So, you’re a working mom and you’ve got a dilemma—you want quality childcare for your little ones, but you don’t know where to start. What’s a mom to do? How do you find great childcare? It can be challenging to find the right childcare, there’s no doubt about that! But the right spot is out there if you know where to look.

Focusing on the right areas from the start can help you narrow down the best possible choices as you navigate the sometimes-curvy road of quality childcare. We here at MomsTribute.com want to offer our readers the best time management tips for busy working moms—especially when it comes to finding great childcare for their precious treasures.

What Is Most Important to You?

First, you have to figure out what’s most important for your family. Everyone’s answer might be different, and that’s okay! Here are a few common “top of the lists” as it relates to childcare providers.

• Reputation
• Curriculum
• Cost
• Hours
• Location

Your “must-have’s” or “most important” might be one or even a combination of two or more of these choices. Let’s break down a few and how they might affect your family.

The reputation of a childcare provider is most likely high on your list of importance. You’ll want to check for certification and licensing as a first step. This will help ensure your child is in a safe environment in a center that is required by law to meet certain health and safety standards. These centers will also have trained staff who have undergone background checks.

After licensing checks, you can learn of any given provider’s reputation by asking around or by checking the internet for reviews. Ask on social media if anyone in your area has any experience with various centers or providers.

Here's a tip! You can ask the facilities to schedule a tour of their buildings. This can help you determine if the provider will be a good fit for your child.

Curriculum can be anything from a specific method used for teaching to the provider’s typical daily schedule. Do you want to be sure your little ones learn as much as possible before entering school? This might be important to families who have high academic expectations. On the other hand, some families may want a loose curriculum or schedule, allowing their kids to be kids for as long as possible. Neither way is wrong. You simply have to decide which one is most important to you when narrowing down a list of providers.

Cost is certainly a top contender for the most important element of any childcare provider choice. After all, your children can’t stay in a program when you can’t pay for it. Here’s a tip! Call around to several centers or providers in your area to get a firm idea of the going prices around you. This will help you set realistic expectations where your budget is concerned.

Hours are another very important factor for many families. If you work second shift, then you’ll want to be sure the provider you choose has hours that can accommodate. Typical hours for many daycare centers are 6AM to 6PM. However, it is possible that centers in your area may have shorter or longer hours. Finding one that meets your needs will be important.

Another consideration might be the provider’s location. Is it conveniently located near your home or workplace? Or, it could be that curriculum is the most important item on your list. If that’s the case, you might be less worried about location. For many parents, making a long drive is no big deal if it means their child is getting the level of care that’s desired.

Popular National Brands

National brands which follow pre-set standards are the recommended child care centers of MomsTribute.com. These are particularly popular in large cities and metropolitan areas. Here’s a bit of information about some of the most well-known.

• Kinder Care

This is one of the oldest and most trusted brands in America. Founded in 1969, they’re in 40 states and have over 1500 centers. They welcome infants through school aged children, and they have many workplace-sponsored childcare facilities (such as with Google).

• Kiddie Academy

This brand is growing in popularity! They’ve got over 250 locations, and their focus is on life essentials, health and fitness, and S.T.E.M./technology.

• Montessori Academy

This is a highly respected international brand that focuses on 5 key curricula—practical life, sensorial, mathematics, language, and culture. Its main draw is a true learning experience for children through gentle direction and independent learning.

Ultimately, the type of provider you choose needs to best meet your own needs. If you’re curious about the best kid friendly venues in your area, you should download the kid friendly venue app. With the app, you’ll be able to read reviews from other working moms like yourself!

Katie C