Customer Reviews

The Unofficial Guide to Childcare

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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If you're the kind of person who likes to research things thoroughly, this is the book for you. It's far more comprehensive than any other childcare book on the market, covering important issues that most other books ignore, like how to prevent problems in your relationship with your childcare provider (whether a nanny or a member of the daycare center staff) and how to troubleshoot any difficulties that happen to arise. There are also tons of great checklists and valuable resources (e.g. a list of caregiver-child ratios for various ages and for each state; lists of the most useful childcare web sites; the inside scoop on what to pay your childcare provider; and more). I think this book should be required reading for every working parent in America!

The Unofficial Guide to Childcare is unquestionably the most comprehensive guide to childcare on the market today. Whether your situation is best served by an out-of-home daycare provider, an in-home care provider, or care given by a friend or relative, this book provides the family with solutions and advice that really work--for everybody involved. You'll discover time- and money-saving tips offered by a dynamic mother of four who's tried it all and who dispenses her wisdom in a clear, concise, easy-to-follow format-thoughfully composed to make this aspect of your life easier to manage.

And if you know of someone who's expecting, remember that this book is the perfect shower gift for a mom who will be returning to work after her baby is born. She'll feel confident in her childcare decision when armed with Ann Douglas and The Unofficial Guide to Childcare.

Why is it so difficult to find a book that is succinct and gets to the point quickly? I could not believe how much useless information was in this book, burying the information I was really looking for.

I am an intelligent working mother. I want answers quickly. I don't have time to wade through so much stuff that is irrelevant to me. Who has time to read all this stuff? It seemed like the author kept adding more "stuff" so the book would be longer. Some chapters... like returning to work while breastfeeding... were completely irrelevant to the topic of locating childcare.

What I did like about this book was that it made me feel "normal" about the feelings I am having. However, there was way too much of that kind of stuff in a book that I hoped would be a more hands-on guide that would help me understand all my childcare options and guide me through the minefield of locating somebody I could trust.

I'm still waiting for the "official" guide to childcare!

I agree with other reviewers. This is a very helpful guide to choosing childcare, whether you are looking for childcare for a baby, a toddler, a preschooler, or a grade schooler. The author covers both in-home and out-of-home childcare options -- everything from family daycare to childcare centers to nannies and babysitters. I also thoroughly recommend Choosing Childcare for Dummies, another book by Ann Douglas (the author of The Unofficial Guide to Childcare) as well as The Nanny Book by Susan Carlton and Coco Myers (for parents who are considering hiring a nanny).

Thank goodness for Ann Douglas and this book. It's so hard to know if you've done your due diligence in looking for childcare options. This book helps you take control and feel empowered to make good choices for you and your family. Hurray!

If you are a parent transitioning from home to office, an already working parent, or a parent to-be researching your childcare options, this book is for you.

It's easy-to-read format makes it simple for any busy person to get down to the 'nitty-gritty' of what they can expect from any type of childcare arrangement. The quick reference lists are a must-have when visiting institutional daycare and the work agreement template for those who have in-home arrangements is extremely thorough. The trouble shooting tips are also very no-nonsense.

Ms. Douglas did her homework and more and has brought the best most comprehensive "unofficial" guide to parents all over the world!

I wish this book had come out when I was pregnant! I love to share this book with all working mommies to-be as well as Human Resource professionals and always have extra copies sitting on my shelf.

As a new mom, trying to sort out my childcare options before returning to work, I was terrified. None of the books that I had read were very helpful. Then, my sister gave me this book at my shower and it was a godsend. I felt like the author was my big sister who had gone through the process of finding suitable childcare and knew that is was hard and emotional -- so she wanted to help me out. The resources in the back of the book were so comprehensive that I didn't have to search anywhere other than right in this book! If I seem thrilled with this book, it's because I am. The Unofficial Guide to Childcare is just the sort of no-nonsense guide that mothers need.

There is not a whole lot of helpful information out there when evaluating childcare choices. I found this book to be a wonderful source of information about all daycare options. It really tells the pros and cons and was very comprehensive. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for childcare!

Having this book on hand is like having a sympathetic, understanding friend who knows everything there is to know about finding and keeping the best care for your child, how you and your child feel about all the childcare issues, and what you need to do to prevent trouble -- and to fix it all those times you can't prevent it! The appendixes are especially helpful, with their lists of organizations, books, websites, important documents and relevant statistics. I would recommend it highly for parents, caregivers and childcare professionals.

I love this book! Included here is everything you may have wondered about from costs, various arrangements, handy tips, and common sense advice from someone who has obviously been there! I recommend this book to anyone, new parent or old hand at this, who wants to know all the options out there. An indispensable resource.