Advertisement

How to find the best infant daycare for your baby

When searching for an infant daycare, look for a welcoming, clean environment with a good reputation, caring staff, and a top-notch curriculum. Do your research ahead of time and come prepared with questions to ask. Signs of a bad daycare include a not-great reputation and poor communication. With some effort upfront, it'll be easier to find a daycare that's right for you and your baby.

Two babies playing at daycare
Photo credit: Thinkstock/iStockphoto

Finding the best daycare for your baby

Choosing a daycare center for your baby is a big decision. It's normal to feel anxious about putting your child in someone else's care, especially if you're a first-time parent. Typically, you want to find a daycare that's close to your home or work and in your budget. And of course, you'll want a daycare where your child is safe, happy, and thriving.

Depending on where you live, it can be a challenge to find an infant daycare that checks all these boxes. Often, parents don't have a wealth of options to choose from. If you can, start your daycare search about six months before you'll need childcare, and use this article as your guide to finding the best daycare for your baby.

Advertisement | page continues below

Types of infant daycare

First, it's important to know the different daycare options. There are two main types: daycare centers (larger daycare facilities) and home daycares (supervised care in a caregiver's home). There are benefits and downsides to both options.

Pros of a daycare center

  • Many have an educational focus
  • Plenty of opportunities to socialize with peers
  • Structured environment with a consistent routine and schedule
  • Must be licensed and abide by state regulations (such as teacher-to-student ratios and CPR certification)
  • May accept infants as young as 6 weeks old
  • Reliable hours
  • Many remain open during summer and some holidays

Cons of a daycare center

  • The high cost of daycare. It varies a lot based on where you live in the U.S., but the average tuition is about $850 per month for an infant.
  • Your child will be exposed to illnesses from other kids and be sick more often
  • Daytime hours only, which can be difficult for parents who work the night shift

Pros of a home daycare

  • A smaller group of kids, so your child may get more individualized attention and less exposure to illness
  • A homier environment, which may make some kids (and parents) feel more comfortable
  • May accept infants as young as 6 weeks old
  • Plenty of opportunities to socialize with peers
  • Typically less expensive than a daycare center
  • May have flexibility with drop-off/pick-up times or offer evening hours, since the daycare is operated out of the owner's home

Cons of a home daycare

  • Not all states require home daycares to be licensed
  • May have less structure
  • Kids usually aren't divided by age, which could be beneficial or not depending on your child

What to look for in a daycare

A good reputation

A good daycare will have a welcoming, friendly atmosphere and be known for its nurturing environment.

Ask neighbors and fellow parents: Is this a popular daycare? Don't hesitate to judge based on what you hear from other parents. Ask for specifics, though, to make sure that any potential negative comments would apply to your situation and aren't unique to a particular family and daycare.

Advertisement | page continues below

Also, be mindful of your first impression: In this case it counts a lot. If you're even the slightest bit reluctant to leave your child at a daycare, pass.

Bottom line: Word of mouth is key here. If parents you like and respect rave about a daycare, odds are you'll like it too.

Grandma? Daycare? Real parents discuss finding childcare that works.

Established ground rules

It's important for a daycare to be flexible – letting you pick up and drop off your child at different times, for instance – but it should also have clearly established regulations for everything from operating hours to how to handle emergencies. The daycare should be able to supply you with a written copy of its policies. That way you know it takes its responsibility – your baby – seriously.

Along the same lines, look for a daycare with a strict sick-child policy. Find out which illnesses will keep your child home, and for how long. A tough policy may inconvenience you if your child is ill, but keeping sick children (and staff) away from the daycare makes sense. Good daycares help cut down on illness by requiring all children and employees to have current immunizations and regular checkups.

Bottom line: Look for a daycare that's well organized and has solid rules in place.

Advertisement | page continues below

A stimulating curriculum

The best daycares have structured schedules that include plenty of time for physical activity, quiet time or nap time, daily reading sessions, group programs, individual activities, meals, snacks, and free play. A well-thought-out curriculum is designed to stimulate your child's development and make daily life more fun.

