Daycare tour questions are the reason I lost $600 and wasted a $300 deposit. When I toured my first daycare, I asked about toys and snacks. I didn’t ask about the 12 daycare tour questions that actually matter.
I toured 8 centers in 3 weeks. I asked cute questions like “What do you do for fun?” Every director smiled. I signed contract. Then I got hit with $350 hidden fees, no sick day credit, and a waitlist lie that cost me $300.
Here are the 12 daycare tour questions I wish I asked, with what they told me vs what actually happened.
Daycare Tour Questions About Money (Ask These First):
1. What is included in tuition and what is extra?
I asked: “How much is tuition?” They said: “$320/week.”
What they didn’t say: Food $25/week extra, diapers $40/month extra, late pickup $2/minute. My real cost $385/week. Daycare tour questions about total cost save $60/week.
2. What is your sick policy? Do you credit for sick days?
I didn’t ask this. I paid $1,280 for 18 sick days in 2025. My center charges full tuition even when kid out with hand-foot-mouth. Some centers give 5 free sick days or 50% credit with doctor note. Ask exact policy.
3. What happens if center closes for outbreak or weather? Do you credit?
My center closed 2 days for flu outbreak. No credit until I quoted Ohio law. Ask: “If you close for sickness or snow, is there tuition credit?” Get it in writing.
4. What is your rate increase policy?
They said: “Rates go up yearly.” They went up $20/week after 4 months. Ask: “When is rate increase? How much was last year increase? Can you lock my rate for 12 months?” I didn’t and paid $80 extra per month.
Daycare Tour Questions About Waitlist and Contract:
5. How long is waitlist really and is deposit refundable?
I paid $300 waitlist deposit for 2nd center as backup. Waited 11 months. They never called. Deposit non-refundable. Ask: “How many kids ahead of me? What is average wait time? Is deposit applied to first week or lost? Is it refundable if I find other care?”
6. What is notice period to leave and do you charge for 2 weeks after?
My contract says 2 weeks notice + 2 weeks tuition even if you leave early. I would have owed $640 to quit. Ask: “What is notice period? If I leave mid-month, do I pay full month?” Get page number.
Daycare Tour Questions About Teachers and Safety:
7. What is teacher turnover rate and how long has my child’s teacher been here?
My daughter’s favorite teacher left after 6 weeks. New teacher every 2 months. Kids cry. Ask: “How long have current infant/toddler teachers been here? What is turnover last year?” If over 40%, run.
8. What is teacher to child ratio right now, not state max?
State max is 1:6 for toddlers. My center was 1:6 every day – chaotic. Best center I toured was 1:4 even though max 1:6. Ask: “What is your actual ratio today at 10AM and 3PM?” Visit at 3PM – worst time.
9. Can I see last state inspection report and camera policy?
I didn’t ask. Later found they had 2 violations for safe sleep. Ask: “Can I see last licensing report? Do you have cameras and can parents watch?” Good centers show report proudly.
Daycare Tour Questions About Daily Life:
10. What does a typical day look like from 7AM to 6PM hour by hour?
They said: “We play and learn.” Real day: 2 hours TV, 1 hour playground, rest waiting. Ask hour by hour schedule + how much outside time + screen time minutes per day.
11. How do you handle biting, hitting, and discipline?
My daughter got bitten 3 times in one week. No incident report. Ask: “What is biting policy? Do you write report for every bite? What is discipline policy? Can I see sample incident report?”
12. What is communication – daily report, photos, app?
First center: No photos, handwritten sheet “Ate well.” Second center: App with 10 photos/day + what she ate grams + nap minutes. Ask: “What app do you use? How many photos per day? Do I get daily report with food/nap/diaper times?”
Expert Insight on Daycare Tour Questions:
I asked Ms. Rivera, Lead Teacher with 12 years experience at my daughter’s center, “What is the one daycare tour question parents never ask but should?”
She said: “Parents never ask about staff turnover and how long teachers have been in this specific room. A low turnover rate under 25% means teachers know your child’s cues, allergies, and comfort items. High turnover means your child is always adjusting to new caregivers. That is more important than toys.”
She also said always ask to see the staff break room – if it’s clean and has photos of teachers, they are treated well and stay longer.
This expert advice changed how I tour – I now ask teacher tenure first, not toys.
My Daycare Tour Checklist – What I Do Now:
I now bring this list on every tour and write answers:
- Total cost with extras: $___/week
- Sick credit: ___ days free, ___% with note
- Closure credit: Yes / No
- Rate lock: ___ months
- Waitlist deposit: $___, refundable? Yes/No, wait time ___ months
- Notice period: ___ weeks
- Teacher turnover: ___%
- Ratio: 1:___
- Inspection report seen: Yes/No
- Screen time: ___ min/day
- Biting policy: Written report? Yes/No
- App: Name ___, photos ___/day
If they can’t answer 10 of 12 daycare tour questions clearly, I leave.
These daycare tour questions saved my friend $600 last month – she avoided a center with $500 non-refundable deposit and no sick credit.
Read next: I Paid $1,200 For Daycare Sick Days: Sick Policy No One Explains