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?
• Can I meet the primary infant teacher who would have my child?
• May I see the most recent licensing inspection report?

Cost, placement, and hours

• What is full-time infant tuition, and what is included vs extra?
• Deposit, registration fee, and notice period to withdraw?
• Waitlist length and how priority works (siblings, employees, birthday)?
• Hours of operation and late-pickup fee structure
• Closures: holidays, professional development days, weather policy

Feeding, sleep, and illness

• How do you handle breast milk labeling, storage, and warming?
• Formula: parent-provided only, or center-provided options?
• Where do infants nap, and how is the room supervised during naps?
• Illness exclusion policy — fever threshold and return rules
• Medication administration: what is allowed with a form?
• Allergy and anaphylaxis plan process

Safety, security, and culture

• Door security: how do visitors check in?
• Diapering hygiene cadence (gloves, handwashing, surface cleaning)
• Cameras: on-site only, parent access, or none — and retention?
• Daily update format and response time for messages
• How do transitions to the next classroom work?

Contract and same-day follow-up

• Request sample contract and handbook before paying a deposit
• Vacation credit or tuition still due when out sick?
• Look up license / complaints on the state site the same day
• Compare commute at drop-off time, not midday