Step by-step child care checklist: questions to think about
Take time to think about some questions: What is your budget? What hours of care do you need? Also consider your child's personality and developmental stage. You can find child care that provides a safe, comforting, and engaging environment for your child, while also meeting your family's needs.
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Step 2: know your family’s needs
- Budget
- Consider how much your budget allows for child care costs
- Check eligibility for help to pay for child care
- Location
- Does the care need to be close to home, work, or school? Think about travel time and the provider’s hours of operation.
- Hours and days needed
- Do you need full- or part-time care?
- What hours do you need care?
- Do you need care on certain days?
- Types of child care
- Think about the different types of child care and decide which one is the best fit for your family.
Step 3: start your child care search
Visit the availability portal to search for providers. Use the search filters to find the best fit.
- Note the names, license numbers, and contact information of providers that may be a good fit.
- Review Texas Health & Human Resources Child Care Regulation’s website for provider inspection reports.
- Search each provider website to learn more about their program.
- You might want to keep favorites or remove some providers after reading reviews or inspection results.
Step 4: contact providers
- Look up your list of providers again on the availability portal. There may be information that answers questions you have.
- Have a list of questions ready before contacting providers.
- Contact each provider you are interested in to get more information or to ask questions.
- Schedule tours at each provider you are interested in. This allows you to see the environment your child will be in and meet staff. Take notes at each tour.
Step 5: choose your child care
- Let the child care provider know you have selected them. The provider will have you fill out paperwork and get your family set up.
Wondering what to ask providers? Try these questions!
Not sure what questions to ask a provider? Below are some common questions to get you started. Feel free to remove questions that do not apply to your family or add your own questions.
This tells you if the provider can care for your child right away or if you will be placed on a waiting list. If you need care immediately and a provider does not have an opening, contact other providers on your list.
This tells you if the care is in your budget. If you qualify for financial assistance through the child care services program, make sure the provider accepts it.
- This shows you if the care is available when you need it.
- Don’t forget to include travel time to make sure you can drop off and pick up your child in time.
- Meals and/or snacks may be included in the provider’s rate or parents will need to bring them.
- Discuss dietary needs your child has.
Providers may ask for extra clothes, blankets, or other items. It’s good to know what you need to provide.
This allows you see what your child’s day will look like.
- Providers have rules for children who are sick and when they can return to care.
- Think about a back-up plan for care when your child is sick and cannot return to care immediately.
Many providers have a curriculum (learning plan) they use to teach children in their care.
- Depending on your child’s disability, providers may be able to accommodate. Providers cannot discriminate against children with disabilities and must make reasonable modifications. More staff or equipment may be needed to provide care. Discuss the disability with the provider.
- As a parent of a child with a disability in the child care services program, you must start the process for the provider to receive an inclusion rate for your child. The provider cannot start this process. This allows the provider to be paid a higher rate to care for your child so the provider can make reasonable accommodations or modifications needed