You've read all the advice about how to choose a child care provider. You've done the research to learn what type of care is best for your child and family. Now you're ready to hire a candidate, right? Hold on. There's more to finding a caregiver than checking license numbers or choosing group care rather than a nanny. How will you ensure the relationship you're starting today can survive the next few weeks, months or years? Consider the following steps in your approach to hiring these important new people in your baby's life.

Whether you're looking at daycare centers, hiring a nanny or trying to find a weekend sitter, you might already have a set of interview questions in mind before you sit down with a candidate. Add to the list questions that may reveal how stable a relationship the candidate can provide. For example, ask about her work history. Has she changed jobs frequently? If so, can she provide a solid reason why? Does she already have a job with another family part-time? Consider the possibility that the other family may eventually change or increase her hours. How will such a change affect her work with you?

Ask also about her short- and long-term goals. Is she a student about to graduate? Is she a drifter uncertain about her future? Someone without clear goals might leave you high and dry if something more interesting comes along. If you're concerned about a perceived lack of direction, consult her references and get an idea of how reliably she's performed for other employers -- and whether she's left any of them in the lurch. Conversely, ask a candidate who does have long-term goals how you fit into her plans. Will she be in town a year from now? If it's a daycare center you're considering, ask about the turnover rate of the staff. Find out how long the head teacher has been employed there and what jobs she's held previously.

Once you've found one or more candidates you think are a good match for your family, you still have some work ahead of you. Don't plan to hand over the house keys to the first caregiver who seems to fit the bill. Establish a trial period, perhaps two weeks in length, during which neither party is under contract to the other. You and your potential caregiver should decide up front how much money you'll offer per hour during the trial period. If you're working with a daycare center, they may have their own rules about how often you can visit and how much you'll need to pay to register your child.

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