Questions to Ask Daycare: 25 Important Things Before Baby Starts

Questions to Ask Daycare Before the First Day

Here are the 25 questions to ask daycare before your baby starts.

1. What should we bring on the first day?

Ask for a specific first-day list.

Some daycares want diapers, wipes, diaper cream, extra clothes, bottles, sleep sacks, crib sheets, and forms. Others provide some supplies and only want you to send bottles and backup clothes.

Do not guess. Ask exactly what they want and what can stay there.

Related: Daycare Packing List for Baby’s First Day

2. What can stay at daycare?

This makes a huge difference for daily packing.

Ask whether you can leave diapers, wipes, diaper cream, extra clothes, crib sheets, sleep sacks, pacifiers, sunscreen when age-appropriate, and seasonal items.

If daycare lets you keep supplies there, your daily bag becomes much easier.

3. How should bottles be prepared?

Bottle rules are one of the biggest things to clarify.

Ask whether bottles should come pre-made, whether they need labels with name and date, whether bottle caps need labels too, how bottles are stored, whether they can warm bottles, and what happens if your baby does not finish a bottle.

If you are sending breast milk, ask exactly how they want it labeled and stored.

Related: Daycare Bag for Baby: Diaper Bag vs. Backpack

4. How do you handle feeding schedules?

Ask whether daycare follows your written schedule or feeds based on baby cues.

Some babies eat on a pretty predictable schedule. Others are more flexible. It helps to know whether daycare wants specific bottle times or whether they will adjust based on hunger cues.

5. How much milk or formula should we send?

This is one of the most practical questions to ask daycare.

Ask how many bottles they recommend sending, whether they want an extra backup bottle, and how they communicate if your baby seems hungry after feeds.

This can help you avoid sending too little or wasting too much.

6. What happens if my baby refuses a bottle?

Bottle refusal can happen, especially during the first week.

Ask how long they try, how they soothe the baby, whether they try again later, and when they contact parents.

It is better to know the plan before you are anxiously waiting for updates.

7. How are bottles cleaned or sent home?

Ask whether daycare rinses bottles or sends them home as-is.

Also ask whether all bottle parts come home daily and whether they need to be packed in a separate bag. This helps you plan your nightly washing routine.

8. What is the nap setup?

Ask where your baby will sleep and what the sleep space looks like.

Questions to ask daycare about sleep include whether babies sleep in cribs, whether crib sheets are provided, whether sleep sacks are allowed, whether pacifiers are allowed, and how naps are tracked.

9. Do you follow wake windows or a fixed nap schedule?

Some infant rooms follow each baby’s individual rhythm. Others move toward a more predictable schedule as babies get older.

Ask how they decide when to put your baby down for a nap and how they handle short naps.

10. How do you help babies settle for naps?

Ask what they do if your baby has trouble falling asleep.

Do they rock, pat, offer a pacifier, use white noise, or follow a specific routine? This helps you understand how similar or different daycare naps may be from home naps.

11. What sleep items are allowed?

Not every daycare allows the same sleep items.

Ask about sleep sacks, pacifiers, crib sheets, loveys, blankets, sound machines, and any other comfort items. Daycares need to follow safe sleep rules, so it is important to know what is allowed before packing anything.

12. How often are diapers changed?

Ask whether they change diapers on a set schedule, based on need, or both.

Also ask how diaper changes are tracked and whether you will see wet and dirty diaper updates during the day.

13. What diapering supplies do we need to provide?

Ask whether you need to send diapers, wipes, diaper cream, changing supplies, or extra bags for dirty clothes.

Some daycares provide wipes. Some require parents to send everything. Some let you bring a bulk supply that stays there.

14. Do you need a form for diaper cream, sunscreen, or medication?

Many daycares require written permission before applying diaper cream, sunscreen, lotion, or medication.

Ask ahead of time so you can complete the forms before the first day.

15. What is your illness policy?

This is one of the most important questions to ask daycare before your baby starts.

Ask when your baby needs to stay home, what temperature requires pickup, how long your baby must be fever-free, what happens with vomiting or diarrhea, and whether a doctor’s note is ever required.

16. How do you notify parents about illness exposure?

Ask how they communicate if there is an exposure in the classroom.

It helps to know whether updates come by app, email, phone call, posted notice, or direct conversation at pickup.

17. How do you communicate during the day?

Some daycares use an app. Some send paper notes. Some send photos. Some only contact parents for major updates.

Ask what to expect so you are not refreshing your phone all day wondering if silence is normal.

Related: Daycare Week 1: What Actually Surprised Us

18. What updates will we receive each day?

Ask whether you will receive updates about bottles, diapers, naps, mood, activities, photos, supplies running low, and anything unusual.

Knowing what the daily report includes makes pickup easier too.

19. What is the drop-off routine?

Ask where to go, who takes the baby, and whether parents enter the classroom.

You can also ask whether they prefer a quick goodbye. A short, predictable drop-off routine can make mornings smoother once everyone gets used to it.

Related: Daycare First Day Tips for Parents

20. What is the pickup routine?

Ask where pickup happens, whether you need ID, how approved pickup people are added, and what items come home daily.

Pickup can feel rushed, especially during the first week, so it helps to know the process.

21. What should we label?

The answer is usually everything.

Ask whether labels are needed on bottles, bottle caps, pacifiers, clothes, sleep sacks, crib sheets, diaper cream, wipes, bags, cooler bags, and seasonal gear.

Waterproof labels are helpful for anything that gets washed.

22. What extra clothes should we keep there?

Ask how many backup outfits they recommend.

For babies, I would expect to send more than one. Spit-up, blowouts, bottle leaks, drool, and messy play can all happen in the same day.

23. Do babies go outside?

Ask whether the infant room goes outside, how often, and what your baby needs for outdoor time.

Depending on the season, you may need hats, extra layers, sunscreen forms, or weather-appropriate clothing.

24. What happens if my baby has a hard day?

Some babies adjust quickly. Others need time.

Ask how daycare handles crying, feeding struggles, short naps, or a baby who just seems off. You want to understand how they comfort babies and when they contact parents.

25. What do parents usually forget to ask or pack?

This is one of the best final questions to ask daycare.

Daycare teachers know what comes up over and over again. They may remind you about bottle labels, backup clothes, diaper cream forms, crib sheets, pacifiers, or seasonal items you would not have thought about.

Final Thoughts on Questions to Ask Daycare

Questions to ask daycare are not about being difficult. They are about making the transition smoother for your baby, your family, and the daycare teachers.

Before the first day, focus on bottles, naps, diapers, labeling, communication, illness rules, and what to pack. Once the first week starts, you will adjust based on what your baby actually uses.

The goal is not to have every detail perfect. The goal is to feel prepared enough that the first drop-off is not more stressful than it needs to be.