You've painted the nursery, bought a layette, and taken birthing classes, but have you even started thinking about childcare for your baby?

Experts say that one of the most important (and emotional) decisions new parents face is finding a quality childcare provider. According to a recent report by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), 63 percent of American children under the age of five are in some type of child-care arrangement while their parents work.

Quality infant care can be especially hard to find, and it's never too soon to begin interviewing nannies or visiting daycare centers.

"Moms should begin researching childcare options during their pregnancy," says Pam Schiller, PhD, an early childhood consultant and author of The Complete Resource Book for Infants. "Even if they haven't decided whether they will go back to work after their baby is born, it's important to have a back-up plan."

Schiller says a good way to begin the process is by getting recommendations from friends and co-workers.

New parents can choose several childcare options including:

Nannies and Sitters

These caregivers come into your home and care for your baby on either a part-time or full-time basis. They can be a professional nanny, or a neighbor or relative who agrees to watch your infant while you work. Often new parents will hire a caregiver as part of a "nanny-share" arrangement to reduce costs.

"A qualified nanny can provide your baby with one-on-one care which is critical during their first year of life," Schiller says. "If you decide to share a nanny, keep the arrangement to no more than three children."

You can hire a nanny on your own, and do a thorough reference and background check, or go through an agency that will do the work for you.  A free directory of nanny agencies across the country is available at www.nanny.com.

Daycare Centers

These centers are either small private family-like settings offered in a home, or a larger center-based childcare facility. The Childcare Aware hotline (800-424-2246) can provide the number of your local childcare resource agency, which in turn can give you with a list of licensed daycare centers in your area. "Find out if the center has been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)," Schiller says. "This is one of the highest marks a center can receive."

Schiller advises looking for a daycare center that provides children with stimulation (talking, reading, physical activity), as opposed to long periods of time spent in a crib or in front of a television Check with your local childcare resource agency to ensure the center is accredited and determine if their have been any complaints lodged against them.

Schiller recommends visiting the daycare center several times before making a commitment. "Stop by unannounced at least once," she says. "Come armed with a list of questions and watch how caregivers interact with children."

The national website, www.childcareaware.org, offers a free online decision-making tool to help new parents explore their childcare choices. The site offers parents interactive questions, a budgeting calculator that can help determine the type of care they can afford, including whether or not it's feasible for one parent to stay home with the baby, and other resources designed to help with the process of finding quality childcare.

"Choosing childcare doesn't have to be scary or stressful process," says Susan Montalvo, Director of the Child Care Resource Center in Chatsworth, Calif. "There are a lot of agencies that can help parents locate a childcare provider that they feel good about."

The Child Care Resource Center is one of the many childcare resource agencies across the county that can help parents to locate a local childcare provider. Two years ago, the center developed a "Keys to Quality" campaign that offers parents tips and tools to use when seeking a safe, nurturing and reliable childcare provider.

To access the "Keys to Quality" guide, visit www.ccrcla.org.