Mommy (that's me), whose age will not be disclosed, also is reaching a major milestone this week. I am going back to work. Not that I haven't been working for the last six months...I have. I am just going to start working outside of the house and start receiving a paycheck for my efforts.

In anticipation of me returning to work, my husband and I have started touring local day cares and have been struggling to make the biggest decision of our lives: Who do we trust to take care of our baby girl for 8,9, maybe even 10 hours a day?

Daycare has changed a lot since my younger days and we were shocked and amazed to see how high tech things have gotten! Video monitors, Internet cameras, finger print recognition...I will need training on just how to use the touch screen monitor to check my daughter in each morning! It's easy to get distracted by the bells and whistles each facility can offer but we have learned that, while it's important to research the child care facilities thoroughly, read reviews, and get personal referrals, the best advice I can give is to make a list of things that are important to you and trust your instincts.

Here is the list of questions/ requirements we usedwhen doing our tours and interviews (Remember, these were for our 6 month old. Questions for older children may differ):

1. What is the ratio of infants to caretakers?

2. Do you offer Internet viewing? Is there an associated fee?

3. Are naps and feedings schedules customized for each baby or done as a group?

4. How much time a day should we expect our baby to be out of her crib?

5. How much time a day will our baby get to spend outdoors? With what kind of safety/ supervision?

6. How are the cribs, sheets, toys, etc...cleaned and sanitized and how often?

7. What supplies do we need to provide and how will they be stored? What kind of supplies will the facility provide? (i.e some places provide baby wipes, some don't)

8. What is your holiday schedule? Does this match my employers holiday schedule?

9. What ages are grouped together in the same room? (some providers keep babies from 6 weeks- 12 months in the same space, others divide them up at 6 month intervals)

10. What are you fees for late pick ups if I am caught up at work or stuck in traffic?

11. Do you have an open door policy for parents where I can stop in and check on or spend time with my child whenever I want?

12. Is there an abundance of age-appropriate toys, books, etc...

13. Do you send home progress reports daily? Weekly? What will these reports include?

14. Do you send home copies of the children's lesson plans so we can incorporate the same activities into our playtime?

15. what is your discipline policy?

16. What is your sick child policy?

17. Can I bring my baby in to do a test day or half day before enrolling?

18. What kind of training and certification do the caregivers have? What kind of ongoing training and education is required?

19. Do you offer vacation credits?

20. What kind of security measures are in place to ensure only parents, children, staff and authorized visitors are in the building?

It may seem like overkill to some but putting our baby into daycare is not a decision we are going to make lightly and I would rather ask too many questions than not enough. I'm sure there are moms more annoying that me...aren't there?

Needless to say, we have found a place that satisfied our requirements and we are cautiously optimistic about our baby girl starting there is a couple of weeks. She will adapt and thrive because that's what babies do! Mommy, on the other hand, is going to need all the support she can get!

Wish us luck!