Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Daycare Provider
13 min read
Interviewing a daycare provider is one of the most important steps in choosing child care. A website can describe the program’s philosophy, hours, and activities, but a conversation reveals how the provider handles real situations: a crying infant, an absent teacher, a biting toddler, a serious allergy, an emergency evacuation, or a parent who is late for pickup.
The goal is to understand how the program operates, compare answers with written policies, and observe whether practice matches what you are told. Bring a list, take notes, and ask follow-up questions whenever an answer is vague.
Before the Interview: Define Your Must-Haves
A useful interview starts with a clear picture of what your family actually needs.
Write down:
- Your child’s age and intended start date
- The days and hours you need care
- Your preferred location and maximum commute
- Your weekly or monthly budget
- Any allergy, medication, disability, feeding, toileting, language, or behavioral needs
- Whether you need meals, transportation, school pickup, holiday care, or summer care
- The earliest drop-off and latest pickup you may need
- Your backup plan when the program closes or your child cannot attend
Separate requirements from preferences. Experience managing a severe allergy may be essential. A parent communication app may simply be convenient.
You can use a directory to build a shortlist, but contact every provider directly to confirm current openings, rates, schedules, and ages served.
Questions About Licensing and Oversight
Start by confirming the program’s legal operating status.
Ask:
- What is the exact licensed or registered name of the program?
- What is the license or registration number?
- Which state or local agency regulates the program?
- Is the program licensed, registered, certified, or legally exempt?
- What ages and maximum number of children may it serve?
- May I review the most recent inspection reports?
- Have there been recent violations, substantiated complaints, corrective actions, suspensions, or restrictions?
- How were any cited problems corrected?
- Does the program participate in a state quality rating system?
- Does it hold voluntary accreditation?
Verify the information through your state or territory’s official child care website. Licensing generally establishes minimum health and safety requirements. It does not guarantee strong caregiver interactions or a good fit for your child.
When the program is legally exempt from licensing, ask what standards apply instead. Find out whether caregivers receive background checks, training, inspections, or monitoring through another agency or organization.
| Provider answer | Useful follow-up question |
|---|---|
| “We are licensed.” | “What name and license number should I use to find the official record?” |
| “We have never had a problem.” | “May I review the inspection and complaint history?” |
| “We are exempt.” | “What exemption applies, and what health and safety oversight do you receive?” |
| “The citation was minor.” | “What happened, how was it corrected, and was compliance confirmed?” |
Questions About Caregivers and Staffing
The adults who spend time with your child have more influence on the daily experience than the program’s marketing materials.
Ask:
- Who will be my child’s primary caregiver or lead teacher?
- How long has that person worked here?
- What child development education and experience do caregivers have?
- Are staff trained in pediatric first aid and CPR?
- What ongoing training is required?
- What background checks are completed before adults work with children?
- Are substitutes, volunteers, transportation staff, and household members screened?
- How often do staff members leave the program?
- Who covers breaks, illnesses, vacations, opening shifts, and closing shifts?
- Will my child regularly be cared for by substitutes or floaters?
- How does the director supervise and evaluate staff?
- Who may be alone with children?
- What is the policy on personal phone use during supervision?
Ask whether household duties, administrative work, or other responsibilities ever compete with child supervision.
Questions About Supervision and Security
Supervision should be active and continuous during play, meals, naps, toileting, outdoor time, and transitions.
Ask:
- How do you track children when they arrive, change rooms, go outside, and leave?
- How do staff verify who is authorized to pick up a child?
- What identification is required from an unfamiliar pickup person?
- How are custody orders and restricted pickups handled?
- Who can enter the building or home during operating hours?
- How are visitors, contractors, and volunteers supervised?
- How are bathrooms, diapering areas, playgrounds, and sleeping children supervised?
- How do you prevent a child from leaving unnoticed?
- What happens if a child cannot be accounted for immediately?
- If cameras are used, who can view recordings and how is privacy protected?
Cameras can support security or incident review, but they do not replace attentive caregivers, secure entry, accurate attendance systems, and direct communication.
Questions About Emergency Preparedness
Ask the provider to describe what staff would actually do rather than simply confirming that an emergency plan exists.
Questions include:
- Which emergencies are covered by the written plan?
- How often are fire, severe-weather, lockdown, and evacuation drills conducted?
