Find a daycare in Chicago, IL

Find daycares in Chicago, IL

Find daycares in Chicago, IL

Share a few details and we'll show you the best daycares in your area.
Zip code

Age of child(ren)

Find daycares in Chicago, IL

Share a few details and we'll show you the best daycares in your area.
Zip code

Age of child(ren)

Top 10 daycares in Chicago, IL

Parents agree: these Chicago daycares are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.
Corporate Childcare Consultants

Corporate Childcare Consultants

New on TrustedCare
33+ years in business
Serves Chicago, IL
Welcome to Corporate Childcare Consultants, your trusted partner in nurturing the future leaders of tomorrow. Located in the heart of Chicago, our dedicated team of experienced professionals is committed to providing exceptional daycare services tailored to meet the unique needs of each child. With a focus on creating a nurturing and stimulating environment, we ensure that your child experiences both personal growth and the joy of discovery. Join us in fostering a community where children thrive, develop social skills, and embark on a lifelong love of learning.
JCYS Michael R Lutz Family Center (Wicker Park)

JCYS Michael R Lutz Family Center (Wicker Park)

New on TrustedCare
8+ years in business
Serves Chicago, IL
JCYS Michael R. Lutz Family Center, located in the Wicker Park area of Chicago, Illinois, offers exceptional early childhood education for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years old. With a curriculum inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, the center fosters social, emotional, intellectual, and physical growth in a joyful, child-centered environment. Welcoming families of all faiths, we celebrate Jewish culture and traditions.
Families Together Cooperative Nursery School

Families Together Cooperative Nursery School

New on TrustedCare
25+ years in business
Serves Chicago, IL
Families Together Cooperative Nursery School is a nurturing, play-based educational facility has been located in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago for 25 years. Families Together provides a play-based educational environment in which children thrive and parents are integral to the life of the school. At our core is a commitment to diversity and equity, genuine collaboration between educators, families and children, and a creative and flexible approach to supporting each child’s cognitive, social and emotional growth.
Intiraymi Spanish Montessori

Intiraymi Spanish Montessori

New on TrustedCare
16+ years in business
Serves Chicago, IL
Milagros P Andrews, located in Riverside, Illinois and serving the surrounding areas, is a reputable and licensed home daycare. Specializing in providing a nurturing group environment for up to 12 children, this facility offers bilingual care, with both English and Spanish spoken. Reach out to Milagros P Andrews to discuss your child care needs and availability.
Healthy Start Daycare

Healthy Start Daycare

New on TrustedCare
13+ years in business
Serves Chicago, IL
Healthy Start Daycare, situated in Chicago, IL and its surrounding areas, is a home-based facility that offers daycare, early learning, and before and after school programs for young children. The center utilizes age-appropriate books, puzzles, and games to foster interactive learning. Small group sessions are organized to promote peer interactions and communication. They also engage children in science experiments, stimulating exploration and discovery. The daycare also celebrates cultural traditions during holidays. Meals and snacks are provided for all attendees.
Guidepost Montessori At Evanston

Guidepost Montessori At Evanston

New on TrustedCare
3+ years in business
Serves Chicago, IL
Guidepost Montessori at Evanston, founded in 2021, is a renowned educational institution in Evanston, Illinois, serving children from 6 weeks to 6 years old. The school is part of a thriving international network of Montessori schools, committed to fostering joyful learning. They offer a nurturing environment for infants, toddlers, young children, and elementary students, with a focus on developing each child's potential. From daycare to kindergarten, Guidepost Montessori provides children with the tools to navigate lifelong learning. Conveniently located in the heart of Evanston's Downtown District, it invites families to join their communit
Dandelion Nursery And Preschool

Dandelion Nursery And Preschool

New on TrustedCare
10+ years in business
Serves Chicago, IL
Founded in 2015, Chicago Children's House Child Care is dedicated to providing high-quality care and education services for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years old in Chicago, IL, and surrounding areas. They offer year-round enrollment, organic meals, and a safe, home-like environment rich with learning materials. The well-trained staff are committed to fostering each child's individual personality and learning style. With robust COVID-19 policies in place, they're committed to safety, hygiene, and the well-being of your child. Emphasizing lower classroom ratios, they ensure personalized attention for every child.
Urban Child Academy

Urban Child Academy

New on TrustedCare
14+ years in business
Serves Chicago, IL
Founded in 2010, Urban Child Academy in Chicago, IL is a private preschool dedicated to providing research-based, high-quality early childhood education. With a mission to inspire a lifelong love for learning, the academy offers full day, 2, 3 and 5 days a week programs, designed to foster physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Guided by a staff of highly qualified teachers, all holding master's degrees in early childhood education, the academy ensures a nurturing environment tailored to the unique needs of each child.
City Children's Academy

