Choosing a Daycare for Your Baby or Toddler: Checklist and Questions

Start with the basics

• Licensing. Look the program up on your state's child care licensing site. Read recent inspection reports and any violations, and how they were fixed.
• Ratios and group sizes. National standards suggest no more than:
• Birth to 12 months: 1 adult to 3 babies, groups of 6.
• 13 to 35 months: 1 adult to 4 children, groups of 8.
• State rules are often looser; better ratios mean more attention for your child.
• Accreditation from a national early-education body is a plus, not a must.
• This guide focuses on infant and toddler rooms. For 3- to 5-year-olds and pre-K, see the choosing a preschool or childcare guide; for comparing daycare with a nanny, see childcare options and costs.

What to look for on a visit

• Caregivers on the floor, talking with children, making eye contact, responding to crying quickly.
• Babies held for bottles, not propped. Toddlers have room to move, climb and play outside.
• Play-based learning: blocks, books, art, pretend play and outdoor time, not worksheets and screens.
• Clean diapering and food areas kept apart, with hand-washing every time.
• Children who look relaxed and busy. Some crying is normal; watch how adults respond to it.
• Visit more than once, at different times, and ask whether parents are welcome to drop in. A program that discourages unannounced visits is a red flag.

Questions to ask

• Sleep: Is every baby put down on their back, alone, in a crib with a flat firm mattress and nothing else in it? Do babies who fall asleep in swings or car seats get moved to a crib?
• Staff: How long have the lead teachers been here? Turnover? Are all staff trained in infant and child CPR and first aid? Background checks?
• Health: Vaccination requirements for children and staff, sick-child policy, how medicines are given and recorded, and how food allergies are handled.
• Feeding: Will they follow your feeding plan, including breast milk handling and paced bottle feeding? Can you come in to nurse?
• Behavior: How do they handle biting, hitting and tantrums? Time-outs, rewards, or calm-down spaces? Physical punishment should never be used.
• Communication: Daily reports on eating, sleep and diapers? How will they tell you about an injury?
• Emergencies: Evacuation plan, locked entry, who can pick up your child.
• Fit for your family: Do they welcome all kinds of families, home languages and cultures? Can they support a child with a disability or developmental needs?

Common mistakes

• Choosing on price alone without a visit.
• Waiting too long: infant spots fill fast; start in pregnancy if you can.
• Ignoring your gut. If something feels off, keep looking.

Easing the start

• A gradual start with short days helps. See the separation anxiety and starting childcare guide.
• Expect more colds the first year, and plan backup care for sick days.

When to check in

• Bring up with the director anything that worries you: unexplained injuries, a child who is suddenly fearful of one person, or repeated safe-sleep slips. You can also report concerns to your state's licensing agency.
• Mention big, lasting changes in sleep or behavior at your child's next checkup.