How do you choose a good daycare?

To choose a good daycare, check the license and recent inspection reports first, then compare adult-to-child ratios, group sizes, teacher qualifications and turnover, safe-sleep practices for babies, and illness policies. Tour each option on a normal weekday, ask every center the same questions, and pay attention to how teachers speak to children when they think no one is watching.

Key takeaways

• Licensing records are public in most states and show violations and complaints.
• Low ratios and small groups are among the strongest markers of quality for babies and toddlers.
• Teacher turnover tells you how often your child would face a new caregiver.
• A second, unannounced visit shows the center on an ordinary day.

Types of care

Licensed centers. Larger programs with several classrooms, set hours and multiple staff. Often more backup when a teacher is out.

Licensed family child care. Care in a provider's home with a smaller mixed-age group.

Nanny or nanny share. One-on-one or small-group care in a family home, usually more flexible and often more expensive per child.

Relative care. Grandparents or other family.

Childcare.gov, run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, links to every state's licensing search and local referral agencies.

Step 1: check the record

Look up each program in your state's licensing database. Read the inspection reports, not just the status. Note repeat violations, especially around supervision, safe sleep, medication and background checks.

Step 2: compare ratios and group size

Ask how many children each adult cares for in your child's room, and how many children are in the room total. Smaller is better, especially for infants. Ask how ratios are covered during breaks, naps, drop-off and pick-up.

Step 3: tour twice

Go once on a scheduled tour and again unannounced. Watch for:

• Teachers at children's eye level, talking and responding.
• Children engaged, not wandering or waiting.
• Clean diapering and handwashing areas.
• Safe outdoor play space.
• Babies sleeping on their backs in bare cribs.

25 questions to ask

Staff

1. How long have the lead teachers in my child's room been here?
2. What training and certifications do teachers have?
3. Are all staff background-checked?
4. Are staff trained in infant and child CPR and first aid?
5. Who covers when a teacher is out?

Daily life 6. What does a typical day look like? 7. How much time do children spend outside? 8. Is there screen time? 9. How do you handle naps and children who don't sleep? 10. How are meals and snacks handled, and can I send food?

Babies 11. How do you follow safe-sleep rules? 12. How do you feed bottles and store breast milk? 13. How often are diapers changed?

Behavior 14. How do you handle biting, hitting and tantrums? 15. How do you comfort a crying child? 16. How do you support potty training?

Health and safety 17. What's the illness and exclusion policy? 18. Do you require vaccinations for children and staff? 19. How are medicines given and logged? 20. What are the emergency and lockdown plans?

Communication 21. How do you share updates during the day? 22. Can I visit or call anytime? 23. How do you handle concerns from parents?

Logistics 24. What are the hours, closures and late fees? 25. Is there a waitlist, and how does it work?

Red flags

• Staff who can't tell you the ratio or the sick policy.
• Parents not allowed to drop in.
• Babies sleeping in car seats, swings or with blankets.
• Many recent staff departures.
• A license with repeat serious violations.

Comparing your shortlist

Put the answers side by side in a simple table: ratio, group size, years the lead teacher has been there, hours, distance from home or work, and how you felt on each visit. Commute matters more than many parents expect; a center ten minutes closer can save hours a week and make pick-up less rushed. Ask a few current parents what they like and what they would change. Most centers will share references, and local parent groups often have candid opinions.

Cost and assistance

Fees vary widely by city, age and type of care, and infant rooms usually cost the most. Ask what's included (meals, diapers, wipes), whether you pay during closures and vacations, and how much notice you must give to leave. Childcare.gov lists state child care assistance programs, and some employers offer dependent care benefits or backup care.

Trust your gut

After the facts, notice how you feel. If you'd be worried leaving your child there, keep looking.

Getting ready for the start

Once you've chosen, ask about a gradual start, with a few short days before full days. Label belongings, share your child's routine in writing, and plan a consistent goodbye. A simple visual schedule can help mornings once the classroom pictures are known.

When the start date is set, a story about the goodbye can help. The daycare goodbye book shows your own child being dropped off, playing, and being picked up again.

Gifts for this age: gift ideas for 2-year-olds

Related reading:

• Tears at drop-off

Sources

1. Childcare.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, accessed November 4, 2026
2. A Parent’s Guide to Safe Sleep, HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), accessed November 4, 2026
3. Prevention in Child Care or School, HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), accessed November 4, 2026