If you're reading this, you're probably facing one of the most anxiety-inducing decisions of early parenthood: choosing who will care for your child when you can't be there. Whether you're returning to work after parental leave, looking for a preschool program, or switching from a situation that isn't working, the pressure to "get it right" can feel overwhelming.
Here's what we want you to know: there's no single "perfect" child care arrangement. The best fit depends on your child's temperament, your family's values, your schedule, and your budget. What matters most is finding a provider you trust, where your child feels safe and engaged.
This guide will help you ask the right questions during your daycare tour or child care interview so you can make an informed decision. We've included what answers to look for, red flags to watch out for, and specific questions based on your child's age. Use this as your checklist when visiting daycare centers, in-home daycare programs, or preschools.
Before you evaluate curriculum or daily routines, you need confidence that your child will be physically safe. These are the non-negotiables to cover when touring any child care program.
Licensing requirements vary by state, but most daycare centers and many home-based child care programs must meet specific regulations. Ask to see their current license and inquire about their most recent inspection results, which are typically public record.
What to look for: A current, valid license displayed prominently. Accreditation from organizations like NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) indicates the program exceeds basic licensing requirements. Providers should be transparent about sharing inspection reports.
Red flag: Hesitation to show licensing documents, dismissing the importance of accreditation, or a license that's expired or "pending."
For in-home daycare: Licensing requirements for home-based child care vary significantly by state. Some states require licensing for anyone caring for unrelated children; others have exemptions for small groups. Ask specifically about their licensing status and what regulations they follow.
Everyone who has access to your child should undergo thorough background screening.
What to look for: Criminal background checks, sex offender registry checks, and reference verification should be standard. Some states also require fingerprinting and child abuse registry checks. Ask whether background checks are repeated periodically or only at hire.
Red flag: Vague answers about screening processes, statements like "we trust our judgment," or reluctance to discuss specifics.
For in-home daycare: Ask whether everyone in the household has been background checked, including any family members or assistants who may be present during care hours.
The qualifications of the people caring for your child directly impact the quality of care they receive. According to research from the National Institute for Early Education Research, teacher qualifications are one of the strongest predictors of child care quality.
What to look for: CPR and first aid certification should be current for all staff. Early childhood education credentials, ongoing professional development, and experience with your child's age group are valuable. Ask how often training is updated and what topics recent training has covered.
Red flag: Staff without current safety certifications, no requirements for ongoing training, or high turnover that suggests systemic problems.
Every child care provider should have clear, practiced procedures for handling emergencies.
What to look for: Written emergency procedures covering medical emergencies, severe weather, fire evacuation, and lockdown situations. The provider should explain how they would contact you and reunite you with your child in various scenarios. Ask when they last practiced emergency drills.
Red flag: No written emergency plan, staff who seem unfamiliar with procedures, or inability to explain how they'd reach you in an emergency.
Ratios determine how much individual attention your child will receive. Lower ratios generally mean better supervision and more responsive care.
What to look for: Ratios that meet or exceed your state's requirements. For reference, NAEYC recommends: 1:4 for infants, 1:4 for toddlers (with a maximum group size of 12), and 1:10 for preschoolers. Ask how ratios are maintained during staff breaks, transitions, and absences.
Red flag: Ratios that only meet minimums "on paper" but aren't maintained in practice, or vague answers about staffing during breaks.
Understanding what your child's day will look like helps you evaluate whether the program supports development and aligns with your family's values.
A structured yet flexible routine helps children feel secure while allowing for individual needs. This question reveals a lot about the program's philosophy and organization.
What to look for: A balance of active play, quiet time, meals, rest (for younger children), and learning activities. The schedule should be age-appropriate and include both indoor and outdoor time. Listen for how they handle transitions and what happens when a child needs something different from the group.
Red flag: An overly rigid schedule with no flexibility, no structure at all, or long periods where children are expected to entertain themselves without engagement.
Even for infants and toddlers, daily experiences shape brain development. You don't need a formal "curriculum," but you should understand how the provider thinks about learning.
What to look for: Play-based learning is developmentally appropriate for young children. The provider should be able to explain how everyday activities (reading, building, pretend play, outdoor exploration) support cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Ask about specific activities for your child's age group.
Red flag: Heavy emphasis on academics, worksheets, or "school readiness" for very young children. Also concerning: no intentional activities at all, or a philosophy that children should "just play" without any adult engagement or scaffolding.
Screen time policies vary widely. Knowing the approach upfront prevents surprises.
What to look for: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding screen time for children under 18 months (except video chatting) and limiting it for older toddlers and preschoolers. If screens are used, ask what content is shown, for what purpose, and how often. Educational use during a specific activity is different from screens as a default time-filler.
