How to choose a daycare: the complete checklist for Indian parents

To choose a daycare, shortlist three or four centres near home or work and visit each on a normal working day. Check safety, staff, ratios, hygiene, food, communication and fees. Then try your top choice for a day before you pay anything large. Your own gut feel, after a proper look, counts for more than any brochure.

Below is each step, with what to look at and what to ask. There is a printable checklist at the end.

Step 1: Decide what kind of care you need

Before you visit anywhere, get clear on three things. How old is your child? What hours do you need? And do you need care, early learning, or both?

A daycare covers long working hours, with meals and naps. A preschool or playschool runs shorter hours and focuses on early learning. Many centres combine both. Our guide to preschool vs daycare vs playschool explains the differences and which suits which age.

Write down your must-haves before you start:

• Opening and closing times, including how late you could realistically arrive
• Days you need (weekdays only, or Saturdays too)
• Maximum distance or travel time from home or office
• Your monthly budget, including one-time fees
• Any dietary needs or allergies

Step 2: Build a shortlist

Start with centres within a commute you can manage twice a day, every day. A centre that is excellent but 50 minutes away in traffic will wear you down.

Ask other parents in your building or office. Treat online reviews as a starting point, not a verdict.

Call each centre with three quick questions. Is there a place for your child's age? What are the hours? What is the total monthly fee?

Drop any centre that can't give a straight answer on fees. Clear answers early usually mean clear communication later.

Step 3: Visit on a normal working day

Book your visit for mid-morning on a weekday, when children are there and the routine is running. An empty centre on a Saturday tells you very little.

Stay at least 30 to 45 minutes. Watch more than you listen. Bring our list of 25 questions to ask on a daycare visit so you don't forget anything.

Safety and security

Notice how you get in. Was the gate or door locked? Did someone check who you were before letting you through?

Look for:

• A single, controlled entry point
• Covered sockets, guarded stairs and no sharp furniture edges at child height
• Windows and balconies secured
• Cleaning products and medicines locked away
• Fire extinguishers and a clear exit route
• A written list of who is allowed to pick up each child

Ask how they check that the person collecting a child is authorised. A good answer is specific. A list you fill in, photo ID for anyone new, and a call to you if a stranger turns up. For the full list, see our daycare safety checklist.

Staff and caregivers

The people matter more than the building. Watch how caregivers talk to children. Do they kneel to eye level? Do they sound calm and warm, or rushed and sharp?

Ask:

• How long has the lead teacher or caregiver been here?
• What training do staff have in early childhood and first aid?
• Are all staff, including helpers, drivers and cleaners, background or police verified?
• How many staff have left in the past year?

High staff turnover is worth noticing. Young children need familiar faces.

Ratios and group size

The ratio is the number of children each adult looks after. Fewer children per adult means more attention, especially for babies and toddlers.

India's National ECCE Policy 2013 sets one adult per 20 children aged 3 to 6, and one per 10 under 3 (summary on Factly). Many parents look for better than this for infants. Count the adults and children in the room yourself. Our teacher-to-child ratio guide explains what is good at each age.

Hygiene and health

Look at the toilets, the nappy-changing area and the kitchen. Ask to see where children sleep.

Good signs: staff wash hands after nappy changes, toys look clean, and each child has their own bedding. Ask what happens when a child falls ill during the day. A clear sick policy (when to keep a child home, when they call you) protects your child and everyone else's.

Food and naps

Ask for a sample weekly menu. Is the food cooked on site or brought in? Can they handle allergies or a vegetarian or Jain diet?

For naps, ask where children sleep, who stays with them and how they handle a child who won't settle. A good centre adjusts to your child's routine, especially for under-twos.

Daily routine and learning

Ask to see the daily schedule. Look for a balance of free play, outdoor time, stories, music, meals and rest.

Be wary of worksheets and rote drills for toddlers. Young children learn best through play and talk.

Communication with parents

Ask how they will tell you about your child's day. Will you get updates on meals, naps and mood? How are incidents, such as a bump or a bite, reported?

A good centre tells you about every incident the same day, even small ones. Ask whether you can call during the day, and who you would speak to.

Step 4: Understand the fees in full

The monthly fee is rarely the whole cost. Ask for every charge in writing:

Ask about notice periods and refunds if you withdraw. Our guide to daycare and preschool fees covers each component and hidden costs.

Step 5: Watch for red flags

Some things should make you pause, however good the rest looks. A centre that won't let you see the rooms where children spend their day. Staff who seem stressed or ignore crying children. Vague answers about who can pick up. Pressure to pay a large deposit on the spot.

Read our list of 12 daycare red flags before your visits so you know what to watch for.

Step 6: Try a day before you commit

A visit shows you a centre. A trial day shows you how your child responds to it. Ask if you can book a single day, or a few hours, before paying admission fees.

Watch how staff greet your child, how they handle tears and what your child says at pickup. Our guide to trying a daycare for a day explains what to look for.

Step 7: Compare, then trust your gut

After your visits, compare centres on the same criteria. A simple scoring table helps you see past the nicest reception area. Try our side-by-side daycare scorecard.

Then listen to your instinct. If something felt off and you can't name it, that still counts. If you live in Gurgaon, our Gurgaon daycare guide covers areas, fee bands and commute planning.

Printable daycare checklist

Copy this list and take it on every visit.

Basics

• Hours, days and commute work for you
• Place available for your child's age

Safety

• Locked, controlled entry
• Written pickup authorisation list
• Childproofed rooms, stairs and windows
• First aid and fire safety in place

Staff

• Warm, calm caregivers who get down to children's level
• Staff training in early childhood and first aid
• Background or police verification for all staff
• Low staff turnover

Ratios

• Adults counted in the room match what you were told
• Smaller groups for babies and toddlers

Hygiene and food

• Clean toilets, changing area and kitchen
• Hand-washing after nappy changes and before meals
• Clear sick-child policy
• Sample menu that suits your child

Communication

• Daily updates on meals, naps and mood
• Same-day incident reporting
• Easy to reach someone during the day

Fees

• Every charge listed in writing
• Clear refund and notice terms
• No pressure to pay on the spot

Gut feel

• Your child seemed comfortable
• You felt welcome to ask questions

A shortcut for your shortlist

Kribble's team physically visits and checks every centre before it is listed. In the app, you'll be able to compare fees, plans and safety details side by side, starting in Gurugram. Verification is not a guarantee, so a visit is still your best tool.

Frequently asked questions

How many daycares should I visit before choosing?

Three or four is usually enough to see the range. Fewer than that and you have nothing to compare against. More than five and the visits start to blur together.

What is the most important thing to check in a daycare?

The caregivers. Warm, trained, consistent staff who are not stretched across too many children matter more than facilities or decor. Watch how they speak to children when they think no one is looking.

When should I start looking for a daycare?

Start two to three months before you need care. Popular centres can fill up, and you will want time for visits, a trial day and a settling-in period. If you are returning from maternity leave, start earlier.

Should I choose a daycare near home or near work?

It depends on who does pickup and how reliable your commute is. Near home suits families sharing pickups, while near office can mean more time with your child on the way. Think about sick days and who can reach the centre fastest.

Is a costlier daycare always better?

No. Price often reflects location, building and brand rather than care quality. A modest centre with stable, attentive staff can be a better choice than a premium one with high turnover.