Finding Child Care

Start your search several months to a year before you need the care. Some providers will put you on a wait list and contact you as the date of desired care approaches. Other providers will put you on a waitlist once they reach capacity and call you when they have an opening. When you contact a provider and discuss a waitlist, be sure you know which of these two types of lists you are dealing with.

You can choose in-home care with a nanny or babysitter, family day care, or a center-based program, or even backup care. To learn more about these options and what to consider when making a choice, check out the resources on Care.com or review the helpful Choosing Child Care tip sheet from the EEC.

Start with the searchable directory on the EEC website. In Massachusetts, EEC is the licensing agency for family day care and center-based programs. You can search its website for care that is close to home, work, or along your commuting route. EEC licenses the family day care providers on its site. You can find more information about any provider's history with regulation compliance by contacting EEC and asking for this information.

Care.com includes articles on how to select childcare candidates, interview questions, how to decide which programs to visit, what to look for during visits, checking background and references, and how to make a decision.

You can also request and pay for background checks on the providers who are posted on the Care.com site. Whether you use this feature or not, be sure to review the information on Background Checks on Care.com.

Care.com can help with information and tips to help your child and family transition to the new program.

There are a variety of ways to finance the care you want for your child:

1. Dependent care flexible spending account — If you are benefit-eligible, you can set aside up to $5000 on a pre-tax basis each year to cover eligible childcare expenses.
2. Child and dependent care credit — When you file your taxes, use the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Form.
3. Financial support — The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) provides assistance to eligible families so their children can attend high-quality early education programs.