Tips for choosing day care

Child-care professionals recommend that parents weigh all the options before choosing to put their children in day care. Once the reasons are clear, the following points should be considered:

* Proximity to the workplace -- allows more time together in the mornings and evening; parents can check up on kids during breaks; important for mothers breastfeeding.

* Professional day care staff -- staff should be qualified and experienced; is the atmosphere safe and secure? Does the day care center provide regular reports on the health and development of children?

* Health care, nutrition and educational programs -- is there a doctor, nurse and child psychologist on call and do children have regular checkups? Children should receive nutritious meals and snacks and have stimulating and educational games.

* Affordability -- how does the cost compare to hiring a babysitter and paying doctors' fees?

-- David Kennedy