The Unofficial Guide to Childcare [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Ann Douglas (Author) "The spin doctors in advertising agencies across the country like to paint a rosy picture of what it's like to be a working parent..." (more)
Key Phrases: family daycare setting, family daycare provider, family daycare home, Watch Out, United States, Head Start (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Childcare has always been a concern for parents. There are more than 20 million U.S. households with young children, more than half of whom receive care from someone other than the parents. So how exactly is a mother and/or a father to wade through the options to determine what's right for their family? The Unofficial Guide to Childcare can help set minds at ease with its unbiased, street-smart style and practical tools to help parents interview caregivers and evaluate childcare facilities. From assessing a particular child's needs to finding a caregiver, assessing health and safety practices to noticing warning signs in daycare facilities, to transitioning a child into daycare, this guide will aid parents as they make one of the biggest decisions of their lives.

From the Back Cover
The inside scoop… for when you want more than the official line! Nothing is more important to you than the welfare of your children, especially when you can't be at home with them yourself. But with so many childcare options—daycare centers, family daycare providers, baby-sitters, nannies, au pairs, and others—it's difficult to zero in on exactly the kind of care your child needs at a price you can afford. You need to know who you can trust. You want the inside scoop. The Unofficial Guide™ to Childcare gives savvy consumers like you a foolproof appraisal of everything you need to know to get peace of mind—with unbiased recommendations that are not influenced by any company, product, or organization. This book, like every Unofficial Guide,™ is intensively inspected by the Unofficial Panel of Experts, a team of top-notch childcare professionals. They ensure that you are armed with the most up-to-date insider information available on childcare, and are told exactly what the Official establishment doesn't want you to know. In this Unofficial Guide,™ you get: Vital Information that other sources can't or won't reveal—from where to find the best childcare to how much it really costs. Insider Secrets on how to evaluate and choose out-of-home childcare options, how to investigate potential caregivers, and what to do if you suspect child abuse or neglect. Money-Saving Techniques that help you set a reasonable salary for your at-home caregiver and take advantage of tax breaks for your childcare costs. Time-Saving Tips designed to help you find the best possible childcare situation in the shortest amount of time. The Latest Trends in childcare arrangements—even for children with special needs. Handy Checklists and Charts to help you coordinate your childcare schedule with the rest of your family life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 546 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 25, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028624572
• ISBN-13: 978-0028624570
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #660,633 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A smart person's guide to choosing childcare, October 27, 1999

By A Customer

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!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All your childcare questions answered expertly:, December 30, 1998

By A Customer

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Answers every possible childcare question, June 18, 2004

By	rachelle myers (Ottawa) - See all my reviews

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).