Red flag: Excessive reliance on screens, inability to specify what children watch, or defensiveness about screen time questions.
Outdoor play is essential for physical development, sensory experiences, and overall health. It's also a good indicator of the program's commitment to active, engaged care.
What to look for: Daily outdoor time (weather permitting) in a safe, enclosed space with age-appropriate equipment. Ask about their policy during inclement weather and how they handle sun protection and cold weather gear. Observe the outdoor space during your tour if possible.
Red flag: Limited or no outdoor play, an outdoor space that appears unsafe or poorly maintained, or a policy of skipping outdoor time for minor weather issues.
These questions are essential for all families, but especially important if your child has allergies, dietary restrictions, or specific health needs.
Nutrition during early childhood supports healthy growth and establishes eating habits.
What to look for: Nutritious, balanced meals and snacks. Ask to see a sample menu. If you prefer to send food from home, confirm this is allowed and how they store and serve it. Ask how they handle picky eaters and whether children are pressured to eat or praised for "cleaning their plate" (neither is recommended by pediatric nutrition experts).
Red flag: Heavy reliance on processed foods, frequent sugary snacks, or inflexibility around dietary needs and preferences.
Food allergies can be life-threatening. If your child has allergies, this is one of your most important questions.
What to look for: Clear, written procedures for managing allergies, including how they prevent cross-contamination, where allergens are stored, and how they respond to allergic reactions. All staff should be trained to recognize symptoms and administer emergency medication (like an EpiPen) if needed. Ask how they communicate with the kitchen or food preparers about individual children's needs.
Red flag: Dismissive attitude toward allergies ("we've never had a problem"), lack of written protocols, or staff who seem uncertain about emergency procedures.
Understanding when children must stay home helps you plan for inevitable sick days and gives you insight into how the program protects all children's health.
What to look for: Clear guidelines about symptoms that require a child to stay home (fever, vomiting, certain contagious conditions) and when they can return. Ask how they handle situations when a child becomes ill during the day, including where the child waits and how quickly you're expected to pick up.
Red flag: No clear policy, a policy so strict it seems designed to minimize inconvenience to the provider rather than protect children, or a policy that encourages sick children to attend.
For younger children, diapering hygiene is a health essential. For toddlers, consistency between home and care on potty training makes the process smoother for everyone.
What to look for: Proper handwashing and diapering procedures to prevent illness spread. Observe the diapering area during your tour for cleanliness. For potty training, ask about their approach, whether they follow the child's lead or have requirements, and how they coordinate with families.
Red flag: Unsanitary diapering areas, rigid potty training timelines that don't account for individual readiness, or policies that shame children for accidents.
Strong communication between parents and providers leads to better outcomes for children and more peace of mind for you.
Daily updates help you stay connected to your child's experiences, continue conversations at home, and catch any concerns early.
What to look for: Daily reports (written, via app, or verbal at pickup) covering meals, naps, diaper changes/bathroom, and activities. For infants, detailed tracking is especially important. Ask how they communicate about developmental milestones, concerns, or incidents. Clarify whether there's a primary caregiver who knows your child best.
Red flag: Minimal communication, resistance to providing updates, or a "no news is good news" philosophy that leaves you guessing.
Open-door policies indicate transparency and confidence in the care being provided.
What to look for: Parents should be welcome to visit at any time during operating hours. Some providers may have security protocols (like buzzing in or signing a log), but you should never be prevented from seeing your child or observing the program.
Red flag: Required appointment for visits, restrictions on when parents can observe, or any policy that limits your access to your child without a clear, child-safety-related reason.
At some point, you'll likely have a concern or see something differently than the provider. Knowing how they handle feedback matters.
What to look for: A willingness to listen, take concerns seriously, and work collaboratively with families. Ask for an example of how they've handled a parent concern in the past. Look for providers who see the parent-provider relationship as a partnership.
Red flag: Defensiveness, a "my way or the highway" attitude, or examples that suggest they dismiss parent concerns rather than address them.
Understanding how a provider handles challenging behaviors is essential. Approaches to discipline vary widely, and misalignment here can cause real problems.
This question often reveals a provider's deeper beliefs about children and behavior.
What to look for: Positive discipline techniques that focus on teaching rather than punishment. Effective approaches include redirection, validating emotions while setting limits, natural consequences, and helping children develop problem-solving skills. The goal should be helping children learn, not simply achieving compliance.
Red flag: Physical punishment of any kind (this should be an automatic disqualifier). Also concerning: shaming, time-outs as the primary or only strategy, withholding food or affection as punishment, or language that suggests children are "bad" rather than still learning.
These behaviors are developmentally normal in toddlers and young preschoolers. How they're handled matters for both the child doing the behavior and other children in the program.
