    Iowa CCR&R helps families navigate the process of finding suitable child care providers, including licensed preschools, child care centers, and home-based providers. Families can call, text, or email with a member of the CCR&R Parent Service Team to receive free, confidential referrals to child care providers with openings.

  • Iowa HHS Child Care Compliance and Complaint Reports

    Licensed and registered child care providers receive annual inspections by Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Summaries of these inspections, as well as complaint reports, are available online.

  • Guide to Choosing Quality Child Care

    This comprehensive resource is designed to help families navigate the process of selecting quality child care. It provides detailed information on different types of child care options, tips on what to look for in a child care provider, questions to ask during visits, and how to assess the quality of care.