Look for a daycare with a wide range of age-appropriate toys that will encourage your child's development and, as they get older, stimulate creative, imaginative play.

Bottom line: Your child is more likely to thrive in a place with a good curriculum with a range of age-appropriate activities.

A qualified, caring staff

Many daycare teachers have a background in early childhood development, and training in CPR and first aid.

Ideally, your daycare will provide fair pay and good staff benefits. Daycares that pay their employees well and offer them vacation time, health insurance, and an education allowance, for example, are more likely to have caregivers who stick around.

Advertisement | page continues below

Note how the staff interacts with the children. Caregivers should be responsible, enthusiastic, and attentive. Look for a staff that shares your philosophies on sleep, discipline, feeding, and other issues.

Make sure the daycare has plenty of staff so your child gets the attention and care they need. The ratio of caregivers to children can vary, depending on age. The nonprofit National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) set these guidelines:

  • For infant classes (birth to 15 months), the ratio is one caregiver for every four babies with a maximum of eight babies per class
  • For toddler classes (12 to 36 months), the ratio is 1:6 with a maximum class size of 12

Note that centers aren't required to follow NAEYC's recommendations, so ask what each daycare's ratio is and decide whether it's okay for you. A good daycare will keep groups of children small no matter how many employees they have, to encourage interaction and development.

Bottom line: Look for a daycare where the staff is both qualified and enthusiastic.

Advertisement | page continues below

Healthy food

If you bring your child's food, find out the daycare's guidelines. Some may require you to pack meals and snacks for your older baby. If the daycare does have a food plan, find out what it serves at meal and snack times (and make sure the staff is aware of your child's food allergies, if any). Does it encourage healthy eating habits and cover all the food groups? Is the daycare nut-free?

Most infant daycares will want you to bring bottles that you prepare in advance. They should accept both formula and breast milk, but make sure any frozen breast milk is thawed before you bring it in. Buy a small cooler bag to transport the prepared bottles to daycare. The daycare will keep the bottles in the fridge until it's time to feed your baby.

Bottom line: Healthy food habits start early. A good daycare will encourage your child to have a variety of nutritious foods.

Clean, safe facilities

A good daycare will be clean and sanitary. Check that:

  • floors, walkways, walls, and kitchen areas are clean and uncluttered
  • food preparation areas are far from toilets and diaper-changing stations
  • trash isn't left sitting unemptied
  • the building is adequately heated, lit, and ventilated
  • Staff washes their hands regularly (and always after every diaper change)
Advertisement | page continues below

Make sure the daycare follows safety rules, too. Check that:

  • toys and play equipment are in good repair
  • upstairs windows (if any) have screens or bars
  • all medicines and other hazardous substances are out of reach
  • any outdoor play area is safe and secure
  • smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in place and working
  • radiators and heaters are covered or otherwise protected
  • a first-aid kit and fire extinguisher are close at hand
  • all standard childproofing techniques are used (covered outlets, safety gates, door latches, etc.)
  • the daycare is secure, so strangers can't just walk in off the street
  • caregivers follow safe sleep practices for babies (they put babies to sleep on their backs in a firm crib without blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animals)

Bottom line: Choose a daycare that's clean, sanitary, and safe.

A current license

Ask to see a daycare's license and credentials, then double-check with a call to your local social services department or look online. If possible, choose a daycare that has also passed the stringent accreditation process required by NAEYC, a benchmark of quality.

Daycares must also meet state licensing regulations for health and safety. Of course, a current license isn't a guarantee of quality care – and some states don't require licenses.

Advertisement | page continues below

Bottom line: A license isn't everything, but if a daycare you like doesn't have one, find out why.

