Be picky when you choose childcare for your baby or toddler.
Daycare centers can run the gamut from outstanding to, well, much worse.
A so-so reputation Don't hesitate to judge a center based on what you've heard from other parents. This is the kind of situation where word of mouth comes into its own. And if you're even the slightest bit reluctant to leave your child at a center, pass. Loose rules Rules and regulations are important for any institution, whether it's the federal government or your local daycare center. Centers without clearly established guidelines for everything from operating hours to how they handle emergencies are likely to have other organizational problems as well.