The child care search and retention process can be so overwhelming that even the most sophisticated of working parents fantasize about elusive secrets to success which will unlock the doors and reveal Mary Poppins.  Reality is harsher: finding and keeping quality child care involves lots of research, preparation, time, energy, and anxiety.  The experience is much easier to handle if another working parent who has successfully done it is there with realistic advice, confidence, and a soft shoulder.

In the American family, dependable childcare is becoming more of a necessity than ever before. But what type of childcare will work best for your child, your family, and your life?

THE ANXIOUS PARENTS' GUIDE TO QUALITY CHILDCARE answers your questions concerning this most important of decisions. Topics explained and explored include:

• Coming to terms with your need for outside help
• Learning to trust others to assist in your child's upbringing
• Finding the perfect nanny or day-care facility
• Screening, interviewing, and checking references
• Conducting on-site visits to day care centers, and knowing what to look for
• Establishing and maintaining a positive relationship with your caregiver

THE ANXIOUS PARENTS' GUIDE TO QUALITY CHILDCARE eases the stress and helps you to make the right decision for your child's future ... and your own peace of mind.

"This comprehensive guide gives parents all the tools needed to find quality daycare.  Covering everything from research to advertising, interviewing tips, and how to be a good employers for both in-home and out-of-home child care. Not only does Ms. Ehrich help you with sample questions, but she also outlines the questions parents need to ask themselves about parenting philosophy. A must read for parents to make this most important decision about who will be caring for the children.

"Well-organized and thorough ... The author is, in my opinion, an expert in this field.  She's uniquely qualified as a parent who has successfully navigated all the options out there, and come up with a winning formula you and I can adapt and use to find the child care giver ideal for our family's needs. Besides being valuable to parents, this guide has much to offer the child care professional looking to meet and exceed the classification "high quality."  By adopting some of the best practices parents like Michelle Ehrich are looking for, caregivers can expect to form lasting, quality relationships with the families they care for.... I only wish I had found THE ANXIOUS PARENTS' GUIDE TO QUALITY CHILDCARE when I began my search for childcare two years ago."—Danielle Moore-Thomas, About.com (November, 1999)

"If you are a working parent or are thinking about going back to work, this book is a great resource. It covers every aspect of how to find the right childcare provider for your children and how to keep good childcare as well.... Michelle Ehrich’s book is very thorough and easy to read.  It gives you several options for what kind of childcare you may want to have and what kinds of things to look for while searching for that 'special someone' ... very encouraging and optimistic—you CAN find the right person to care for your children when you are not able to be with them."—THE PARENTING PLACE NEWSLETTER (November 1999)