Many children are faced with having to attend daycare so parents can work to earn income. While the situation may work well with some kids or be necessary for some parents, sometimes daycare doesn't work out. Faced with dealing with guilty feelings or an unhappy child, many parents wonder what the options are.

Talk to the person in charge. If there are concerns about the quality of care at the daycare, or if parents feel their child isn't happy at the location, talk to the person in charge of the daycare facility. Getting both sides of the story is important. Some kids play on parental feelings of guilt, crying and clinging hard ? until the parent leaves. Afterwards, the child may play happily and have a great time until the day is over. Then more tears occur, and parents wonder what's going on when they're not around.

Talking to the person in charge gives the daycare worker a chance to let parents know what's happening during the day or correct the situation. Parents and daycare workers should work together to ensure the best and happiest environment for the child possible. A daycare worker can help the parent nip bad behavior at drop-off and pick-up time, or a parent can advise the worker of something the parent noticed that he or she didn't like. After all, if no one knows what's going on, how can anyone make changes for the better?

Consider changing daycares. Do look around and see if there is a better location or a place where parents and child feel more comfortable with the activities going on and the quality of care. Because you have committed to one daycare doesn't mean that you've signed a permanent contract for life. Sometimes, the daycare and the child aren't a good match; that's not anyone's fault and these situations do happen. Don't be a parent that bounces from daycare to daycare in hopes of finding the perfect location, though, as any change and disruption of routine is hard on a child.

Decide whether the situation is one worth struggling to solve. Sometimes, parents discover that daycare isn't the best solution for the family. These parents look at whether one parent can stay at home to care for the child while the other continues to work. Sure, some budgeting will be necessary to make ends meet, but many couples find out that the loss of one income isn't that big a setback.

Look into the possibilities of working from home. This takes some research and may even mean a career change. The good news is that with the technology available today, many people can easily work from their home using a computer and the Internet. There are also workplaces that allow telecommuting and others that will accept reduced hours or part-time employees.

Parents must decide what they feel most comfortable with and which situation is best for all involved. Remember that there are options available, though some creativity and thought might be required. Also, remember that children do grow and the situation is temporary. What's important is finding a solution to the present problem and figuring out what works for the whole family.