- Where will children go if the building must be evacuated?
- How will families be notified and reunited with children?
- What supplies and child records leave with the group?
- How are infants and children with disabilities evacuated?
- Who is trained in first aid and CPR during every operating hour?
- When is emergency medical care requested?
- What is the plan for a power outage, water interruption, extreme heat, or unsafe air quality?
- What happens if the home provider or director becomes ill?
- How are emergency medications and contacts handled on field trips?
A program should have dependable coverage whenever more than one adult is normally required to care for the group.
Questions About Health, Illness, and Medication
Illness policies affect both safety and your work schedule, so review them before enrollment.
Ask:
- Which symptoms require a child to stay home or be picked up?
- When may a child return after fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or contagious illness?
- Is a medical note required in any situation?
- Where does a sick child wait for pickup, and who supervises the child?
- How quickly must a parent arrive after being called?
- How are families informed about relevant exposures?
- Who may administer medication?
- What authorization and labeling are required?
- How are medications stored and documented?
- Can staff administer emergency medication such as epinephrine or rescue inhalers?
- How are allergies communicated to substitutes and food-service staff?
- What handwashing, diapering, toileting, cleaning, and sanitizing procedures are followed?
For a child with a medical condition, ask for a written care or emergency action plan. Confirm that trained staff will be available during meals, outdoor time, transportation, field trips, and opening and closing hours.
Questions About Infant Care and Safe Sleep
Parents of infants should ask specific questions about feeding, sleep, and responsive care.
Ask:
- Where and how do infants sleep?
- Does each infant have an individual sleep space?
- How are babies positioned for sleep?
- What items are allowed in the sleep space?
- How often are sleeping infants checked?
- Are sleep checks documented?
- How do caregivers respond when an infant will not settle?
- Do infants follow individual routines?
- How are bottles labeled, stored, warmed, and discarded?
- How is expressed breast milk handled?
- Are infants held during bottle feeding?
- Are bottles ever propped?
- How is tummy time provided and supervised?
- How much time do awake infants spend in seats or equipment?
- How are diaper changes, feedings, and sleep communicated?
Questions About Daily Routines and Learning
A good schedule should be predictable without being rigid.
Ask:
- What does a typical day look like for this age group?
- How much time do children spend outdoors?
- What happens when weather prevents outdoor play?
- How much time is child-directed play?
- How much time is teacher-led?
- Are screens used? If so, how often and why?
- What activities support language, movement, creativity, problem-solving, and social development?
- Can children choose among accessible materials?
- How long are children expected to sit or wait?
- How are naps and quiet time handled?
- What happens if a child does not nap?
- How are activities adapted for different abilities and interests?
- How does the provider share developmental observations with families?
Quality early learning generally includes play, conversation, books, music, art, movement, exploration, and warm adult interaction. Young children should not spend much of the day waiting, watching screens, or completing identical worksheets.
Questions About Discipline and Behavior
Ask for the written behavior-guidance policy.
Questions include:
- How do you teach rules and expectations?
- How do you respond to tantrums, hitting, biting, throwing, or repeated disruption?
- Is time-out used? If so, when and how?
- Are children ever separated from the group?
- Which discipline practices are prohibited?
- How are conflicts between children handled?
- How are parents notified about serious or repeated behavior?
- How is the privacy of other children protected?
- What support is offered before suspension or expulsion?
- Under what circumstances may the program terminate care?
- How do you respond when behavior may be related to disability, communication, trauma, or developmental differences?
- How are toileting accidents handled?
- Are food, outdoor play, comfort items, or rest ever withheld as punishment?
Look for calm answers focused on prevention, redirection, teaching, problem-solving, and partnership with families.
Questions About Communication With Parents
Ask:
- How will I receive daily information about my child?
- What details are shared about meals, naps, diapers, mood, and activities?
- How are injuries and unusual incidents documented?
- When will I receive a phone call rather than an app update?
- Who should I contact with a concern?
- How quickly does the director usually respond?
- Will I be told when my child’s regular caregiver is absent?
- How are staffing, schedule, or policy changes communicated?
- Are parent conferences offered?
- May parents visit or observe?
- How are complaints handled?
- What photos or videos may be taken, shared, or posted?
- Can families decline photography or social media use?
An app is helpful only when staff also know your child well and respond directly to concerns.
