# How to Choose a Daycare: Questions to Ask and What to Look For

> A checklist for finding child care you trust: when to start looking, a center or a home daycare, how to read a license and inspection reports in your state, safe ratios, the questions to ask on the tour, and the red flags.

To choose a daycare, start early (baby rooms fill first), decide between a center and a family child care home, then look up each one’s license and inspection reports in your state’s child care search, which ChildCare.gov links for every state. Tour your top two or three while children are there. Count the adults and children, watch how teachers talk to kids, and ask about safety, sleep, discipline, staff turnover and cost. Read the contract before you sign.

By Summerground, updated October 13, 2026.

## At a glance

- Check the license and inspection reports first. Federal law requires every state to post them online, and [ChildCare.gov](https://www.childcare.gov/state-resources) links each state’s search.
- Count heads on the tour. National health and safety standards call for no more than 3 babies, 4 toddlers, 7 3-year-olds or 8 4-year-olds per adult in a center.
- You should be welcome to drop in at any time. ChildCare.gov says a program that won’t let parents visit without calling ahead isn’t the best choice.
- For a baby, ask about safe sleep: on their back, alone in a safety-approved crib with a firm mattress, a fitted sheet and nothing else.
- Read the contract before you pay a deposit: fees, closed days you still pay for, illness rules and how much notice you must give to leave.

## When to start looking, and center or home daycare?

**Start early, especially for a baby.** Infant rooms are small, because each adult can safely care for only a few babies, so they fill first, and families often join waitlists months before they need care. Ask each program how long its waitlist is, whether it costs anything to join, and how often you should check in.

**Make a short list.** Every state must have an online child care search; find yours on [ChildCare.gov](https://www.childcare.gov/state-resources). Your local child care resource and referral agency can also tell you who has openings, and [Child Care Aware of America](https://www.childcareaware.org/resources/ccrr-search-form/) finds the one for your ZIP code. Then ask friends and neighbors.

**Center or home daycare?** Both can be licensed and both can be excellent. The difference is the setting:

*Child care centers and family child care homes compared. Sources: ChildCare.gov; costs are Child Care Aware of America’s 2025 averages of state figures.*

|  | Child care center | Family child care home |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Setting | Usually a commercial building, with classrooms by age | The provider’s own house or apartment |
| Group | Children with others their age; several teachers and a director | A small group of mixed ages; siblings stay together |
| Caregivers | Children move to new rooms and teachers as they grow | The same provider, sometimes with an assistant, for years |
| Hours | Usually full-time | Some offer evenings or weekends |
| Average cost | About $15,600 a year for a baby, $12,600 for a 4-year-old | About $11,700 a year for a baby, $10,600 for a 4-year-old |
| License | Often required; some centers are legally exempt | Varies: some states license from one unrelated child, others from six |

Not sure which kind of program fits your child’s age? Our guide to [what age preschool, pre-K and kindergarten start](https://summerground.com/guides/what-age-is-preschool) lays out every option, and [how much daycare costs](https://summerground.com/guides/how-much-does-daycare-cost) covers prices and help paying.

## How to check a daycare’s license and inspection reports

Licensing doesn’t guarantee quality, but it’s the floor: licensed programs must meet health and safety rules, train staff in CPR, first aid and safe sleep, and be inspected. Federal law requires states to post inspection results online. Before you tour:

1. Go to [ChildCare.gov’s state resources](https://www.childcare.gov/state-resources), pick your state, and open its ‘Understanding and Finding Child Care Resources’ page for the state’s child care search and inspection reports.
2. Look the program up. Check that it’s licensed (some states say registered or certified) or legally license-exempt, that the license hasn’t been suspended or revoked, and that the address and ages match.
3. Read the inspection reports: what rules were broken, whether and how the program fixed them, and any complaints the state investigated and found valid. Watch for the same problem again and again, or anything about supervision, discipline, background checks or safe sleep.
4. See whether it has a state quality rating (many states use stars) or national accreditation, such as [NAEYC](https://www.naeyc.org/accreditation/quality-assessment-and-accreditation) for centers or [NAFCC](https://nafcc.org/accreditation/) for family child care.
5. Ask the director about anything you found. A good program will explain what happened and what changed.

**Background checks.** Federal law requires every staff member in a licensed program, from teachers to cooks and drivers, to pass state and federal criminal background checks, including fingerprints and a search of the national sex offender registry, before they’re hired and at least every 5 years. Volunteers and visiting instructors who are ever alone with children need them too.

> Some programs are legally exempt from licensing: in some states, part-day or faith-based programs, or pre-K run by a public school. Ask which rules they follow instead, and whether every adult has had a background check.

If you ever see something unsafe, report it to your state’s licensing office. ChildCare.gov lists every state’s [complaint line](https://www.childcare.gov/Health-and-Safety-Reporting).

