Inspection records, staff tenure, pricing, curriculum, and availability — pulled from state databases, verified with providers, and scored A–D. Filter by neighborhood, compare side-by-side, and show up to tours knowing what to ask.
Independently scored from DCYF licensing data, inspection records, and direct provider verification. See methodology
The 2026
Search Guide
The Guide · 3,500 words
Costs, waitlists, provider types, inspections, subsidies, and a month-by-month timeline.
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Calculator
Two programs charging the same tuition can cost wildly different amounts per hour of actual care.
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Enter your home and work addresses. See which neighborhoods make sense for your search.
Reference
Most families spend $1,000+ on application fees alone. A research-first approach cuts that to $300.
Checklist
Illness policies, biting incidents, staff turnover — 20 questions to ask at every tour so you actually compare programs.
Research
Neighborhood-level childcare costs across Seattle and the Eastside. What infant, toddler, and preschool programs actually charge.
Quiz
Answer a few questions about your family and get a personalized recommendation for what type of childcare fits best.
Guide
Thinking about switching from a nanny to daycare? A step-by-step guide to making the transition smoothly.
Guide
Montessori, Reggio, play-based, academic — what each approach actually means and how to tell if a program follows through.
Guide
Near home, near work, or on the way? How to think about childcare location so your daily routine actually works.
Comparison
Cost, flexibility, socialization, and logistics — an honest comparison to help you decide what works for your family.
What You Get
Most parents spend 40+ hours researching childcare. We pull inspection records, verify staff tenure, call about availability, and write editorial reviews — so you can compare programs in minutes instead of weeks. Updated weekly with new providers and score changes.
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Rachel O., Seattle parent
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