Questions About Tuition and the Contract
Request the full fee schedule, parent handbook, and enrollment contract.
| Topic | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Tuition | How much, how often, and when is it due? |
| Registration | Is the fee one-time, annual, refundable, or transferable? |
| Deposit | What reserves the space, and when is it refundable? |
| Late payment | Is there a grace period, late fee, or suspension of care? |
| Late pickup | When does the charge begin, and how is it calculated? |
| Absences | Is tuition owed during illness, vacation, or temporary absence? |
| Closures | Is tuition owed during holidays, emergencies, or provider closures? |
| Supplies | Who provides diapers, wipes, meals, formula, bedding, or materials? |
| Schedule changes | How much notice is required, and will the rate change? |
| Withdrawal | What written notice is required? |
| Termination | Under what conditions may either party end care? |
| Assistance | Does the provider accept child care subsidies or employer benefits? |
Ask about every situation that could create an unexpected charge. Do not depend on a verbal exception that is missing from the written agreement.
Red Flags During a Daycare Interview
Pause and investigate when:
- Licensing information cannot be verified
- The provider discourages you from checking official records
- You are not allowed to see areas used by children
- Staff cannot explain who is responsible for supervision
- The observed ratio differs from the stated ratio
- Caregivers handle children harshly or speak disrespectfully
- Safe-sleep practices appear inconsistent
- Medication, chemicals, weapons, or other hazards are accessible
- Emergency procedures are vague
- Injury reporting is treated casually
- Staff turnover is frequent and unexplained
- Contract terms are unavailable or keep changing
- You are pressured to pay immediately
- Answers from staff and management conflict
- Your child’s medical or accommodation needs are dismissed
Several inconsistencies, evasive answers, or serious safety problems should carry substantial weight.
After the Interview: Compare Programs Fairly
Complete your notes immediately after each visit.
Score each program from 1 to 5 in these areas:
| Category | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Licensing and history | Status, inspections, complaints, corrective actions |
| Caregivers | Warmth, experience, stability, training, responsiveness |
| Staffing | Ratios, group size, substitutes, break coverage, turnover |
| Safety | Entry, pickup, emergencies, sleep, allergies, environment |
| Daily care | Play, routines, outdoor time, meals, rest, transitions |
| Guidance | Discipline, conflict, biting, toileting, inclusion |
| Communication | Daily updates, incident reports, leadership access |
| Reliability | Closures, backup staffing, schedule stability |
| Cost and contract | Total fees, payment rules, withdrawal, refunds |
| Family fit | Child’s needs, commute, schedule, and your confidence |
Contact the licensing agency if you do not understand an inspection record. Follow up with the provider about unanswered questions and request important commitments in writing.
The best choice is not always the center with the newest building, lowest price, or longest activity list. Choose a provider that demonstrates safe practices, responsive caregiving, reliable operations, clear policies, and a realistic ability to meet your child’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions should I ask during a daycare interview?
Ask every question that affects your child’s safety, care, and your ability to use the program reliably. You do not need to read a long checklist word for word. Prioritize your must-haves and ask follow-up questions when answers are incomplete.
Should I interview a provider by phone before visiting?
Yes. A short phone screening can confirm openings, schedule, age eligibility, approximate cost, and licensing status. A phone call should not replace an in-person visit when a visit is reasonably available.
Is it rude to ask about violations or complaints?
No. Inspection and complaint records are relevant to your child’s safety. Ask calmly and allow the provider to explain what happened, how it was corrected, and how recurrence is prevented.
What if a daycare refuses to provide its license number?
Verify whether the program is legally required to be licensed or is license-exempt. Refusal to identify its legal operating status is a significant concern and should be checked with the responsible agency before enrollment.
Should I bring my child to the interview?
A first visit without your child may make it easier to concentrate. A later visit with your child can help you observe the environment and caregiver interaction. Do not base the final decision only on your child’s immediate reaction to an unfamiliar place.
What if the provider makes a verbal promise that is not in the contract?
Ask for the promise to be added to the contract, handbook, enrollment form, or written communication. Important agreements about schedule, price, refunds, accommodations, supplies, and closures should not depend on memory.
Related Resources
- How to Choose Child Care: A Parent’s Complete Guide
- Signs of a Good or Bad Childcare Center
- Signs of a Good or Bad Home Daycare
- 17 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Home Daycare
- Daycare Contracts: What Should Be Covered?
