Ethan BrooksBy Ethan Brooks

Choosing a child care program is one of the first big safety decisions you make as a parent. A clear checklist turns a stressful search into a series of manageable steps. This guide pulls together the practical steps recommended by ChildCare.gov and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) so you can ask the right questions, spot red flags, and feel confident about where your child spends their day.

Short version: Start with your state’s online child care search, review licensing and inspection reports, visit programs in person, and use the 15 must-haves checklist from ChildCare.gov to compare options. For infants, confirm safe sleep practices. If transportation is provided, ask about car seat policies.

ChildCare.gov recommends beginning your search by using your state or territory’s online child care search tool. Every state and territory is required to maintain an online list or search function that helps you find licensed programs near you. You can also visit your state’s child care consumer education website to learn about local regulations and quality standards. This step gives you a broad list of options before you start making calls.

Check licensing and inspection history

Once you have a few programs in mind, ChildCare.gov suggests looking closely at each one’s licensing status and inspection reports. A program should be licensed, registered, certified, or legally license-exempt. Check whether the license has ever been suspended or revoked. Inspection reports show if the program has violated any health and safety requirements and whether those violations were corrected. You can also see if a valid complaint was filed against the program. Many states also share quality ratings that go beyond basic licensing, which can help you understand how a program measures up. For more on how child care is regulated, visit ChildCare.gov’s “How is Child Care Regulated to Ensure Children’s Health and Safety?” section.

Visit and ask the right questions

ChildCare.gov encourages you to contact each program directly and schedule a visit, either in-person or virtually. Before you go, prepare a list of questions: Is the program licensed? Do they have space for your child? What are the hours and the cost? If you receive child care financial assistance, ask whether they accept those payments. During your visit, ChildCare.gov recommends using the “Look, Listen, and Ask” tip sheets to observe the environment, listen to how adults and children interact, and ask about key features. Visiting several programs lets you compare how each one feels and whether the children seem happy and engaged.

Use the 15 must-haves checklist

ChildCare.gov offers a checklist of 15 essential questions that apply to all child care programs. You can print it and take it with you when you visit. The questions cover staff qualifications, health and safety practices, supervision, and emergency planning. Here are the 15 must-haves, grouped to make them easier to remember during a tour.

Staff qualifications and background checks

  • Is the program licensed? Ask to see the license. If it is not licensed, find out why and check your state’s regulations to confirm it is not required to be licensed.
  • Have all adults had state and national background checks, including fingerprinting? ChildCare.gov states that background checks are a basic requirement for anyone working in the program.
  • Does the director (of a center) have a college degree in child development or a related field? For family child care homes, ask whether the owner or operator has a credential or degree in early childhood education or a related field.
  • Do all adults receive ongoing training in working with children and child development? Regular training helps staff stay current on safety and learning practices.
  • Have adults been trained on how to prevent child abuse and recognize and report signs of abuse? This training is part of the must-haves checklist.

Supervision, ratios, and daily routines

  • Does the program have an appropriate number of adults for each group of children? This is the child-to-adult ratio. ChildCare.gov notes that recommended ratios are usually lower for younger children and references the AAP recommendation of no more than 3 infants under 12 months per adult in a center.
  • Are children, including infants, supervised at all times, even when they are sleeping? Constant supervision is a core safety expectation.
  • Is there a planned schedule that includes active and quiet play, group and individual learning, rest time, and meals? A predictable routine supports healthy development.

Health, safety, and the physical environment

  • Is the environment safe, clean, and well maintained? ChildCare.gov specifically asks whether safe cribs are provided for each infant, whether the program follows safe sleep guidelines, whether electrical outlets are covered, and whether medicines and dangerous items such as cleaning supplies are kept out of children’s reach. For more on keeping hazardous materials secure, see our Poison Prevention guide.
  • Is there someone present at all times who is trained in pediatric first aid and CPR? Staff should also know how to respond to an allergic reaction, and a first aid kit should be available.
  • Are adults trained in how to prevent injuries? Injury prevention training is part of the checklist.
  • Does the program have a clear, written plan for what to do if a child is injured, sick, or lost? This plan should be shared with families.
  • Is there a written plan for responding to emergencies and disasters such as fire or flooding? ChildCare.gov also asks whether the program conducts regular fire drills.