## Ratios and group sizes to look for

The ratio is how many children each adult looks after; group size is how many children share the room. Smaller is better, most of all for babies and toddlers. Your state sets legal limits, and ZERO TO THREE, a national nonprofit, notes that they vary widely and often fall short of national recommendations, especially for toddlers. These are the recommendations:

*Recommended staff-to-child ratios and group sizes in centers: Caring for Our Children, the national health and safety standards from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association and the National Resource Center (standard 1.1.1.2), and Child Care Aware of America’s center checklist, read October 2026.*

| Child’s age | Caring for Our Children | Child Care Aware best practice |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Birth to 12 months | 1 adult to 3 babies; groups of 6 or fewer | 3 or 4 per adult; groups of 8 or fewer |
| 13 to 23 months | 1 to 4; groups of 8 or fewer | 4 per adult; groups of 8 or fewer |
| 2-year-olds | 1 to 4 (to 35 months); groups of 8 or fewer | 4 to 6 per adult; groups of 12 or fewer |
| 3-year-olds | 1 to 7; groups of 14 or fewer | 7 to 9 per adult; groups of 18 or fewer |
| 4-year-olds | 1 to 8; groups of 16 or fewer | 8 to 10 per adult; groups of 20 or fewer |
| 5-year-olds | 1 to 8; groups of 16 or fewer | 8 to 10 per adult; groups of 20 or fewer |

Caring for Our Children says ratios should hold all day, including at nap time for babies and toddlers and in vehicles, and that at least one adult trained in pediatric first aid and CPR should be part of the ratio at all times.

**In a family child care home** with one provider, the recommendation is up to 6 children if none is under 2; with one child under 2, up to 3 more who are 2 or older; and with two under 2, no other children. The provider’s own children count.

## Questions to ask on a daycare tour

Visit while children are awake and playing, not at nap time, and stay long enough to watch. Bring this list, or print [ChildCare.gov’s tip sheets](https://www.childcare.gov/consumer-education/find-and-choose-quality-child-care/choosing-quality-child-care-tip-sheets) for centers and home daycares. Start with the questions for every daycare, then add the ones for your child’s age.

**Questions to ask every daycare**

- [ ] Can I see your license and your latest inspection report? Were any problems fixed?
- [ ] Can parents drop in any time you’re open, without calling ahead?
- [ ] How many children and adults are in my child’s room, and what’s the most it ever has?
- [ ] How do you keep the ratio during breaks, naps, drop-off and pickup?
- [ ] How long have the teachers in my child’s room worked here? How many staff left in the past year?
- [ ] Has every adult had state and federal background checks with fingerprints? When were they last done?
- [ ] Is someone trained in pediatric first aid and CPR here at all times? Do staff know what to do for an allergic reaction?
- [ ] Are staff trained to prevent, recognize and report child abuse?
- [ ] What training and degrees do the director and teachers have, and what training do they get each year?
- [ ] What’s your written plan if a child is hurt, sick or lost? How often do you practice fire and emergency drills?
- [ ] How do you check who is picking up my child?
- [ ] Are you accredited, or rated in our state’s quality rating system?
- [ ] How will you tell me about my child’s day?
- [ ] How do you help a child who has a hard time saying goodbye?

**Questions to ask an infant daycare**

- [ ] Who will be my baby’s main caregiver, and how long has that person worked here?
- [ ] Where do babies sleep? Look for: on their back, one baby per safety-approved crib, a firm mattress with a fitted sheet and nothing else.
- [ ] Is an adult watching the babies while they sleep?
- [ ] Are staff trained in safe sleep?
- [ ] Do you follow my baby’s own schedule for eating and sleeping?
- [ ] How do you label and store breast milk and formula? Can I come in to nurse?
- [ ] Are babies always held for bottles? (Caring for Our Children says bottles should never be propped.)
- [ ] How much supervised tummy time do babies get each day?
- [ ] Do caregivers talk and play with babies during feeding, diapering and play?
- [ ] Are changing tables cleaned and disinfected after every change, with handwashing before and after?
- [ ] What will you tell me each day about eating, sleep, diapers and mood?
- [ ] Are there any screens in the baby room? (National standards say none for children under 2.)
- [ ] When will my baby move to the toddler room, and how do you handle the change?

