How to Tour a Daycare: Every Question to Ask (from a mom of three)

Written by Meg — mom of three (ages 5, 4, and 1.5) in Atlanta. I've been through the daycare search, including a deep dive into Montessori options. This is the info I wish I'd had from a normal mom.

About to start touring daycares and not sure what to ask? This is the complete list of questions I put together — covering daily routine, health and safety, staff qualifications, environment and philosophy, parent communication, logistics, and costs. Take what's useful, leave what's not. And remember: the in-person tour is everything. Your mama gut will tell you what you need to know. Does it feel clean? Do the kids look happy? Is it chaotic or calm? You'll know.

Here are some questions you can take for inspiration for those early conversations. Some of this will likely be answered for you in the initial materials you receive from the school as well (a good sign!).

Do your research, make your best choice and see how it goes. You're doing a beautiful job 🫶

When to start looking for a daycare

I know how this sounds, but: earlier than you think. In most cities the good places have waitlists running six to twelve months, and some take names before your baby is born. With my first I started at 20 weeks pregnant and still waited on multiple lists.

If you're already past that point, don't panic — spots open up constantly as families move, change schedules, or switch centers. It just means you should be calling now rather than in a month.

A reasonable target: tour three to five places. Fewer than three and you have nothing to compare against. More than five and they genuinely start to blur together, which is why the notes section further down matters.

How to schedule a daycare tour

Call, don't email. I say that as someone who would rather do almost anything than make a phone call — but these places are generally short-staffed and email may go to an inbox and sit. A two-minute call gets you a slot; an email might get you nothing for a week.

What to say, more or less:

"Hi, I'm looking for care for my [age] starting around [month] — do you have availability, and could I come see the space?"

Ask two things while you have them on the phone, because both can save you an entire visit:

• Is there a waitlist, and roughly how long? If it's eighteen months and you need care in three, you've just saved yourself an afternoon.

• What does care cost for my child's age? Some centers won't say over the phone. That itself is information.

Ask for a weekday mid-morning slot, around 9:30 or 10. That's when a daycare is fully in motion — kids awake, activities running, staff doing the actual job. A 3pm tour shows you a room at its calmest, and naptime shows you almost nothing.

How to tour a daycare — what to actually do while you're there

The questions matter, and they're all below. But three babies in, what I've learned is that the visit itself tells you more than the answers do.

Watch the caregivers, not the facility. A brand new building with disengaged staff is worse than a slightly worn room where someone is on the floor at eye level with a toddler. Look at whether adults are talking to the children or over them. Look at whether a crying baby gets picked up.

Ask to see the actual room your child would be in. Not the showcase room, not the pre-K room with the beautiful art wall. The specific room, with the specific people, for your child's age group. If that's not possible today, ask when it would be.

Check what the transition looks like at drop-off, if you can see one. How a center handles a child who doesn't want their parent to leave is the single most revealing thing you'll witness.

Trust the smell test, literally. A daycare should smell like nothing in particular. Heavy air freshener is usually covering something.

And then the part nobody tells you: write your notes in the car before you drive away. Not that evening. By the third tour every place merges into one and you will not remember which one had the good outdoor space and which one dodged the ratio question. I keep a note on my phone with the same three lines for every center — what I loved, what nagged at me, and the gut number out of ten.

Daycare tour FAQs

How many daycares should I tour? Three to five. Enough to have a basis for comparison, not so many that they blur.

How long does a daycare tour take? Usually 20 to 30 minutes. If someone gives you five minutes and a brochure, that's your answer about how they'll communicate later.

Should I bring my baby to the daycare tour? If you can go without them, do — you'll observe far more. But bringing them isn't a problem, and watching how staff react to a baby they've never met is genuinely useful information.

What's the biggest red flag on a daycare tour? Being told you can't see the room your child would be in. Everything else can have a reasonable explanation. That one rarely does.

When should I start looking for daycare? Six to twelve months before you need it, and earlier in a competitive city. Many centers take waitlist names during pregnancy.

Every question to ask on a daycare tour

Daily Routine & Baby’s Care

• How do you communicate with parents about daily activities like naps, feeding, diaper changes, and mood?

