Find the Best Daycares in Ohio

Browse all 8,074 licensed daycares in Ohio. Compare program type, SUTQ status, and key details to find childcare that fits your family.

8,074
Programs
729
Cities
100%
Licensed

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Gold Rated

5 Star Early Childhood Education Academy 1 LLC

Cincinnati•5920 Cheviot Rd

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

5 Star Early Childhood Education Academy 2 LLC

Cincinnati•8264 Clara Ave

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

A & J Kiducation Learning Center

Wellsville•1736 Commerce Street

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

A Beautiful Child'S Preschool & Daycare

Akron•1449 Brittain Rd

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

A Better Choice Daycare & Learning Center

Columbus•2960 E. Dublin Granville Rd

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

A Family Affair, LLC

Toledo•648 Fernwood Ave

Licensed Type A Family Child Care Home
Gold Rated

A Jubilee Academy

Cleveland•15751 Lakeshore Blvd

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

A Kids Only Early Learning Center Inc. 4

Ashtabula•2505 South Ridge East

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

A Kids Only Early Learning Ct INC

Ashtabula•2621 State Road

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

A Place 2 Grow Childcare

Cincinnati•897 W. North Bend Rd.

Licensed Type A Family Child Care Home
Gold Rated

A Promising Tomorrow Llc.

Toledo•890 W. Bancroft St

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

A Rainbow'S Treasure, LLC

Toledo•4725 Dorr St

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

A Shanton Daycare

Chillicothe•47 Main Street

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

A.b.c. Child Care And Learning Center

Ashtabula•2012 W 11TH Street

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

A&c Little Smarties Fcc LLC

Toledo•1311 Fernwood Avenue

Licensed Type B Family Child Care Home
Gold Rated

Abc Academy Of Fremont, LLC

Fremont•151 S Taft Ave

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

Abc Center

New Bremen•20 E 1ST St

Licensed School-Based Preschool
Gold Rated

Abc Child Development Center

Dayton•3024 Hoover Ave.

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

Abc Clubhouse Preschool & Care LLC

Sidney•801 Norwood Drive

Licensed Type A Family Child Care Home
Gold Rated

Abc Early Childhood Learning Center

Cincinnati•3998 Dry Ridge Road

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

Abc Little Learners Academy LLC

Cincinnati•6300 Ridgefield Dr

Licensed Type B Family Child Care Home
Gold Rated

Abilities First Early Childhood Learning Center

Middletown•4710 Timber Trail Drive

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

Ability Child Care

Grove City•3640 Central Ave

Licensed Type B Family Child Care Home
Gold Rated

Above And Beyond Enrichment Center

Dayton•3806 Nicholas Road

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School

Maple Heights•6009 Dunham Rd

Licensed School-Based Preschool
Gold Rated

Absolutely Loved Learning Center, LLC

Mount Vernon•1200 W. Chestnut Street

Licensed Child Care Center
Gold Rated

Academy For Multilingual Immersion Studies

Cincinnati•1908 Seymour Ave

Licensed School-Based Preschool
Gold Rated

Academy Of World Languages School

Cincinnati•2030 Fairfax Ave

Licensed School-Based Preschool
Gold Rated

Academyone Childcare & Preschool

New Albany•5893 Preserve Blvd

Licensed Child Care Center

Common Questions

Helpful answers for families searching for Ohio child care.

Does a "Not Rated" SUTQ status mean a daycare is low quality?

No. “Not Rated” means the provider has not enrolled in Ohio's voluntary Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) program — it does not indicate a safety concern, a licensing problem, or substandard care.

Every provider on this page already complies with Ohio's mandatory baseline licensing requirements: background checks for all staff, health and safety inspections, required staff-to-child ratios, and annual continuing education. SUTQ is an optional, additional layer of quality recognition.

When evaluating a “Not Rated” provider, review their inspection history on Ohio's Child Care Search, visit in person, and ask about staff qualifications and curriculum.

Source: Ohio Administrative Code 5101:2-17-01 (PDF) — SUTQ is explicitly a voluntary program

What should I ask when I visit or call a daycare?

Before you commit, here are the most important questions to cover — whether by phone or in person:

Logistics first

  • Do you have space for my child starting on [date]?
  • What are your rates and fees? Do you accept Ohio's PFCC subsidy?
  • What are your hours, holiday closures, and inclement weather policies?

Licensing and safety

  • Is your license current? When was your most recent inspection — were any concerns found?
  • Do all adults complete background checks before spending time with children?
  • Are providers certified in infant/child CPR and First Aid?

Quality and daily life

  • What would a typical day look like for my child?
  • How do providers interact with children throughout the day?
  • How do you handle guidance and discipline at my child's age?
  • What is your screen time policy?

Source: Child Care Aware of America — Choosing Quality Child Care on Short Notice

I can't find openings near me. What should I do?

Ohio Parent Hub does not collect real-time seat availability — openings must be confirmed directly with each provider. If you're not finding what you need, here are the most effective next steps:

  1. Expand your radius — Browse nearby cities or your county for providers you might not have considered
  2. Call, don't email — A direct call is faster and signals genuine interest to providers with informal waitlists
  3. Ask about waitlists — Many high-quality centers maintain them; getting on one early is often the best long-term strategy, especially for infants
  4. Ask about PFCC — Providers accepting Ohio's Publicly Funded Child Care subsidy are marked on listings; this can broaden your affordable options significantly

For the most current availability, also check Ohio's Child Care Search which sometimes includes real-time enrollment status.

How do I find infant care specifically?

Infant care (children under 12 months) is the hardest age group to place in Ohio — demand consistently outpaces supply, especially in urban areas. Starting your search several months early is strongly recommended.

When you contact a provider, ask specifically:

  • Do you have openings in the infant room for a child under 12 months?
  • What is your infant-to-caregiver ratio? (Ohio licensing requires a maximum of 1:5 for licensed centers)
  • How do you ensure safe sleep? (Babies should be placed on their backs on a firm surface — crib or pack-and-play — with no loose bedding)
  • Are feeding and nap schedules based on each baby's individual needs, or a fixed schedule? (On-demand is best practice)
  • Is there a waitlist? How far in advance should I apply?

Source: Ohio Revised Code 5104.033 | Child Care Aware of America — Short Notice Checklist

How often is Ohio daycare licensing data updated on this site?

Ohio's Department of Children and Youth maintains its licensing database on a rolling basis — updating records as licensing actions occur, including new licenses, renewals, inspections, violations, and closures.

Ohio Parent Hub periodically refreshes its data from that state database. Because licensing status can change between our update cycles, always verify a provider's current status directly through Ohio's Child Care Search before making any enrollment decision. That tool reflects the most current state records and includes recent inspection results.

Source: Ohio Department of Children and Youth — Child Care Search

More questions? Visit our full FAQ page.