**Questions for toddlers and preschoolers**

- [ ] What does a typical day look like? Can I see this week’s plan?
- [ ] How much time do children spend outside each day, and what happens in bad weather?
- [ ] How often do adults read to the children?
- [ ] How do you handle biting, hitting and tantrums? Can I see your written discipline policy?
- [ ] Does the policy rule out spanking, shaming, isolating a child, and using food or outdoor time as punishment?
- [ ] If my child’s behavior is challenging, how will you work with us? Do you have a no-expulsion policy?
- [ ] How do you help with potty training, and must my child be potty-trained to move up?
- [ ] How long is nap time, and what do children do if they don’t sleep?
- [ ] Do children use TV, tablets or computers? How often?
- [ ] Who provides meals and snacks, and how do you handle food allergies?
- [ ] Which curriculum do you use, and how do you get children ready for kindergarten?
- [ ] How do you track my child’s development, and when are parent conferences?
- [ ] How do you include children with disabilities or delays? Will you work with my child’s therapists or early intervention team?

**Questions about cost, the contract and policies**

- [ ] What’s the weekly or monthly rate, and what does it include (meals, diapers, wipes, formula)?
- [ ] Is there a registration fee, deposit, waitlist fee or yearly supply fee?
- [ ] Do we pay for days you’re closed, our vacations and our child’s sick days?
- [ ] Which days do you close each year: holidays, staff training, bad weather?
- [ ] What are your hours, and what’s the fee for a late pickup?
- [ ] How much notice must we give to leave, and how much notice do you give before tuition goes up?
- [ ] Do you accept child care assistance, or offer sibling discounts or scholarships?
- [ ] When must a sick child stay home, and when can they come back?
- [ ] Can staff give medicine, and what forms do you need?
- [ ] Is there a part-time option?
- [ ] Can I take home the family handbook and contract before I pay anything?

## Signs of a good daycare, red flags, and what to do after the tour

**Signs of a good daycare**

- Teachers get down to children’s eye level, greet each child and seem to enjoy them.
- You hear laughter and play, and adults speak in a warm, calm voice.
- Children are busy; toys are clean, varied and within their reach.
- The rooms are clean and smell fresh, and adults and children wash their hands often.
- A posted daily plan mixes indoor and outdoor, active and quiet, group and solo time.
- Teachers have been there for years, and the director answers questions plainly and welcomes drop-in visits.
- The inspection record is clean, or problems were fixed quickly.

**Red flags**

- You can’t visit without an appointment, or can’t see the license or inspection reports.
- More children per adult than your state allows, or children out of an adult’s sight.
- Crying children are ignored, or adults sound harsh or sarcastic.
- Blankets, pillows, bumpers or toys in cribs, or babies left asleep in car seats, swings or bouncers.
- Cleaning supplies or medicines within children’s reach, uncovered outlets or broken equipment.
- No written discipline policy, or one that allows spanking, shaming or isolating a child.
- Vague answers about background checks or training.
- New faces at every visit. ChildCare.gov says frequent staff turnover can be a sign a program isn’t well managed.
- Repeated violations on its inspection reports, or any about supervision, abuse or safe sleep.

**After the tour**

1. Write down your impressions the same day, while you can still tell programs apart. ChildCare.gov’s [15 must-haves checklist](https://childcare.gov/sites/default/files/2017-12/ChildCare_gov15MustHavesForAllChildCarePrograms-EN-Final.pdf) has columns for comparing three programs.
2. Call two or three families whose children go there; a home daycare provider should be able to give you references.
3. Go back unannounced at a different time of day, such as drop-off or late afternoon.
4. Read the contract and handbook before you pay a deposit: rates and fees, payment dates and late fees, closed days and whether you pay for them, how much notice you must give, and who may pick up your child.
5. Get on more than one waitlist if you can, and check in as often as each program asks.
6. Once your child starts, keep dropping in at different times and talk with teachers at drop-off and pickup.

## Questions parents ask

### What questions should I ask on a daycare tour?

Start with safety: can you see the license and latest inspection report, can parents drop in any time, how many children are there per adult, have all staff had fingerprint background checks, and is someone trained in pediatric first aid and CPR there at all times? Then ask how long teachers have worked there, how they handle discipline, what a typical day looks like, and what you pay for (closed days, sick days, late pickups). The full lists above add questions for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

### What questions should I ask an infant daycare?

Ask who your baby’s main caregiver will be and how long they’ve been there, how many babies each adult cares for (Caring for Our Children recommends no more than 3, in a group of 6), and where babies sleep: on their back, alone in a safety-approved crib with nothing but a fitted sheet. Ask whether they follow your baby’s own feeding and nap schedule, how they store breast milk, whether babies are always held for bottles, and what they’ll tell you each day.

### What are the signs of a good daycare?

Teachers who get down to children’s level, greet each child and sound warm; children who are busy and happy; clean rooms, fresh smells and frequent handwashing; a daily plan with time outdoors; and staff who have been there for years. A good daycare welcomes you to drop in without calling ahead, shows you its license and inspection reports, and has written policies on discipline, illness and emergencies. Its inspection record is clean, or shows problems that were fixed.

