Choosing the right childcare can be an agonising process and leaving your little one with a stranger for the first time is a huge wrench. But it's essential that you don't leave it until the last minute. Finding the best childcare can take time and many nurseries have waiting lists running into months.

Whatever option you go for when choosing childcare, the most important thing should be that your child will be safe and happy.

Try to do as much research as you can, ensuring that if you choose a childminder or nursery they are Ofsted registered or that you check references if you decide to employ a nanny.

direct.gov.uk is a government sponsored site you can search for all the registered childminders, nurseries and schools in the UK. You can also look up Ofsted reports and find a guide to benefits that may be available to help with the cost of childcare.

Also take a look at websites, www.childcarenow.co.uk, www.childcare.co.uk and www.daycaretrust.org which helps to match your childcare needs with the appropriate carers.

Nanny

Nannies work in your own home and you act as their employer which involves extra responsibilities. A nanny can either live in or come to your house for a certain number of hours a week. Nannies are often the most expensive childcare option but many families share a nanny to split costs.

As well as caring for your child, a nanny should be able to provide plenty of fun and educational experiences for your child. Nannies are often more flexible in their working hours and can look after children of any age. They should also form a strong, consistent, one-to-one relationship with your child or children.

Because a nanny isn't required by law to have any training, it is up to parents to determine if they will give a high standard of care. This can be done by checking references thoroughly by getting the names, numbers and addresses of previous employers and speaking to them. Ideally, it's best to visit them in their homes to get a real understanding of what they thought of their nanny, rather than a quick chat on the phone.

You should also run a police check through the Criminal Records Bureau. You can do this at: crb.gov.uk.

As an employer, you are responsible for paying your nanny's wage or salary and also deducting the tax and national insurance contributions. This is more straightforward than it sounds. For advice, phone the Inland Revenue on 0845 6070143 and register as an employer. They will send you a cd-rom starter pack to help with calculations.

Nanny Tax is an example of a company that will do all this work for your for a set fee per year.

N.B. Many nannies are unregistered and therefore you won't be eligible for Working Tax Credit or childcare vouchers. However, if your nanny is registered with the voluntary Ofsted register, this would enable you to take advantage of childcare vouchers and depending on income levels, even tax credits!

Click here for the SureStart guide to choosing a nanny, finding a nanny, advertising for a nanny, interviewing tips, working with nannies, dealing with problems, checking references.

The Maternity Nurse Company - The Maternity Nurse Company is a small selective agency specialising in the introduction of maternity nurses to parents looking for a little help after the birth of their child to parents looking for a little help after the birth of their child

Nursery

Nurseries normally provide care for children from the ages of around 3 months up to the age of 5. A nursery should offer a clean, caring, safe and stimulating environment for your child and offer a structured daily routine with opportunities for fun and learning. Half the staff should be qualified and at least one member should have a first-aid certificate. .You should make sure that staff-to-child ratios are always:

1:3 for ages 0-2

1:4 for ages 2-3

1:8 for ages 3-5

Students or volunteers do not count towards the care ratios.

When choosing a nursery make sure it is registered with Ofsted Early Years (or in Wales by the Care Standards Inspectorate). This means that the premises will be inspected regularly for health and safety and the education and welfare of children. It will also mean that everyone working there has the right criminal checks.

The National Day Nurseries Association has a useful guide to choosing a nursery.

There are several types of nursery:

Private nursery - these are geared towards working parents and are usually open from around 8am to 6pm. They will normally take babies from a few months old and offer early education to 3 and 4 year olds
Local authority nursery - for children in the local community
Community nursery - a subsidised, non-profit nursery for local children. You will have to live in the catchment area and possibly meet certain social criteria to qualify, although some allow children of working parents in return for full fees. Visit ChildcareLink's website for more information: ChildcareLink
Workplace nursery - run on site by an employer
Pre-school nursery - for children aged between 3 and 5 years (although some pre-schools take toddlers from 2-years-old.) Most places are free from the age of 3 unless the nursery is run privately. Pre-schools close during the school holidays so can be more difficult for working parents. For more information about your local preschools call the Child Information Service on on 0800 960296. You can also visit ChildcareLink for more information

Advantages of choosing a nursery

• Run by qualified staff
• Allow your child to learn and play with other children
• Provide lots of facilities and activities for your child
• Care always available - no risk of being let down by your childminder or nanny if they are ill
• Provide meals
• Suit office hours
• They are inspected by Ofsted and required to meet set standards
• Open all year apart from Bank Holidays (note you will have to pay for the bank holidays if your child normally attends that day of the week)

Disadvantagesof choosing a nursery

• Your child may not have a continuity of carers
• Nurseries can be very busy places and they might not suit a shy child
• Some nurseries may not provide enough one-to-one attention needed for a small baby
• Fees can be expensive
• You don't choose the staff working there
• A nursery won't be able to look after your child when it's ill
• Watch out - if you're late picking up your child you could face a hefty fine!

Points to consider when choosing a nursery:

• Visit the nursery at several times of the day
• Check that all facilities, equipment and toys are in good condition, safe and clean
• Is it a warm and welcoming environment?
• Watch the interaction between staff and children - are they nurturing the children. Are they chatting amongst themselves?
• Do the children seem happy?
• What kind of meals does it serve? Is the food fresh and healthy? Are menus changed regularly?
• Chat to the staff?
• Ask what kind of one-to-one contact there is with babies?
• Click here to find a local Ofsted registered nursery.

Charges
Nursery fees range from £80 to £180 per week per child but some private nurseries can exceed this figure.

Childminder

Childminders look after children in their home and this may include their own children too. However, it doesn't mean that your child will be stuck indoors all day; childminders can take your child out and about in your local area, whether it's to the park, the library or a toddler group.

Unlike nannies, childminders are self-employed and fix their own hours. They are registered and inspected every three years by Ofsted and graded poor, satisfactory or good.

All registered childminders will have taken a short training course in childcare, including first aid, and will be able to provide a certificate to demonstrate this.

A childminder can look after:

Three children under the age of 5 (of whom only one can be under the age of 1)

Or

Six children under the age of 8 but only three of these should be under 5 and only one should be under the age of 1

These ratios include their own children.

A childminder will often work with the same family for years and can look after children of any age, although they are only registered to look after children up to the age of 8.

Advantages of a childminder

• Offer a home-from-home environment for your child
• Usually experienced carers and often a mother themselves
• Registered and police checked
• May look after your child when they are ill
• May collect your child up from nursery or school
• Your child will be cared for in a small group
• A childminder can become a lifelong friend

Disadvantages of a childminder

• If the childminder or their children are ill, it can mean you are left stuck
• Your childminder might be caring for children with a range of ages which might not suit your child
• Less facilities and activities than a nursery
• You may have different view points in bringing up your child
• You might prefer to have your child cared for individually
• Click here for the SureStart guide to childminders

The National Childminding Association for England and Wales has a great guide to choosing a childminder which includes a useful list of questions to ask.

Click here to find a local Ofsted registered childminder.