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Dedicated to all who travel on business, here's FTF's guide on the best way to find reliable childcare when you're traveling with kids.

It's no secret in the corporate world that business travel is one of the most hazardous occupations for Moms and Dads. According to a study we read about  employees at the World Bank, male business travelers filed 80% more medical claims than their office-bound colleagues. Psychological disorders proved to be the biggest culprit, reminding those who didn't already know that missing a teen's soccer game or a first-grader's ballet recital can be as stressful as the latest tropical disease. Things don't seem likely to have changed since then. 

One cure? Enroll kids in the School of Life and let lessons learned on the road help the family cope with your absence.

Should You Bring the Kids?

Combining a family vacation with a business trip can help you cope with another modern malady resulting from the economic downturn: a 2002 survey by The National Partnership found that 64% of America's workers said "time pressures on working families are getting worse." Again, imagine how that plays out now. 

If your household economic situation is troubling, consider how combining a business and pleasure trip can be cost effective. Many hotels take care of kids with treats and activities, and the several caregiver options mean you can get a lot of work done and still enjoy some family time. Once you've considered the work issues, you'll have to decide if the childcare available will meet your needs.

Before you ask the boss' permission, ask yourself:

? Is this trip predictable enough to bring my kids? 

? How will colleagues react if my family comes along? Do I care? 

? Am I negotiating in a culture where having children with me is controversial? 

? Can I budget work time realistically so there's some family time left? 

How to Find Childcare in North America

The more inflexible your business meetings, the more careful you have to be in pre-arranging childcare, particularly in North America, where most hotels use outside childcare services. 

Plan ahead. Be sure the concierge can book help from a local "nanny" agency or refer you directly to a few local agencies whom you can interview by phone. Typically, agencies are bonded and screen individual employees through thorough background checks, plus references from past employers in the daycare, education, or homecare/nursing fields. 

Interview. Parents with very young children may want to interview a few candidates in person shortly after arrival. Allow time. 

Ask questions. Agencies index employees by qualifications such as a driver's license, teaching or camp counselor experience, CPR training, practical nurse or lifeguard certification.

Know What You Need. Tell the agency what you need and expect. A good agency will try to pair qualified candidates with your preferences as to age, skills, whether or not caregivers are parents, smoking/non, whether they can leave the hotel premises, their continuous availability, etc. 

Note that some agencies are not insured to allow care providers to bring children to a hotel pool. Double check if swimming will be the main diversion for your child. 

At resorts and hotels with a supervised children's camp program (often seasonal) be sure to ask what is the counselor to child ratio? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends: 1 adult:3 infants, 1 adult:5 toddlers, 1 adult:7 school-age children, and 1 adult:10 teens.