Picking a Preschool for Your Twins (and Triplets)

Long before you're finished changing multiple diapers, before the last bottles have been put away, even prior to saying "bye-bye" to nap time, you and your spouse will be confronted with The Next Big Thing: Preschool. In most urban and suburban parts of the country where preschool options abound, that's no small issue for small fry and their parents.

With dozens of options to choose from, the selection can be double (or even triple) complicated for the parents of multiples. Certainly your whittling process will be limited by the availability of openings. Other areas suffer from childcare scarcity, where parents must sit out long waiting lists or even register during pregnancy to get a coveted spot in a desirable pre-school.

Whenever you begin your search, you'll still have to find the best available school for your precious children. Rather than tackle this daunting task without a plan, or even a clue, here are 15 basic questions you should ask of preschool providers. (Of course, you're free to add your own. We won't tell!)

1. Is the school convenient to us? This seems like an obvious place to start, since you want to minimize driving time in two directions. And you will want to "feel close" to your little ones; separation anxiety can work both ways. Still, proximity alone shouldn't be the major factor in picking the right preschool.

2. What is the total cost? Since different schools have different ways of structuring their fees, you may need to bring along your calculator. In addition to tuition, there may be registration and materials fees. Some schools have fundraising events that are practically mandatory. Daycare coverage for before and/or after class is usually extra, too. It adds up in a hurry -- times two (or three).