• What does a typical day look like for an infant here?

• How do you handle feeding—do you follow our schedule or your own?

• Do you support breastmilk, formula, and solid food preferences?

• How are naps managed—are they on a schedule or baby-led?

Health & Safety

• What are your illness and sick child policies?

• How do you handle emergencies (e.g., allergic reactions, injuries)?

• Are staff trained in infant CPR and first aid?

• What is your procedure for administering medication?

• What security measures do you have for drop-off/pick-up?

Staff Qualifications & Ratios

• What are the qualifications and experience of the caregivers?

• What is your caregiver-to-infant ratio?

• How do you vet, screen, and train staff members?

• Is there ongoing professional development or training for staff?

Environment & Philosophy

• What is your approach to infant development and play?

• How do you handle crying or fussy babies?

• Do you follow any specific childcare philosophies (Montessori, play-based, etc.)?

• Can I tour the classroom or facility my baby would be in?

Parent Communication & Involvement

• How do you share updates—daily app, written reports, photos, texts?

• Is there a way to communicate directly with my child’s caregiver?

• Do you host parent-teacher conferences or check-ins?

Logistics & Policies

• What are your hours and policies around late pick-up?

• What is the vacation/holiday schedule?

• What is your policy for transitioning babies into daycare for the first time?

• How flexible are you with scheduling (e.g., part-time or drop-in care)?

• What supplies do we need to bring vs. what you provide?

Costs & Enrollment

• What is the cost of care and what’s included?

• Are there any enrollment or annual fees?

• What’s the notice period for withdrawal?

FAQ

What should I look for when touring a daycare? Beyond the questions, trust your gut on the visit. Is it clean? Do the kids look happy and engaged? Is the staff warm and responsive? Is it chaotic or calm? Does the director answer your questions confidently and transparently? I've toured places where everything looked good on paper but something just felt off — and places that immediately felt right. Your mama gut is a real thing.

What is a good caregiver-to-infant ratio at daycare? For infants, look for a ratio of 1:3 or 1:4 (one caregiver to three or four babies). State licensing sets minimums but you want to know what they actually maintain day to day, especially during peak drop-off and pick-up windows. Ask specifically what happens when a caregiver is sick or on vacation.

What questions should I ask about illness policies at daycare? Ask what symptoms require a child to stay home (and for how long), how quickly they'll contact you if your child gets sick during the day, and what their procedure is for managing things like lice, hand foot and mouth, or RSV outbreaks. Also ask how they communicate illness notifications to all parents — do you get a group notice when something is going around?

What is the difference between Montessori and traditional daycare? Montessori programs follow a child-led philosophy focused on independence, hands-on learning, and mixed-age groupings. Traditional or play-based programs tend to be more structured with age-grouped classrooms. Neither is objectively better — it really comes down to your child's temperament and your family's values. Ask any daycare you're touring to explain their philosophy and give you examples of what a typical day looks like.

When should I start looking for daycare? Much earlier than you think — especially in competitive markets. Many Atlanta daycares have waitlists of 6-12 months or more for infant spots. I'd start researching as soon as you're pregnant, tour in your second trimester if possible, and get on waitlists early even if you're not 100% decided. You can always decline a spot; you can't always get one when you need it.

What should I ask for toddlers starting daycare? For toddlers, much of the above still applies but you'll also want to ask about how they handle things like potty training and biting. Check out the bathroom in the class room as well so you have a complete picture.

What should I bring to a daycare tour? Just yourself and this list of questions! I'd also bring a notepad to jot down impressions while they're fresh. If possible, visit during a busy time of day (morning drop-off or after lunch) so you see the facility in real operation, not at its quietest. And if you're bringing your toddler along, know that they'll probably be distracted — consider a second visit just with your partner to ask the harder questions without chaos.

→ See my tips for protecting your newborn from daycare germs once you've made your choice here

→ Check out my tips for handling sick kiddos here

→ See my full baby registry checklist for everything to have ready before baby arrives here

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Your friendly reminder that this blog is not medical advice. All opinions are my own based on personal experience.

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