What to look for: Recognition that these behaviors are typical at certain ages and don't mean a child is "bad." A clear, consistent plan for addressing behaviors that includes understanding triggers, teaching alternatives, keeping all children safe, and communicating with parents. Ask how they would work with you if your child were struggling with a behavior pattern.
Red flag: Harsh punishment for developmentally normal behaviors, expelling toddlers for biting (this is extremely common behavior), or failure to take other children's safety seriously.
Beyond the universal questions above, certain topics matter more depending on your child's age. Here are additional questions to ask based on whether you have an infant, toddler, or preschooler.
Home daycare and family child care programs offer a different experience than centers, often with smaller groups, mixed ages, and a more home-like environment. These additional questions help you evaluate what's unique about home-based care.
Home-based programs often care for mixed-age groups, which can benefit children but requires skilled management.
What to look for: A clear understanding of the ages and number of children in care, how activities are adapted for different ages, and what your child's peer group will look like. Mixed ages can be wonderful (older children model for younger ones, younger children offer nurturing opportunities), but the provider should articulate how they make it work.
Unlike centers, home-based care may involve other household members.
What to look for: Transparency about who lives in the home and who may be present during care hours. All adults should be background checked. Ask about pets, too, and how they're managed around children.
This is the biggest logistical challenge of home-based care: it often depends on one person.
What to look for: A clear backup plan, whether that's a substitute provider, a network arrangement with another home daycare, or a policy about closures. Understand how much notice you'll typically get and how often closures happen.
Home-based providers sometimes close when their circumstances change. While you can't predict the future, understanding their intentions helps.
What to look for: A provider who's committed to child care as a profession, not someone filling time until something else comes along. Ask how long they've been operating and what their plans are for the coming years.
Practical details matter when child care needs to fit into your family's daily life.
Make sure the schedule works for your commute and work hours, including your worst-case traffic day.
What to look for: Clear hours of operation and a reasonable late pickup policy. Understand any fees associated with late pickup and how they handle occasional versus chronic lateness. If you have an unpredictable job, be upfront about that and see how they respond.
Know when the provider will be closed so you can plan for backup care.
What to look for: A clear calendar of closures shared well in advance. Ask about holidays, teacher workdays, summer schedules, and whether tuition is still due during closures.
Understanding the full cost helps you budget accurately and avoid surprise expenses.
What to look for: Clarity about what tuition covers (meals, diapers, sunscreen, activities, field trips) and what you'll need to provide. Ask about registration fees, supply fees, deposits, and whether rates increase annually and by how much.
Starting child care is a big adjustment for children and parents. A thoughtful transition process makes it easier.
What to look for: A gradual transition process that allows your child to adjust at their own pace. Ask if you can do shorter visits before starting full-time, whether you can stay during initial visits, and how they support children who are struggling with separation.
Red flag: No transition period, rushing children to "just get used to it," or dismissiveness about separation anxiety.
The questions in this guide will give you important information, but some of what you learn during a daycare tour comes from observation, not conversation.
Watch how caregivers interact with children. Are they warm, engaged, and responsive? Do they get down on children's level? Do they seem to genuinely enjoy the children, or are they just going through the motions?
Notice how children behave. Do they seem happy, comfortable, and engaged? Are they playing actively or zoned out? Do they approach caregivers for help or comfort?
Observe the environment. Is it clean and organized? Does it feel welcoming? Is there interesting, age-appropriate material at children's level? Does it look like a place where children do things, or where they're managed?
Pay attention to your gut. Sometimes you can't articulate why a place feels right or wrong. Your instincts are picking up on signals your conscious mind hasn't processed yet. If something feels off, it's okay to keep looking.
Here's a quick-reference checklist you can bring to your child care visits. Check off each topic as you cover it, and note any concerns or standout positives.
Safety and Credentials
Daily Experience
Health and Nutrition
Communication
Behavior and Discipline
Logistics
Your Observations
After touring programs and asking your questions, you may find the choice is clear. Or you may be weighing trade-offs between options that each have strengths and weaknesses.
Remember: there's no universally "best" child care. The best choice is the one that fits your specific child, your family's values, your practical constraints, and your gut feeling. A less "prestigious" program where your child thrives and you trust the caregivers is better than a highly-rated program that doesn't feel right.
If you're torn between options, consider arranging a second visit, asking if your child can do a trial session, or talking to current families about their experience.
And know that choosing child care isn't a permanent, irreversible decision. If you start somewhere and it's not working, you can make a change. Your job is to make the best decision you can with the information you have, then stay engaged and attentive as your child settles in.
Ready to start your search? Wonderschool connects parents with vetted, high-quality child care providers, including home-based programs that offer small groups and personalized attention. Every provider on our platform has been screened, and you can read reviews from other families, view programs' photos and information, and message providers directly. Browse child care programs near you.
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