Babies need more from caregivers than any other age. In the infant room, look past the décor at three things: how many babies each adult cares for, how sleep is handled, and how caregivers respond.
NAEYC, the national accreditation organization, recommends one adult for every three or four infants. State minimums vary and are often looser, so ask what the room's actual ratio is, including at the start and end of the day.
Tammy Gold, LCSW, spent years matching families with nannies before writing Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin). Today she works beside families, and their agencies, as a neutral expert: defining the job, interviewing candidates, checking references and setting up the first 30 days.
Stay a few minutes and watch. Do caregivers talk to babies during diaper changes? Do they respond to cries quickly and calmly? Does each baby have a primary caregiver? Warm, responsive care matters more than a busy activity board.
More in daycare tour questions.
NAEYC recommends 1:3 or 1:4 for infants. Check your state's minimum, and ask the program what it actually runs.
Many do. What matters is a responsive, consistent caregiver and a plan that fits your family. Your pediatrician can help with health questions.
Ask for daily reports on feeding, sleep and diapers, and drop in at different times in the first weeks.
Evaluate infant rooms with an expert's eye.
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Tammy is not a placement agency and has no affiliation with, or financial interest in, any agency, daycare or payroll service. She provides independent expert guidance; decisions remain your family’s. Legal, tax and licensing questions belong with the appropriate professional or state agency.