Life With 4 Kids

For our first child, we toured over 10 daycares.

She was very sensitive and picky, so mornings were really hard. I still remember how heartbreaking it was when she cried and screamed at drop-off. That’s when I realized finding the right daycare wasn’t just important — it was everything for us.

Here’s what we learned through that process.

One thing I noticed right away is that good daycares or preschools usually don’t have immediate openings. Most of them have waitlists, and honestly, that’s a good sign. Some popular ones even have wait times until the next registration season. So planning ahead is really important.

Another thing we cared about a lot was the environment. I didn’t want my kids staying inside all day, especially if they were going full-time. We preferred places with an outdoor playground and natural light. Some daycares we toured were inside office buildings with no real outdoor space, and a few didn’t even have proper windows. That didn’t feel right for us.

Cleanliness was also a big factor. I remember walking into one daycare and seeing dust all over the shelves — I was honestly shocked. The daycare we ended up choosing for our first and second child was very organized and clean, and that gave me a lot of peace of mind.

Something else I always paid attention to was teacher stability. If teachers change frequently, that’s usually a red flag. We noticed this happening more in some franchise daycare centers. Consistency really matters for young kids.

Food was another thing we considered. If you care about healthy eating, I would personally avoid places that provide lunch. A lot of them serve quick, convenient meals that aren’t the best quality. I preferred packing food myself so I knew exactly what my kids were eating.

We also tried two different Montessori schools. One thing I learned is that Montessori is not for every child. It works really well for kids who enjoy being independent and doing things on their own, but it may not be the best fit for every personality.

And one of the biggest things that helped me decide was this:

When I toured a daycare, I asked myself, “Could I stay here all day?”

If I felt comfortable, calm, and could imagine myself spending hours there, then I felt more confident leaving my child there.

But if I felt uneasy or just wanted to leave quickly, I knew it wasn’t the right place.

At the end of the day, you know your child best. Trust your instincts — they matter more than anything.