Choosing care
Questions Working Parents Should Ask Before Choosing a Daycare
The questions that turn a daycare tour into a realistic test of care, safety and everyday fit.
Ask who will care for your child, what the daily routine looks like, how authorised pickup works, what happens during illness or an emergency, how meals and rest are handled, and how the daycare communicates with parents. Then verify the answers during a visit.
Who is responsible for my child?
Young children build trust through familiar adults. Ask how caregivers are assigned, who takes responsibility during breaks and how staffing changes are handled. Learn how the team responds to crying, conflict, toileting and separation without shame or punishment.
What safety and health questions should I ask?
- How are visitors admitted and recorded?
- How is an authorised pickup person verified?
- What is the illness and medication policy?
- Who is trained in first aid and how are incidents documented?
- How are allergies and emergency contacts recorded?
- Where do children wash hands, use toilets and rest?
Ask the centre for its current procedures rather than relying on an old directory listing or social post.
Will the routine survive a real workday?
Check operating hours, holiday care, late-pickup procedures and realistic travel during Hebbal traffic. Ask how children move between learning, meals, rest, outdoor time and quieter late-day activities. A long schedule should still respect a tired child’s need for calm and connection.
How will the daycare communicate?
Ask what updates you will receive, who responds to routine concerns and how significant incidents are shared. Useful communication gives you a clear window into the day without turning every moment into a performance.
Frequently asked questions
Should parents expect live CCTV access?
Policies differ. Ask the centre directly about current access, privacy protections and alternatives such as scheduled updates.
What is a good caregiver-to-child ratio?
Needs vary by age and activity. Ask for the centre’s current ratio, then observe whether adults can respond promptly and warmly.
What is the biggest warning sign?
Vague answers about supervision, pickup, illness, staff responsibility or incident handling deserve careful follow-up.
What parents can do today
Save seven questions before your visit: caregiver, pickup, illness, meals, rest, communication and delays. Ask for concrete examples, not only reassurance.