Lately it seems that almost everyone I see or talk to is expecting a baby over the next few months.  In these very unsteady economic times, one of the main topics on the minds of these soon-to-be parents is childcare.  What kind? Where? When do you look? How do you decide?  Parents with older kids have questions too because they're thinking about arrangements for before and after school, as well as getting their children to and from after-school programs.  There are so many childcare options available to families including day care centers, au pairs, live-in or live-out nannies and family members.  Parents want to know what the benefits of each option are and what is the best option, but in truth, there is not one best solution that will fit every family.  Although cost is not the only factor, it does often come up when families are making their ultimate decision of which childcare option to choose.

The Mary Poppins of today does not show up with an umbrella and a spoon full of sugar but she does still exist. For some parents, it is the nanny they have found on their own or through an agency. For others, it may be a special home daycare or an infant center that becomes your child's home away from home. Every family is different and it is important to do your research early and find what is most comfortable for you and your child. There are many different philosophies and approaches and you need to find the one that meshes with your family.

Parents also struggle with the "Saturday night babysitter" - many don't want to leave their kids with someone who, initially, is a stranger.  As parents, we all need to remember that occasional sitters do give us some much needed time off as well as providing kids with an adult playmate.  When you find a sitter that your kids click with, the kids will be the ones pushing you out the door. We often get asked, "how much should I pay for a sitter?" or "What can I expect from a sitter?" Print a list of interview questions and find information for researching preschools on LIParentSource.com >>> 

If your children are getting older, you may be thinking that they are able to be left home alone for short intervals while you run a quick errand or go to the supermarket.  It is amazing but there do not seem to be any requirements as to what age children can be left home alone.  You can start experimenting if you think that your children are responsible enough, but remember to create some rules so that everyone feels comfortable and safe.  Some suggestions are:

* Lock all the doors
* No friends or visitors
* No wheels (no biking, skateboarding, rollerblading)
* No cooking or knives (try to leave after they've eaten - one less thing to worry about)
* Allowed: homework, reading, computer, playing games.

What do you think is the right age to leave kids home alone? What made you choose the childcare option that you currently use?  What questions do you ask when you interview a babysitter? Share your opinions on PARENT CHAT >>>

Read below for input from some of Long Island's best childcare resources, they're sharing their tips with you.

The HALLOWEEN COSTUME EXCHANGE is scheduled for the morning of October 4th... If you have kids infant through 10 years old, you will not want to miss the opportunity to swap out your gently used costumes for something new. Click for details on this FREE event >>>

There are a lot of great events going on this weekend, don't forget to check the Events Calendar and read our blog on Examiner.com!  For more updates, follow us on Twitter and become our fan on Facebook!

Below is only a partial list of upcoming events and activities so be sure to click on our EVENT CALENDAR so you do not miss anything >>

Use the PARENT PLANNER to click on events and resources you are interested in and click PRINT MY PLANNER to print or email your list.

Our 2nd Annual Costume Exchange will take place on Sunday, October 4 starting at 10am. Save money and have fun by exchanging your child's gently used costume from a previous year for another costume to use for this year. Bring costumes sizes newborn to 10 to Clix Portrait Studios, clean and on a hanger. If you do not have a costume to exchange, you can also purchase a used costume for $10 and proceeds will go to benefit Hi-Hello Childcare Center of Freeport, a non-profit organization.

Clix Portrait Studios is located at 326 Walt Whitman Road/Route 110, Huntington

Click here for more details!

* Take advantage of any childcare flexible spending account offered by your employer. A childcare flexible spending account is a special account that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) created that allows you to set aside money for child care expenses with pre-tax dollars. Your employer will deduct a set amount of money from each of your paychecks and you can submit receipts from your daycare provider and receive this money tax-free.

*Inquire if your company has partnerships or offers discounts for certain child care provider services. Some larger companies will sometimes have on-site daycare or negotiate discount plans with local childcare providers to help offset child care costs.

*See if your public school district offers a half-day pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds. These programs are usually free and by signing-up your child, it will reduce your childcare needs to a half-day from a full day.

*Sit down with your employer and discuss the possibility of working a flexible schedule, job sharing or telecommuting. If your employer is agreeable, you may be able to use these arrangements to juggle your schedule and decrease your childcare costs.

*Check with your relatives or good friends if they are available to help with childcare.

*Consider a "nanny-share" - hiring a nanny and sharing the cost of childcare with a few good friends. This will allow you to pay less individually for child care costs and the nanny will make more money overall.

~Selena Fass, Owner, Absolute Best Care

Interviewing a caregiver for your children can be both challenging and exhausting. While you are seeking a candidate who is warm, loving, nurturing, and experienced, it is a daunting task to weed through candidates to find the best care for your children.

The first step in interviewing may involve a phone screening. While you may not feel you can properly evaluate a candidate over the phone, you'd be surprised how many candidates may be eliminated through this process.

Phone screening tips: Does the candidate speak English clearly? Remember, they will help teach your children how to read and write. Does the candidate have experience with children of similar ages to your children? Are they legally able to work in the United States? How long did they work with their last employer? Why did the job end?

The second step in interviewing will be arranging a face-to-face interview with the candidate. The face-to-face interview should be in your own home with the family present. You will want to show the candidate the environment they'd be working in, but more importantly, you want to see how they interact with your children.

Make the applicant feel comfortable. Keep the conversation relaxed and let the candidate do most of the talking. Keep your questions open-ended. Let your child spend some time with the candidate and look for the following:

o Body language and eye contact
o How does this nanny act with your children?
o How does your child respond to this individual (since it is the first time your child will meet this person, some hesitation is natural)
o How does this person handle your infant?

The types of questions to ask a candidate may vary based upon the age of your children.>>>continue article

~submitted by Lori Brust, Local Childcare Coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair

One consequence of the current economic crisis is that more mothers are working. More new moms are remaining in the workforce and at-home mothers who had decided to put their careers on hold are having to return to work. With an increase in dual income households comes an increase in the demand for quality childcare.

In some cases, this rising demand is driving up childcare costs.  Programs that promote cultural exchange by placing au pairs across the country are providing parents with an affordable childcare option.

Lori Brust, a local coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair in Long Island, has seen an increased interest in the au pair program among local families. "If you have two or three children, there really is no comparison. The cost of the program is about $335 per week and that's per family, not per child," Brust says. "Au pairs can provide up to 45 hours per week of child care which works out to be less than $7.50 per hour, regardless of how many children you have." >>> continue article

~submitted by Bright Horizons Family Solutions

The best way for you to make this important decision is for you to visit the child care centers and caregivers that you are considering. You may have to schedule an appointment. Do this early on in your pregnancy so you will have time to make a decision and possibly do subsequent visits. To help, a group of new and expecting parents have created a list of suggested questions to ask child care providers. Use this checklist below to ask questions and compare the programs you visit. Spend at least one hour observing at the facility and paying careful attention to interactions between adults and children. Once you feel that you have obtained adequate information about every aspect of the program, you will be able to make a decision about the best care and education for your child....>>>continue article