A new survey reveals childcare costs increased by 84 per cent¹ over the last six years.

Choosing childcare is one of the toughest decisions a parent will ever have to make: trust and costs being some of the major challenges.

Searching for childcare can be  incredibly daunting with reports of poor supervision, unqualified staff and unclean equipment.

True Local.com.au come to the rescue providing parents with a credible and trusted avenue to begin their search for the right child care.

DadsClub.com.au gives True Local the thumbs up for lifting  the lid on child care: consumers share their experience of listed businesses by rating and reviewing online and via an iPhone app.

• Find reviews and insights from other likeminded parents just by searching childcare in your area.
• Current reviews praise facilities for being ‘caring and friendly,’ professional and experienced,’ with ‘healthy and clean environments.
• Access negative experiences, down to the ‘unfriendly and uncomforting natures’ of staff.

Ms Marlow TrueLocal Community Manager said “Community recommendations and reviews come from an honest place and ensure everyone can make an informed decision and enjoy a better experience as a result.”

The site offers its advice on selecting the best child care centre.

1.      Do your research –  it’s easy to jump online to get other people’s feedback and see how they’ve been rated.
2.      Don’t be afraid to ask – review forums allow users to engage in dialogue. If you want to know more about someone’s experience, you can send a reply to their post by making comment.
3.      Shortlist – don’t settle for the first supplier you find. Make a shortlist of the best rated suppliers on TrueLocal.com.au in your area by saving your favourites and then your top three before choosing the one that’s right for you.
4.      Share your experience – tell others about your experiences – good or bad. Help others help you. 90 per cent of consumers trust other consumers, above all.
5.      Know what you’re searching for – Not every family is looking for the same thing when it comes to child care centres. Before beginning your search, make a list of the essential things you are looking for outside of location and cost and stick to these in helping make your decision.

¹2011 Household Expenditure survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics