Which daycare should we choose?

What should you weigh?

Five factors cover most versions of this decision. Rename them, drop the ones that do not apply, and add your own. Phrase each so a higher score is always better.

Caregivers

Warmth, experience, and how long staff tend to stay.

Staff-to-child ratio

Fewer children per adult, for your child's age group.

Easy drop-off

Where it sits on your morning route, and parking.

Affordability

Monthly fee plus registration, meals and late-pickup charges.

Hours fit

Opening times against your work schedule, including holidays.

What does it look like worked out?

Three options that passed the safety check: a center near work, a home daycare, and a center near home. Weights run 1 to 10, scores 1 to 5.

Each total is score times weight, added down the column.

Home daycare wins by 15 points. The home daycare wins clearly, on the two rows these parents weighted heaviest. Its weakest row is hours, and the matrix makes it easy to see that the trade is worth it here.

Where do people go wrong?

Weighting safety. Safety and licensing are pass or fail. A weight lets a great location make up for a poor inspection. Rule those places out first.

Scoring from the tour alone. Ask current parents about staff turnover. It is the row tours tell you least about.

Common questions

What should I look for in a daycare?

First a valid license and clean inspection reports. Then caregivers, ratios, location, cost and hours, weighted for your family.

Home daycare or center?

Home daycares often have smaller groups. Centers often have longer hours and backup staff. Score both on the same rows.