Daycare tour questions checklist

Tours are sales conversations. Bring this list and write answers down before you forget which center said what. Licensing rules vary by state; ask for the license number and look it up yourself. This is not a substitute for your own judgment or local regulations.

Checklist

Licensing, ratios, and staffing

• What ages do you license for, and what is your current infant ratio?
• How many infants per room today vs maximum allowed?
• What is staff turnover like in the infant room over the last year?
• Who covers breaks, lunches, and call-outs?
• Are teachers CPR / first-aid certified? How often recertified?
• Can I meet the primary infant teacher who would have my child?
• May I see the most recent licensing inspection report?

Schedule, placement, and cost

• What full-time infant tuition is, and what is included vs extra?
• Deposit, registration fee, and notice period to withdraw?
• Waitlist length and how priority works (siblings, employees, birthday)?
• Typical start age for infants here; any minimum age or weeks-early?
• Hours of operation; late pickup fee structure
• Closures: holidays, professional development days, weather policy
• Is part-time available, or only five days?

Feeding and sleep

• How do you handle breast milk labeling, storage, and warming?
• Formula: parent-provided only, or center-provided options?
• Pacifier policy; sleep positioning practice (ask them to describe it)
• Where do infants nap; how is the room supervised during naps?
• How do you track feeds and diapers for parents (app, paper)?

Illness, medication, and emergencies

• Illness exclusion policy — fever threshold and return rules
• How are parents notified of contagious illness in the room?
• Medication administration: what is allowed with a form?
• Allergy and anaphylaxis plan process
• Emergency evacuation and reunification steps
• Who calls EMS; where is the nearest ER they use?

Safety and environment (observe + ask)

• Door security: how do visitors check in?
• Safe sleep surfaces look clear and flat — note what you see
• Diapering hygiene: gloves, handwashing, surface cleaning cadence
• Outdoor time: frequency, weather cutoffs, shade
• How are bottles, toys, and surfaces sanitized?
• Cameras: on-site only, parent access, or none — and retention?

Communication and culture

• Daily update format and response time for messages
• How do you handle biting, early conflict, or separation distress?
• Approach to screen use (should be rare/none for infants — ask)
• Parent drop-in policy during the day
• How do transitions to the next classroom work?

Contract fine print (get it in writing)

• Request sample contract and handbook before paying a deposit
• Tuition increase history / notice period
• Vacation credit or tuition still due when out sick?
• Trial days or gradual start options
• Termination grounds for the center and for families

After the tour (same day)

• Write gut score 1–5 on safety, warmth, and logistics while memory is fresh
• Look up license / complaints on the state site
• Compare commute at drop-off time, not midday
• Call parent references if the center provides any