City Children's Academy

New on TrustedCare
8+ years in business
Serves Chicago, IL
Established in 2016, City Children's Academy serves the children of Chicago, Illinois, and the surrounding areas. As a child care facility and preschool, they accept children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. Their mission is to foster the total development of each child, covering emotional, physical, social, intellectual, and creative aspects. They offer a balanced, structured curriculum, nurturing the whole child, with the aim of giving them a strong educational foundation based on love and respect.
Montessori Magpie

Montessori Magpie

New on TrustedCare
Serves Chicago, IL
Montessori Magpie, located in Chicago, Illinois, is an educational childcare center dedicated to supporting the healthy development of children aged 6 weeks to 6 years. The center offers a unique blend of Montessori and Reggio Emilia curriculum in a play-based, sensory-rich environment. In addition to structured learning, children can enjoy yoga, music classes, and a learning lab for math, art, and science. Montessori Magpie serves organic meals and maintains a maximum enrollment of 32 children to ensure optimal learning conditions.

Your Daycare questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on TrustedCare.

How much does daycare cost?

Daycare costs depend on the child’s age group, the type of daycare, and where you live. Infant daycare is typically the most expensive, ranging from $650 to $1,500 per month. Infant daycare requires higher ratios of caregivers to children, which increases costs. Babies require more individualized attention, including diaper changes, feedings, and naps. As the child ages and becomes more independent, this ratio decreases along with daycare costs.

Traditional daycare centers tend to charge higher rates than home-based family daycare centers or co-ops. However, they usually have lower child-to-caregiver ratios, offer a wider range of amenities and activities, and have stricter qualifications for staff. Church-based, YMCA, or other non-profit child care centers offer lower rates, while home-based daycare is typically the cheapest option due to the low overhead costs.

In urban areas with a higher cost of living, daycare costs tend to be higher to cover the cost of higher rent and teacher salaries. Suburban and rural daycare centers have lower overhead costs, which often translates to more affordable daycare.

Is daycare tax deductible?

No, you cannot directly deduct daycare expenses on your federal tax return. However, if you qualify, there's a tax credit designed to assist with daycare costs, known as the Child and Dependent Care Credit.

The Child and Dependent Care Credit enables you to claim a percentage of your eligible childcare expenses. It ranges from 20% to 35% of allowable expenses, capping at $3,000 for one qualifying child and $6,000 for two or more qualifying children (applicable to the 2023 tax year). Consult a qualified tax professional to confirm if your eligibility.

Can a daycare charge you when they are closed?

Some daycares may charge a reduced fee or no fee at all during certain closures, while others may maintain regular charges. The terms in your daycare contract or agreement should outline whether or not you are charged when they are closed. It's common for daycares to have specific policies regarding fees during closures, such as holidays or other scheduled breaks.

If you're unsure, reach out to the daycare directly to clarify their billing practices during closures.

How do I look up daycare violations?

To look up daycare violations, start by contacting your state’s licensing agency for childcare facilities. You can usually find this information through your state’s Department of Health and Human Services online database.

Another option is to reach out to community resources such as local parenting groups, forums, or social media groups. Other parents may share their experiences or provide information about daycare violations in your area. Finally, consider a visit the daycare center directly and ask for information about any past violations. Daycare centers are often required to make this information accessible to parents.

How do I choose a daycare?

When picking a daycare, trust your instincts and choose a daycare that aligns with your child's needs, your values, and provides a safe and nurturing environment for their development. Follow these additional suggestions to find the best fit for you and your child:

  • Get recommendations from other parents, friends, and pediatricians to start your search.
  • Visit in person to make sure the spaces are clean, safe, and friendly.
  • Ask about caregiver qualifications, such as CPR training, early childhood education background, and experience with children of a similar age.
  • Understand the daycare's approach to early education, discipline, feeding, and soothing methods.
  • Choose a daycare that is licensed and accredited to meet government-set health and safety standards.
  • Check if parents are encouraged to participate in the program and if there are opportunities for parental engagement.
  • Contact current and former clients for feedback on their experiences with the daycare.
  • Consider making unannounced visits to get a true sense of the daycare's daily operations
  • Look for a daycare with a suitable curriculum, flexible schedules, and activities that fit your preferences.
  • Visit the daycare with your child and see how they react to the space, teachers, and other children.
  • Secure a spot on the waiting list as early as possible, especially for sought-after infant programs.

What questions should I ask when evaluating potential daycare centers?

Gather as much information as you can to find the daycare that best fits your family’s needs. Be prepared with a list of questions when visiting daycares, including:

  • Is your daycare licensed and accredited to meet safety standards?
  • Are teachers credentialed and trained in CPR/First Aid?
  • What are the class sizes and student-teacher ratios for each age group?
  • What are the daycare's hours of operation and rates?
  • How does the daycare handle discipline?
  • Will the daycare assist with potty training?
  • How much time do children spend in free-play and outdoors?
  • Are meals and snacks provided by the daycare?
  • How are food allergies handled by the daycare?
  • What enrichment programs and activities are available?

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