Discipline and the emotional climate

  • Is there a written discipline policy that explains how behavioral concerns are handled? The policy should teach and guide children rather than punish them. ChildCare.gov says the policy should make it clear that there will be no spanking, humiliating, or excluding children.
  • Does the program feel warm and welcoming? Notice whether children are happily engaged and whether adults seem to enjoy working with them and pay attention to each child’s needs.
  • Are visits from parents allowed and encouraged anytime the program is open? If you are not allowed to visit without calling ahead, ChildCare.gov advises that this is not the right program for your child.

Safe sleep for infants in child care

If your child is under 1 year old, confirm that the program follows safe sleep guidelines. The AAP recommends placing babies on their back for every nap and at night. The sleep surface should be firm and flat, with a fitted sheet only. Soft objects, loose bedding, pillows, and bumper pads should never be in the crib. The AAP also advises room sharing without bed sharing for at least the first 6 months, but in a child care setting, the focus is on the sleep environment itself. Ask whether staff place infants on their backs and whether cribs meet current safety standards. The AAP notes that any surface that inclines more than 10 degrees is not safe for infant sleep. If a baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, or swing, the AAP says to move them to a firm sleep surface on their back as soon as possible. For more on creating a safe sleep space at home, see our Bedroom Safety article.

Transportation and car seat safety

If the child care program transports children, ask about their car seat policy. The AAP states that all infants and toddlers should ride rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Convertible and all-in-one seats often allow rear-facing up to 40 to 50 pounds. The AAP also emphasizes that the back seat is the safest place for all children younger than 13 years. Ask whether drivers are trained in proper installation and whether the program uses either the vehicle’s seat belt or the LATCH system to secure seats. The AAP notes that both systems are equally safe when used correctly, and that caregivers should use one or the other, not both unless the manufacturer says it is okay. If you want to check your own car seat installation, a certified child passenger safety technician can help. For a broader look at keeping your toddler safe on the go, visit our Travel Safety checklist.

Putting it all together

After you have visited programs and filled out your checklist, ChildCare.gov suggests reflecting on how each visit felt. Did you feel welcome? Were the children engaged in age-appropriate activities? Which provider made you feel most comfortable? Trust your observations alongside the facts you gathered. No single question on its own determines quality, but a pattern of “yes” answers across the 15 must-haves points toward a program that takes safety and child development seriously. For a quick reference you can take on visits, explore our Childcare Safety Checklist page. You may also want to review our Toddler Home Safety Checklist to make sure your own home is as safe as the care environment you choose.

Frequently asked questions

What if a program is not licensed?

ChildCare.gov advises that you ask to see the license. If the program is not licensed, ask why and then check your state’s licensing regulations to make sure the program is not required to be licensed. Some types of care, such as certain informal in-home arrangements, may be legally license-exempt, but you should still verify that the program meets basic health and safety standards.

How can I check inspection reports and complaint history?

ChildCare.gov directs families to their state or territory’s online child care search or consumer education website. These sites typically include licensing status, inspection reports, and any valid complaints. You can see whether violations were corrected and how the program responded. This information is public and helps you make an informed choice.

What should I do if I have a concern about a child care program?

Your state or territory’s child care consumer education website explains how child care is regulated where you live, and ChildCare.gov provides a link to report suspected child care fraud. For immediate safety concerns about a child, call 911. If you think a child has been exposed to a poison, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. Always discuss any health or development questions with your child’s pediatrician.

For more tips, visit our Childcare Safety Checklist page. You can also browse our full Safety Checklists section for other home and travel guides.

Sources

Ethan Brooks

About Ethan Brooks

Ethan Brooks is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our childproofing guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.