- What to Look for in Newborn Childcare Providers
- What Parents Should Look for in Special Needs Childcare Providers
Sources
- ChildCare.gov: How Do I Find and Choose Quality Child Care?
- ChildCare.gov: Simple Steps for Finding and Choosing Child Care
- ChildCare.gov: Choosing Quality Child Care Tip Sheets
- ChildCare.gov: Child Care Licensing
- ChildCare.gov: Monitoring and Inspections
- HealthyChildren.org: Choosing a Child Care Center
- CDC: Safety, Health, and Injury Prevention in Early Care and Education
- CDC: Preventing Infectious Diseases in Early Care and Education
ChildCareCenter.us is an independent directory and educational resource. Licensing rules, ratios, inspection systems, provider requirements, and available assistance vary by state and may change. Verify current information with your state or territory’s official child care agency and contact providers directly before enrolling or paying fees.
Thanks for sharing this informative post, and told us about Approaching each interview with a premade list of questions ensures that we are prepared for the occasion, and lowers the chances, forgetting to ask about the issues which are important for us. really looking forward to read more, keep up the good work.
I had never considered that it would be a good idea to visit the daycare unexpectedly. I can see why this would be a good way to see the provider in their natural state. My sister is going to be needing to find a daycare for her two children while she and her husband are at work. I'll have to suggest that she do this with the provider she is thinking of hiring.
I like that you mentioned to find out what kind of education and experience is necessary to work at the childcare center. That way, you can be confident on the teachers' and staff's abilities to handle your kids and do a good job. We are trying to find the right childcare center for our son during the days. I will be sure to keep these questions in mind as we search.
We are in need of a new daycare for our children, and we need help in knowing how to find the right one for them. I like that you said that we need to make sure to ask about what the experience and education requirements they have for their staff. This will be really helpful for me to know so that I will know our kids are in capable hands.
yeah, my wife is working in the vehicle transport company, due to which she drops our baby in daycare, I really appreciate the staff caring for children. and special thanks to them.
I like that you said to ask about the child-to-staff ratio beforehand since lower ratios tend to be better for the kid. Our son is getting old enough that we want to start introducing him to daycare so he can socialize and be prepared to start school. Finding a place with fewer kids could help him have a better experience.
Thank you for telling me that some daycare centers expect the parents to provide diapers and wipes when they leave their children in their care. I'll be taking care of my mother-in-law while my husband is away and there's no way I could divide my time between an elderly and a child. I'll try to look around for nearby daycare centers and ask if they provide in-home services I might need in the future.
As you mentioned, asking what the child to staff ratio is should be a question that is asked during the interviewing process. I am planning on going back to work in a few months, and we need to find child care for our little one. I will have to keep these questions on hand as I go to different facilities.
I never thought to ask about how food was given throughout the day and if I need to send it with my child, or if it is provided. We are looking to get our little one into daycare as it is time for me to go back to work. She is a very picky eater, so I will have to discuss this when I am trying to decide where to send her.
I want to find a good daycare, but I'm not sure how to do it. It makes sense that I would want to interview the caretakers before I choose one! That seems like a good way to ensure that they will be able to take good care of my son. I'll make sure that I find a daycare that is passionate about their job.
It really helped when you talked about daycares and how to find a high-quality one. Recently, my wife and I decided it's time to find a daycare for our son. We need to find a preschool as soon as possible, so we'll check your tips out. Thanks for the advice on asking about a daycare license before selecting it.
I'm glad you mentioned that it is a good idea to find a licensed childcare facility. I need to find a daycare center for my daughter. Leaving my daughter with a licensed daycare center will help me feel much better.
Thanks for the reminder that I should also consider the way teacher communicate with parents when looking for a good child daycare center. I plan to look for one soon because I think it would be nice for my child to play with other children. That will be crucial in developing his social skills early on.
Learning about the daycare's plans for parent visits is something I can definitely consider being crucial. When you're worried about your child, you should be able to visit them with minimal risk or problems, thus allowing you to check up on them and see what they need. Once I find a daycare in the area, I'll ask them about this as my main focus for sure.
You made a good point that it's essential to look for good communication skills when planning to find a good daycare service. I'd like to find a good service like that because I want my son to be able to interact with other kids. That will surely help him get more use to a school setting in the future.