Frequently Asked Questions by Parents

No, facilities listed on this site are State-licensed or exempt centers or homes. You can find a nanny or au pair through a nanny agency, referrals by friends/other parents, ads on bulletin boards, etc. If you find someone informally (not via an agency that screens and background checks), you can use the TrustLine background check service.

Child care centers close by 6:00 or 6:30 at latest; there isn't sufficient demand for 'non-traditional hours care' to support that type of service in Redwood City. Palcare in Burlingame is the only such program in San Mateo County. Some family child care home providers provide evening, early morning, night and/or weekend care. 

Family child care homes are the best option since they are licensed to care for children up to 12 years of age, allowing a family home-like setting. In the few child care centers that serve infants/toddlers as well as preschool-age (2.5/3 to 5), children are in care groups/classrooms by age group with different (required) adult/child ratios and age-appropriate programming and physical environment. Siblings may be allowed to spend limited time together. Hiring a caregiver in your own home is an option, of course. 

While the term "preschool" suggests that learning is taking place, the various terms (including child development center, nursery school, learning academy, etc.) are used interchangeably and do not ensure quality. With few exceptions, they are all licensed by the State as Child Care Centers. Regulations for centers address staff qualifications and teacher/child ratios but do not prescribe program content/curriculum. (State-funded child development programs must meet additional, extensive Dept. of Education standards.) Parents are advised to learn about choosing quality preschool/child care at the 4Cs website. 

Most programs prefer to fill their spaces with regular, paying clients or find it too disruptive to other enrolled children to take drop-ins. Others may allow it on a space available basis. Family child care home providers tend to be more flexible about taking drop-ins than centers. In any case, they would need to have on file the enrollment paperwork that State Licensing requires for any child attending. If your occasional child care needs could be accommodated in a regular part-day schedule (e.g. 2 mornings per week), many programs offer options.