Forty-seven items, six categories, one tour. This is the checklist DaycareSquare editors use when reporting on programs, and the same one we recommend parents bring on every visit. Read it before you tour. Fill out a copy for each finalist. Compare the three side by side at the kitchen table. The right daycare almost always reveals itself in the gaps between programs, not in the headline marketing.
The categories below are ordered from most to least disqualifying. Licensing and safety items at the top are pass/fail. The lower categories give you finer-grained signal once a program clears the basics.
Sources used throughout: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Program Standards; American Academy of Pediatrics, Caring for Our Children (4th edition) national health and safety performance standards; Child Care Aware of America's parent toolkit; state child care licensing handbooks for the 10 largest states.
How to use this checklist
Bring a printed copy to each tour. Tour 3 to 5 finalists. Fill out the checklist immediately after each visit, while details are fresh. At least 90 percent of items should be a "yes" before you sign an enrollment contract. Any "no" in the licensing or safety sections is usually disqualifying. For the printable, structured version you can carry on tour, download our comparison checklist.
1. Licensing and credentials (8 items)
- Provider is currently licensed by the state child care licensing agency. Check the state portal directly, not the program's website.
- License has been active for at least 12 months without lapse.
- No supervision-related non-compliances in the past 24 months.
- No enforcement actions (probation, suspension) in the past 36 months.
- The program is accredited (NAEYC for centers, NAFCC for family child care) or holds a quality rating of 3-star or higher in the state QRIS.
- Lead teacher(s) in your child's age room hold the state-required credential (often a CDA or Associate's degree in Early Childhood).
- All staff have current CPR and pediatric first aid certification.
- Background checks (FBI fingerprint, state criminal record, child abuse registry) on file for all staff and any volunteers.
2. Safety and health (10 items)
- Building secure entry: locked exterior doors, visitor sign-in, restricted access to classrooms.
- Emergency exits clearly marked; fire drills conducted at least monthly per state rule.
- Documented emergency plan including shelter-in-place and evacuation routes.
- Outdoor play area fully fenced; equipment age-appropriate; surfacing under climbing structures.
- Safe sleep practices in the infant room: cribs cleared, infants on back, no loose blankets or bumpers.
- Hand-washing routines observed before snacks, after diapering, after outdoor play.
- Diapering station with sanitizing protocol after each change; gloves used.
- Written illness exclusion policy; communicated clearly to all families.
- Medication administration policy in writing; locked storage; signed authorization required.
- Food allergy plan in writing; allergen-aware kitchen and snack practices.
3. Staff and ratios (7 items)
- Ratios in your child's room meet or exceed the state minimum (which is itself a floor, not a goal).
- NAEYC-recommended ratio bonus: infant 1:3 or 1:4, toddler 1:4 to 1:6, preschool 1:8 to 1:10.
- Group size within NAEYC limits (no more than 8 infants, 12 toddlers, 20 preschoolers in one classroom).
- Lead teacher tenure of 18 months or longer in the room (low turnover is a key quality signal).
- Staff demonstrate warm, individual interactions with children, not just group control.
- Visible supervision: an adult can see every child at all times during your tour.
- Substitutes are regular and known to the children, not random outside fill-ins.
4. Curriculum and environment (8 items)
- Daily schedule posted and includes outdoor time at least 60 minutes a day (weather permitting).
- Curriculum is play-based, developmentally appropriate, and intentional (NAEYC-aligned, Creative Curriculum, HighScope, or similar).
- Classroom environment is organized into clear interest areas (blocks, books, art, dramatic play, manipulatives).
- Materials are clean, age-appropriate, and rotated rather than picked-over.
- Children's work is displayed at child eye level, not adult height.
- Books are abundant, in good condition, and reflect diverse families and cultures.
- Screen time is minimal or zero, especially for children under 2.
- Outdoor space is used daily; it is a real space, not a parking-lot patio.
5. Communication and partnership (7 items)
- Program uses a parent communication tool (Brightwheel, Procare, ChildcareCRM) or daily written reports for infants and toddlers.
- Daily reports include naps, meals, diaper changes, mood, and one developmental note.
- Parent-teacher conferences scheduled at least twice a year.
- Open-door policy: parents welcome to visit any time during operating hours.
- Annual parent satisfaction survey conducted and shared.
- Family handbook in writing, distributed at enrollment, and updated annually.
- Clear written process for raising and resolving concerns.
6. Contract and cost (7 items)
- Written enrollment contract reviewed and signed before the start date.
- Tuition, registration fee, supply fee, and any other charges spelled out clearly.
- Closure days disclosed in advance: most US programs close 8 to 14 weekdays a year that you still pay for.
- Termination policy (notice period for either side) is reasonable: 30 days is standard.
- Tuition increase notice clause: 60-day minimum written notice is the editorial standard.
- Refund and deposit policy: waitlist deposits should be partially refundable beyond a reasonable window.
- Late pickup fees disclosed (typical: $1 to $5 per minute past closing); first-offense grace period preferred.
After the tour
Once you have filled out the checklist for each finalist, do three things:
- Count the no's. A program with 5 or more "no" items is usually not a finalist. A program with 1 or 2 "no" items in non-disqualifying categories (curriculum, communication, contract) can usually be raised in conversation with the director.
- Re-rank. The program that wins on the checklist isn't always the one that won on the tour. Trust the checklist for facts; trust the tour for feel. They should agree.
- Talk to current families. Ask the program for 2 or 3 reference families with a child the same age as yours, and call them. Reference calls catch issues the checklist can't see.
The non-obvious signal. Watch what happens at the dirtiest moment of the day: a tantrum, a spilled snack, a child crying after pickup. How staff respond when the program isn't on best behavior tells you more than any tour script.
Bottom line
No daycare is perfect on every line. The 47-item checklist isn't a scorecard for a winner; it is a way of making sure you've evaluated each program against the same standard, so the differences are visible rather than felt. Bring it on tour. Compare side by side. Choose the one that scores 90 percent or better and that you can picture your child being happy in.
For the longer pillar treatment, see our guide on how to choose a daycare. To project the cost of your finalists, use our cost calculator. For the structured, printable version of this checklist, download our free comparison checklist.