Signs of a bad infant daycare

Watch for the warning signs listed below:

  • A not-great reputation: If other parents you ask aren't thrilled with the daycare, it's best to keep looking
  • Loose rules: Rules and regulations are important. Daycares without clearly established guidelines for everything from operating hours to handling emergencies are likely to have other organizational problems as well. Ask for a written copy of the daycare's policies. If they can't supply one, that's a reason to be wary.
  • A lax sick-child policy. If children and staff who come down with a fever or the flu don't have to stay home for at least 24 hours, your baby is more likely to catch every little thing that comes along.
  • A questionable curriculum. Skip daycares that either have no daily program or offer one that's static and unchallenging.
  • Unhappy staff. If a daycare's employees seem underqualified, unenthusiastic, or unappreciated, keep looking. Trust your instincts.
  • Shabby facilities. If the daycare seems dirty or unsafe, that's a major red flag.

Questions to ask daycare

Come prepared with a list of questions to ask when you're touring a potential daycare to make sure it meets your family's needs. Here are a some to get you started:

  • Are you licensed or accredited?
  • Is there space for my child? Is there a waitlist?
  • What are your hours of operation?
  • What's the monthly tuition?
  • Are lunch or snacks included in the fee?
  • How much do you charge if I'm late for pick-up, if anything?
  • Which classroom(s) will my child be in?
  • What's the ratio of teachers to kids for my child's age group?
  • What's the staff turnover like?
  • What kind of certification and training do teachers have?
  • How long is nap or rest time?
  • What does a typical day look like?
  • What's your policy when children are sick?
  • Do you administer medication?
  • How often do you clean toys, common areas, etc?
  • Are you a nut-free facility?
  • How would you handle my baby's allergy?
  • How do you handle challenging behaviors?
  • How often do the children play outside?
  • How do you communicate with parents?
Advertisement | page continues below

When can babies start daycare?

When to send your baby to daycare is a personal decision that depends on several factors, including when you'll return to work, whether your partner can take parental leave, and whether you have alternative childcare options.

Some daycares will accept babies as young as 6 weeks old, which is key for women with little maternity leave. Maternity leave can last anywhere from just a few days up to a year, depending on what benefits moms have access to. One study found that the average time off for working U.S. women after having a baby is 10 weeks.

Track your pregnancy on our free #1 pregnancy & baby app
phone with BabyCenter app

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

Childcare.govOpens a new window. How do I find and choose quality childcare? https://childcare.gov/consumer-education/choosing-quality-childcareOpens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

Childcare.govOpens a new window. Family child care homes. https://childcare.gov/index.php/consumer-education/family-child-care-homesOpens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

Childcare.govOpens a new window. Child care licensing and regulations. https://childcare.gov/consumer-education/child-care-licensing-and-regulationsOpens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Staff-to-child ratio and class size. https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/accreditation/early-learning/staff_child_ratio_0.pdfOpens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

Extension Alliance for Better Child Care. 2019. Guidelines for child care providers to prepare and feed bottles for infants. https://childcare.extension.org/guidelines-for-child-care-providers-to-prepare-and-feed-bottles-to-infants/Opens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

Caring for Our Children. Facilities, Supplies, Equipment, and Environmental Health. https://nrckids.org/CFOC/Database/5.1.2Opens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2022. Safe sleep. https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/safe-sleep/Opens a new window Accessed January 2023]

NAEYC. The value of an NAEYC-accredited program. https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/value-naeyc-accredited-programOpens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

Childcare.govOpens a new window. Getting started: Simple steps for finding and choosing child care. https://childcare.gov/index.php/consumer-education/five-steps-to-choosing-care[Accessed January 2023]

Childcare.govOpens a new window. Look, listen and ask. Tips for choosing a quality child care center. https://childcare.gov/sites/default/files/2022-04/Choosing-a-Child-Care-Center.pdfOpens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

Haley Longman
Haley Longman is a New Jersey-based writer and editor who spent the early years of her journalism career covering entertainment, celebrities, and reality TV. She has been creating a wider range of lifestyle content since becoming a mom in 2017, including writing and editing digital and print stories on her favorite topics: women's health, fertility, pregnancy, and parenting. Longman lives in North Jersey with her husband and their son.
Advertisement