Start Here PDF
A short order of operations for moving from a childcare search to an enrolled, supported first month.
Digital kit · Instant access
For the childcare decision before your next work chapter
Compare real childcare options. Set up the first month with fewer loose ends.
A self-guided digital kit for turning calls, tours, costs, availability, policies, and backup coverage into one private, usable plan.
- Compare up to six options with costs, timing, verified availability, and your own fit criteria
- Keep tour notes, policy questions, and follow-ups together instead of across messages and tabs
- Complete the enrollment and first-month logistics before the first workweek
- Build a layered backup-care plan before a closure day or same-day gap
$19.00 One payment. No subscription.
✓ One-time purchase—no recurring subscription✓ Personal-use digital license✓ Secure checkout powered by Shopify
English-language digital download. No physical item is shipped.
What you receive
Five practical files. One clear way to use them.
Choice & Setup Guide
A source-aware framework for searching, screening, visiting, comparing, and confirming care.
Editable Workbook
Six worksheets for search setup, option comparison, tour notes, first-month logistics, backup planning, and source notes.
Backup Care Plan
A layered plan for closures, illness, late pickup, and unexpected coverage gaps.
Copy-and-Paste Emails
Neutral templates for availability, waitlists, tours, enrollment, backup care, and a brief work schedule update.
Current-source framework
Official ChildCare.gov starting points, plus clear prompts to verify the local details that can change.
A simple sequence
Use it in the order the real decision unfolds.
Make the search usable
Write your real dates, hours, boundaries, budget, and non-negotiables before you compare options.
Verify before you score
Record what a provider actually confirms. Keep unknown details open rather than assuming they are a fit.
Set up the handoff
Complete the first-month and backup plans before care begins, then revisit them as your schedule changes.
Start free
Make your first childcare calls with a clearer list.
Use the free Childcare Search Starter to set your dates, non-negotiables, questions, and official source checks before you compare a single option.
Official-source first
Verify the local details that can change.
Availability, licensing status, fees, closures, and provider policies vary locally and can change. Use these official starting points before you decide; they are references, not a provider recommendation or a determination of suitability.
- ChildCare.gov: Find and choose quality child care
- ChildCare.gov: State resources for finding child care
- ChildCare.gov: What is child care licensing?
Last reviewed September 21, 2026. Confirm the current state and local record for each provider you are considering.
Before you purchase
Clear boundaries, compatible files, and useful next steps.
Is this a childcare safety rating or a recommendation for a provider?
No. The workbook helps you organize information and your own priorities. It does not rate, certify, recommend, or assess the safety or suitability of a provider. Review current official local information, provider materials, and your own observations before choosing care.
Does the workbook decide which option I should choose?
No. The transparent weighted score helps you compare the ratings and weights you enter. It is not a decision, a provider-quality measure, or a substitute for your notes and verification.
What files are included?
One ZIP includes a 3-page Start Here PDF, a 5-page Childcare Choice & Setup Guide PDF, an editable Excel workbook with six worksheets, a 3-page Backup Care Plan PDF, and a plain-text Copy-and-Paste Childcare Emails file.
Can I edit the workbook?
Yes. Open the .xlsx workbook in Excel or another compatible spreadsheet app, then replace the yellow fields with your own information. Excel or Microsoft 365 provides the closest formatting match.
How does delivery work?
After a successful checkout, follow the download instructions shown with your order and save the order email. If an included file is missing or unusable, contact Support with your order number so access can be fixed.
Morrow Mama provides general educational planning tools, not legal, tax, medical, childcare-safety, licensing, employment, insurance, or individualized advice. Provider availability, fees, policies, and local rules vary and can change. Verify material details with current official sources, providers, employers, and qualified professionals as appropriate.
When care is taking shape
Use the Return-to-Work Toolkit to plan the work side too.
Once you have real childcare assumptions, compare the work-cost, commute, schedule, and flexibility questions with the companion toolkit.
Preview before you buy
See the planning pages you will actually use.
These are views from the toolkit—not generic lifestyle images—so you can understand the structure before checkout.
Preview images may contain sample information for demonstration. Your purchased workbook is editable and does not send your entries to Morrow Mama.