Choosing a daycare is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as a parent. I’m a mom too, so I know the mix of hope and nerves that comes with handing your child to someone new. You want to know they’ll be safe, loved and learning, and that you’ll actually hear about their day.
Whether you’re searching “daycare near me” or comparing a few centers in Cherry Hill, NJ, this guide will help you make the most of every tour, including ours.
Before the Tour: Check the License and Inspection Reports
In New Jersey, any child care center caring for six or more children under 13 must be licensed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Office of Licensing. Licenses run for three years and must be posted where parents can see them.
- Look up any center on the state’s Child Care NJ search tool to see its license, the ages it serves and its inspection reports.
- DCF does annual monitoring inspections, plus investigations when there’s a complaint.
- Centers must share inspection reports and complaint summaries with parents who ask.
- You can reach the Office of Licensing at 1-877-667-9845 with a concern.
Then read recent reviews. Families have given Sunny Days a 4.9-star rating on Google with more than 65 reviews, and we’re proud of every one.
Questions to Ask on a Daycare Tour
These questions come from New Jersey’s own quality checklist, Child Care Aware of America, and the questions parents tell me matter most.
Safety and supervision
- How many children and teachers are in my child’s room?
- How do you check who is allowed to pick up my child?
- How do visitors get into the building?
- How often do you practice fire and emergency drills?
- Are staff background-checked and trained in CPR and first aid?
Teachers and turnover
- How long have the lead teachers in this room been here?
- Will my child see the same teachers every day?
- Who covers when a teacher is out?
Consistent teachers matter, especially for babies and toddlers. Children build trust with the adults they see every day.
Daily communication
- How will I hear about my child’s day, including meals, naps and diapers?
- How quickly will you tell me about an injury or illness?
- Can I call or stop in during the day?
Meals, naps and health
- Which meals and snacks are provided, and how do you handle allergies?
- Where and how do children nap?
- What is your sick policy, and when do children need to stay home?
Learning and play
- Do you use a research-based curriculum?
- What does a typical day look like, indoors and outdoors?
- Are children read to every day?
Schedule and cost
- What are your hours, and which days are you closed?
- Do you offer part-time or half-day schedules?
- Do you accept the NJ child care subsidy, and are there discounts?
New Jersey Daycare Ratios by Age
Ratios are one of the most important numbers to ask about. Here are New Jersey’s maximum child-to-teacher ratios for centers. Sunny Days follows these same ratios in every classroom.
| Child’s age | NJ maximum ratio (children per teacher) |
|---|---|
| Under 18 months | 4 to 1 |
| 18 months to 2½ years | 6 to 1 |
| 2½ to 4 years | 10 to 1 |
| 4 years and up | 12 to 1 |
What to Watch For, Not Just Ask
Answers matter, but so does what you see and hear. Child Care Aware suggests using all your senses on a tour. Here’s what I’d look for:
- Teachers down at the children’s eye level, talking, smiling and playing
- A happy hum of activity, not chaos or silence
- Babies spending most of their time on the floor exploring, not in swings or bouncers
- Handwashing before meals and after diaper changes
- Clean, safe rooms, with supplies kept out of children’s reach
- Children who seem comfortable going to their teachers
Daycare red flags
- You can’t see the license or inspection reports
- Staff seem rushed or distracted, or rooms seem understaffed
- Babies are left crying or kept in cribs and seats for long stretches
- You’re discouraged from asking questions or visiting
- Vague answers about sick policies, pickups or communication
How Sunny Days Answers the Big Questions
I’d never ask you to take my word for it, so here are some straight answers to bring along when you visit.
- Ratios: we follow New Jersey’s ratios in every room, from 1:4 for babies under 18 months to 1:12 for children 4 and up.
- Curriculum: we use The Creative Curriculum, also used by Cherry Hill’s free pre-K.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and snacks from our in-house kitchen are included.
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, year-round.
- Schedules: three, four or five full days a week, all half days, or a mix of half and full days.
- Cost help: we accept the NJ child care subsidy and offer sibling and active-military discounts.
- Daily updates: a paper daily sheet comes home with your child every day. It lists diaper times and type of bowel movement, feeding times and how much your child ate, naps and how long they lasted, the activity of the day, and a short note about your child, plus class updates and reminders for the week.
- Building entry: our doors stay locked. Parents ring the bell, and a staff member checks the ID of anyone we don’t know before letting them in.
- Staff training: our teachers complete CPR and first-aid training; new hires may finish theirs shortly after starting.
- Sick policy: a child with a fever of 100.4°F or higher and/or two very watery bowel movements goes home and stays out at least the following day, or until the fever subsides.
Have more questions? Our frequently asked questions page covers many of them, and you can learn more about our story and our team, including our directors, Alex and Carol.
Visiting with a baby? Read what to expect from infant daycare in your baby’s first year. Not sure which program you need? Here’s preschool vs. pre-K vs. daycare, explained, and how part-time and half-day preschool schedules work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a daycare tour take?
Most tours take 15 to 30 minutes. That’s how long a tour at Sunny Days usually takes, and it gives you time to see classrooms and ask questions. Bring your checklist, and try to visit when children are in the rooms.
What are the daycare ratios in New Jersey?
New Jersey’s maximum ratios for child care centers are 1 teacher for every 4 children under 18 months, 1 for every 6 children from 18 months to 2½ years, 1 for every 10 children from 2½ to 4 years, and 1 for every 12 children 4 and older. Sunny Days follows these ratios.
How can I check a New Jersey daycare’s inspection reports?
Search for the center on ChildCareNJ.gov to see its license and inspection reports. Licensed centers also have to share inspection and violation reports, and complaint summaries, with parents who ask.
What are red flags at a daycare?
Watch for a center that can’t show you its license, staff who seem rushed or distracted, babies left crying or kept in seats for long periods, vague answers about sick policies or pickups, and any discouragement from visiting or asking questions.
Come See Us in Person
The best way to know if a daycare feels right is to walk through the door. We’d love to show you around our classrooms, from infants through Pre-K. Schedule your tour on our Contact Us page or call (856) 320-2001.
