Find a daycare in Raleigh, NC

Find daycares in Raleigh, NC

Find daycares in Raleigh, NC

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

Age of child(ren)

Find daycares in Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC

Parents agree: these Raleigh daycares are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.
Infant-Toddler Center Of First Baptist Church

Infant-Toddler Center Of First Baptist Church

New on TrustedCare
Serves Raleigh, NC
Infant-Toddler Center of First Baptist Church, Inc., established in 1974, is a faith-based childcare and preschool located in Raleigh, NC. The center is committed to nurturing children's enthusiasm for learning and fostering their growth and development. With a strong emphasis on creativity, emotional, cognitive, and physical development, the center provides a safe, loving environment and enriching experiences for infants and toddlers, preparing them for a successful transition to kindergarten.
A Happy Place To Bee Daycare & Learning Center

A Happy Place To Bee Daycare & Learning Center

New on TrustedCare
Serves Raleigh, NC
A Happy Place To Bee Daycare & Learning Center, located in Garner, North Carolina, offers a reliable, friendly, and knowledgeable service for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. The daycare center is committed to creating a safe, nurturing environment where learning and care intersect. Their professional and dedicated staff work meticulously to promote a sense of confidence, independence, and self-worth in each child, providing them with a well-rounded education and loving care. They serve Garner and the surrounding areas, providing an excellent early learning environment for young children.
Morning Star Child Care Learning Center

Morning Star Child Care Learning Center

New on TrustedCare
Serves Raleigh, NC
Morning Star Child Care Learning Center, established in 1997 in Raleigh, NC, is a faith-based daycare and early learning center that serves toddlers and preschool students. It offers a safe, friendly environment for children to explore, discover, learn, and play. The center's educational experiences and kindergarten readiness programs focus on physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development. Open Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM, its curriculum includes literature, music, creative activities, Bible study, and science.
Early Stages Child Care Center

Early Stages Child Care Center

New on TrustedCare
Serves Raleigh, NC
Established in 2004, Early Stages Child Care is a trusted and reliable provider of child care services in Raleigh, North Carolina, and its surrounding areas. This black-owned and women-led business offers a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment for children to learn and grow. With a licensed home daycare and daycare center, Early Stages Child Care accommodates children in small groups, promoting individual attention and a sense of community.
Trinity Baptist Weekday Preschool

Trinity Baptist Weekday Preschool

New on TrustedCare
Serves Raleigh, NC
Trinity Baptist Preschool, located in Raleigh, North Carolina and its surrounding areas, is a faith-based early education center. They specialize in providing child care and play experiences that cater to various learning styles and paces. Their age-appropriate activities are specifically designed to stimulate growth and development in children. They also follow the same holiday schedule as Wake County Schools, ensuring a consistent and familiar routine for your child.
Golden Child Development Center

Golden Child Development Center

New on TrustedCare
Serves Raleigh, NC
Golden Child Development Center, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, serves the surrounding areas with its innovative early learning program. Catering to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, the center provides a fun, safe, and loving learning environment. Focusing on both academic advancement and personal development, the center is committed to supporting children and families in their community.
Children's Discovery Center

Children's Discovery Center

New on TrustedCare
43+ years in business
Serves Raleigh, NC
Founded in 1983, Children's Discovery Center is a family-owned childcare institution located in Raleigh, NC, and the surrounding areas. They cater to children aged between 4 weeks to 12 years old, fostering social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development through structured learning and free-play activities. The center has evolved from a half-day Pre-K program to a full-fledged institution with a 24,000 sq. ft. facility encompassing 15 classrooms, demonstrating their commitment to providing quality childcare and early education.
Country Sunshine Children's Center

Country Sunshine Children's Center

New on TrustedCare
Serves Raleigh, NC
Country Sunshine Children Inc, established in 1986, serves Raleigh, North Carolina and surrounding areas. They are a licensed preschool center offering educational experiences and kindergarten readiness programs. Catering to up to 161 children, they provide daily theme-based activities in both group and individual settings, fostering social and problem-solving skills. In addition to a summer camp and field trips, they collaborate with Project Enlightenment and the Speech and Hearing Clinic of Raleigh to support children with special needs.
Denise's Learn & Play

Denise's Learn & Play

New on TrustedCare
Serves Raleigh, NC
Founded in 2006, Denise's Learn & Play, located in Raleigh, NC, and serving the surrounding areas, offers a comprehensive in-home daycare program. It provides age-appropriate learning for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children. The program includes various learning centers that cover musical expression, art, blocks, fitness, social studies, math, language, writing, and reading. Outdoor play and dramatic play are integral parts of the curriculum, ensuring a balanced and holistic approach to early education.
Creative Kidz Academy

Creative Kidz Academy

New on TrustedCare
Serves Raleigh, NC
Founded in 1996, Creative Kidz Academy is located in Raleigh, NC, and serves the surrounding areas. With a team of certified teachers, they ensure every child receives quality care and a developmentally appropriate education. The academy focuses on creativity, science, communication, and art to help children learn. From preschool programs to school-age before and after care, the academy provides a range of services. They also offer enrichment activities, homework support, and educational summer programs.

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?

Reviews for Raleigh daycares

Recent success stories from people in the Raleigh area.
We've vetted over 250,000 child care providers.
Deep insights on every provider

Compare programs with pricing, detailed information, parent reviews, photos, and more.

Quality & safety transparency

See the current licensing status for every daycare and child care provider.

Up-to-date availability

Filter your search to show providers with openings now.

Raleigh daycares by service