Are you a soon-to-be mom and wondering what comes next after maternity leave? You know you’ll be returning to work and sending your child to daycare, but maybe you haven’t really started the process of searching yet. Or maybe you’re very early on in your pregnancy and already know your plans, and want to get a head start on the search.
Regardless of where you are on the continuum, it’s helpful to have some knowledge about the process before you start, especially if this is your first experience with daycare. Searching for the right daycare is not a quick process – it takes time and work. Having some knowledge about the process before you start can help you plan, set expectations, and make it less stressful.
Think of this as the advice your veteran mom friend would give you so you don’t end up making the same mistakes she did.
Here are 8 things you should know (or at least think about) before you start searching for daycares.
1. There are different types of daycares
For working moms, the two most popular types of daycare settings for children under 3 are home daycares and centers. After 3, preschool becomes an additional option until children are 5 years old, at which point they go to kindergarten.
Within the early childcare setting, there are also different teaching philosophies and curriculums that a facility might choose to adopt. This is important to keep in mind when you are searching for a daycare that aligns with your values and lifestyle.
2. Daycare is expensive
You’ve probably heard people say daycare is expensive, but what does that really mean? I mean, everything is expensive these days. According to a report from Care.com, the average cost of daycare in 2025 is $323 – $332 per week for one infant, and $301 – $308 for one toddler. If you live in or close to a major city and opt for a larger or more established daycare center, those numbers will probably be a lot higher (around $2000 per month or more). So yeah… daycare is pretty expensive.
3. Waitlists are long
Waitlists for daycares can be months to years long, especially in busy suburban areas or major cities. That means you’ll need to start the process of searching for daycares and getting on waitlists as soon as you can in order to secure a spot for your child before you return to work.
4. Quality matters
When searching for daycares, there are many things that are important to consider – cost, location, hours etc. Convenience and quality of life are important, but we should also prioritize daycare quality when searching for the right setting. Quality matters because it can havesignificant effects on our child’s development and growth, especially in those first five years of life.
5. You’ll need to check multiple sources for information
When searching for daycares, it’s not a good idea to just go by what you see on the daycare’s website or from search engine reviews. There are a few other places where you should look for more information, including your specific state or territory’s resources, non-profit organizations (Child Care Aware of America; The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); National Associated for Family Child Care), and local or online parenting groups.
6. You’ll need to check public records
This one is similar to #6, but it’s worth mentioning as a separate point because it’s so relevant. I previously mentioned the importance of checking multiple sources for daycare information, but please, please pay attention to public state inspection records if available via your specific state’s official division of childcare. Daycare directors may not be fully transparent about negative reports or serious incidents with you – after all, part of their job is to get you to enroll at their facility – so you should investigate this yourself to ensure they are in compliance.
7. You’ll need to plan and schedule tours
In-person daycare tours are important to get a true sense of what a daycare and its teachers are like and to identify potential red flags. You want to plan for a tour of each potential daycare after you’ve narrowed down your list. This can be time-consuming – keep this in mind when you’re searching for daycares. You’ll want to make sure you dedicate at least a week or two to going on tours.
8. You’ll need to have some idea of your work schedule
I know, you’re not really thinking that hard about going back to work yet. But if you’re planning on sending your new baby to daycare, you’ll need to have some idea of your work schedule. Do you work late hours? You might need a daycare that’s open late. It’s also helpful to figure out your schedule early so you can think about what drop-offs and pick-ups might look like.
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