Learn What to Look for Before Enrolling Your Child in a Carrollton Daycare

1. Check the Daycare’s Licensing and Inspection History

Before enrolling your child, confirm whether the daycare is licensed through the Texas Health and Human Services Child Care Regulation. Licensed daycares are required to follow Texas Minimum Standards, which are safety rules created to protect children in care.

Parents can search a daycare’s public inspection history through the Texas Health and Human Services childcare search tool. These records may show licensing deficiencies, complaints, investigations, or past safety violations.

Look for:

• Repeated licensing deficiencies
• Complaints involving supervision or unsafe conditions
• Prior investigations or safety violations
• Patterns that continue over time

One minor issue may not tell the whole story. But repeated problems involving supervision, staffing, unsafe environments, or failure to report incidents should raise concern.

2. Ask About Supervision and Child-to-Caregiver Ratios

Proper supervision is one of the most important parts of daycare safety. Children can be injured quickly when staff are distracted, classrooms are understaffed, or caregivers cannot clearly see the children in their care.

Ask the daycare:

• How many children is each caregiver responsible for?
• How are children supervised during meals, naps, transitions, and outdoor play?
• Are classrooms arranged so that staff can clearly see all children?
• How does the daycare prevent unauthorized people from entering the building?

A daycare should be able to clearly explain its supervision policies, child-to-caregiver ratios, and security procedures.

3. Observe the Classroom During Your Tour

A daycare tour gives you a chance to see more than what is written in a brochure. As you walk through the classrooms, take note of how the space feels, how staff interact with children, and whether children appear properly supervised.

If the daycare allows it, take photos during your tour. You are not expected to know whether every crib is stable, every shelf is properly secured, or every classroom setup is safe just by looking at it in the moment. Photos allow you to slow down later, review the environment, compare daycares, and ask better follow-up questions before enrolling your child.

Look for:

• Clean floors, safe furniture, and clear walkways
• Age-appropriate toys and equipment
• Calm, attentive, and engaged caregivers
• Classrooms where staff can easily see the children

If your child is an infant, ask about safe sleep practices. Babies should have safe, clear sleep spaces, and staff should be able to explain how they monitor infants during naps.

4. Ask How the Daycare Handles Injuries, Allergies, and Emergencies

Even in a well-run daycare, children can get hurt. What matters is whether the daycare is prepared to respond quickly and communicate clearly with parents.

Ask about:

• How injuries are documented and reported to parents
• Who provides care if a child needs medical attention
• How allergies, medications, and medical conditions are handled
• What emergency plans are in place for severe weather, fires, or lockdowns

If your child has allergies, asthma, seizures, or another medical condition, make sure the daycare can clearly explain how staff are informed and trained to respond.

5. Watch for Red Flags Before Enrollment

If your child is injured at daycare, it is never your fault. Parents cannot be everywhere at once, and you are not responsible for a daycare’s failure to protect your child.

That said, there are warning signs you can look for before enrolling your child.

Red flags may include:

• The daycare avoids questions about licensing, inspections, or prior incidents
• Staff appear overwhelmed, distracted, or unable to explain supervision procedures
• Classrooms seem chaotic, unsafe, or poorly organized
• Parents report repeated injuries, poor communication, or concerns about staff behavior

Trust your instincts. If something feels off during a tour, phone call, or enrollment process, slow down and ask more questions.

Additional Free Resources to Help Guide You and Your Family

Still have questions about daycare safety before enrolling your child? These additional resources may help:

• What Is a Daycare Licensing Deficiency?
• 10 Tips for Finding a Safe Daycare
• Eight Questions Parents Should Ask When Looking for a Daycare
• How Can Unannounced Daycare Visits Ensure Your Child’s Safety?

How The Button Law Firm Supports Families After Daycare Injuries

At The Button Law Firm, we represent children and families in serious daycare injury cases involving negligent supervision, unsafe conditions, and failures to protect child safety.

When your child is hurt, your family deserves answers. Our team is here to support families in Carrollton and across Texas by helping them understand what happened, what options may be available, and how to move forward.

If your child was injured at a daycare, contact The Button Law Firm by calling 214-699-4409, emailing intake@buttonlawfirm.com, or filling out our contact form to speak with our team.