### When should I start looking for daycare?

For a baby, as early as you can: some families start during pregnancy, because infant rooms take only a few babies and fill first. For a toddler or preschooler, several months ahead is usually enough, though popular programs and public pre-K can fill early too. Ask each program how long its waitlist is, whether there’s a fee to join, and how often to check in. Get on more than one list while you tour.

### Is a home daycare as safe as a daycare center?

Either can be safe. Licensed family child care homes must meet their state’s health and safety rules, including CPR and first aid training and background checks, and the state monitors them. Check the license and inspection reports the same way. Some home providers are legally exempt from licensing, depending on the state and how many children they care for, so ask. Ask too who covers when the provider is sick or on vacation.

### What questions should I ask a preschool?

Most daycare questions apply: the license and inspection reports, ratios (Caring for Our Children recommends no more than 7 three-year-olds or 8 four-year-olds per adult), background checks and staff turnover. Then ask about learning: which curriculum they use, how much of the day is play and time outside, how often adults read to children, how they get children ready for kindergarten, how they handle behavior, and whether your child must be potty-trained. Ask about hours and the school-year calendar too.

## How we made this guide

We built this checklist in October 2026 from official and national sources: ChildCare.gov’s 15 must-haves, full checklist and Look, Listen and Ask tip sheets; Child Care Aware of America’s center, home and preschool checklists; Caring for Our Children, the national health and safety standards from the AAP, APHA and the National Resource Center; and ZERO TO THREE. No daycare is named or ranked. Ratios and safe-sleep rules here are national recommendations; your state’s legal limits may differ.

- [15 Must-Haves for All Child Care Programs (ChildCare.gov)](https://childcare.gov/sites/default/files/2017-12/ChildCare_gov15MustHavesForAllChildCarePrograms-EN-Final.pdf)
- [Full Checklist for Choosing Child Care (ChildCare.gov)](https://childcare.gov/sites/default/files/2017-12/ChildCare_govFull%20checklist-EN-Final.pdf)
- [Look, Listen, and Ask: Tips for Choosing a Quality Child Care Center (ChildCare.gov)](https://childcare.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/Choosing-a-Child-Care-Center.pdf)
- [Look, Listen, and Ask: Tips for Choosing a Quality Family Child Care Home (ChildCare.gov)](https://www.childcare.acf.gov/sites/default/files/2025-03/Choosing-a-Family-Child-Care-Home.pdf)
- [Getting Started: Simple Steps for Finding and Choosing Child Care (ChildCare.gov)](https://www.childcare.gov/consumer-education/find-and-choose-quality-child-care/simple-steps-for-finding-and-choosing-child-care)
- [Monitoring and Inspections (ChildCare.gov)](https://www.childcare.gov/consumer-education/regulated-child-care/monitoring-and-inspections)
- [Staff Background Checks (ChildCare.gov)](https://www.childcare.gov/consumer-education/regulated-child-care/staff-background-checks)
- [What Is Child Care Licensing? (ChildCare.gov)](https://www.childcare.gov/consumer-education/regulated-child-care/child-care-licensing)
- [Understanding Child Care Quality Ratings (ChildCare.gov)](https://www.childcare.gov/consumer-education/find-and-choose-quality-child-care/understanding-child-care-quality-ratings)
- [Your Responsibilities Once You Find Care (ChildCare.gov)](https://www.childcare.gov/consumer-education/find-and-choose-quality-child-care/your-responsibilities-once-you-find-care)
- [Family Child Care Homes (ChildCare.gov)](https://childcare.gov/consumer-education/family-child-care-homes)
- [Selecting a Child Care Program: checklists (Child Care Aware of America)](https://www.childcareaware.org/families/choosing-quality-child-care/selecting-child-care-program/)
- [Child Care Center Checklist (Child Care Aware of America)](https://www.childcareaware.org/families/choosing-quality-child-care/selecting-child-care-program/child-care-center-checklist/)
- [Family Child Care Home Checklist (Child Care Aware of America)](https://www.childcareaware.org/families/choosing-quality-child-care/selecting-child-care-program/family-child-care-home-checklist/)
- [Caring for Our Children, 3rd edition (AAP, APHA and the National Resource Center)](https://nrckids.org/files/CFOC3_updated_final.pdf)
- [Child Care: Ratios and Group Sizes Matter (ZERO TO THREE)](https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/child-care-ratios-and-group-sizes-matter/)
- [Child Care in America: 2025 Price & Supply (Child Care Aware of America)](https://www.childcareaware.org/price-landscape25/)
- [A Parent’s Guide to Safe Sleep (HealthyChildren.org, AAP)](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-parents-guide-to-safe-sleep.aspx)

More guides: https://summerground.com/guides/what-age-is-preschool.md, https://summerground.com/guides/how-much-does-daycare-cost.md, https://summerground.com/guides/special-needs-daycare-los-angeles.md. All of them: https://summerground.com/guides.md.