When searching for the best San Diego day care centers for your child a good way to begin is to ask trusted friends and family for recommendations. Personal references are the best kind! If their child is no longer at the day care center, ask why. On the other hand, if they like the center, find out their reasons exactly what they like about it. Another way to find a daycare center is to contact your local childcare resource and referral agency that can refer you to licensed centers and home daycares in your area. You can also do a search on the Internet and find accredited daycare centers but you are not computer savvy then you can also check in the yellow pages.

Once you have a list of San Diego day care centers that interest you, give them a call and ask some preliminary questions to further narrow your list down. Once you have a short list compiled, schedule a meeting with the director and ask lots of questions. You want to make sure you know about the centers policies, child rearing philosophy and what the schedules are like for the children. In addition, find out about the caregiver child rations and how many children are in a classroom. It is easier to give one on one attention when there are fewer children in a room. Ideally a 1:3 caregiver baby ratio is good but that ratio looses its impact if toddlers are always running around in the baby room or if a colicky baby is in the toddlers room and the attention is taken away from the toddlers to take care of the baby. Each age group needs adequate staff so the proper attention can be given to the children.

You may also want to call your states Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the San Diego day care center or caregiver. Once you have narrowed your choices down to the school you think you like the best, then make it a point to come back with your child and visit for a while. You will want to see how he and the caregivers interact and if he seems comfortable in the San Diego day care center environment.

If the daycare you liked the best is not available when you need it, then do not compromise; put yourself on a waiting list, which will almost guarantee you will get your child in at some point. In the meantime, keep looking for another day care you may like just as well, or have someone you totally trust such a good friend or relative care for your little one until a spot in the San Diego day care center becomes available.