- Decide which type of care fits your child's age and your schedule: center, family home, preschool, Pre-K, or school-age program.
- Look up any provider's licensing and inspection history with the Tennessee Department of Human Services before touring.
- Start early and join more than one waitlist, especially for infant care.
- On a tour, watch caregiver interactions and ask about ratios, turnover, and safety training.
- Ask about payment assistance, Head Start, and voluntary Pre-K if cost is a concern.
Finding child care is often the first hard logistical problem new parents face, and in the Chattanooga area it frequently comes with waitlists. This guide explains the types of care available, how Tennessee licenses and inspects providers, what to ask on a tour, and how to plan around timing and cost without relying on guesswork.
Know the types of care. Licensed child care centers serve larger groups in classrooms organized by age. Family child care homes offer care for a smaller group in the provider's residence. Preschools and Pre-K programs focus on the years before kindergarten and may run on a school-year schedule with shorter days. Head Start and Tennessee's voluntary Pre-K program serve eligible families at no cost. School-age programs cover before- and after-school hours and summers. The Child Care and Education category on Nooga Local is organized along these lines.
Understand licensing. In Tennessee, the Department of Human Services licenses child care agencies, sets health, safety, staffing, and training standards, and conducts inspections. The department publishes licensing and evaluation information for licensed providers, so you can look up any center or home before you visit. Some programs, such as those operating under a school district or certain religious institutions, may fall under different oversight; ask which applies.
Start early. Infant care in particular can have long waitlists, and many families begin looking during pregnancy. Ask each program whether there is a waitlist, how long it typically runs, whether a deposit is required to hold a spot, and whether the deposit is refundable. Getting on more than one list is common and sensible.
Tour in person. Watch how caregivers interact with children: do they get down to eye level, respond to crying promptly, and talk with children rather than at them? Look for clean, safe spaces, secure entry, age-appropriate toys and books, and a posted daily schedule. Ask about staff-to-child ratios and group sizes for your child's age, staff turnover, how long the lead teachers have been there, and what training staff receive in first aid, CPR, and safe sleep.
Ask about policies. How are illnesses handled, and what symptoms mean a child must stay home? What is the discipline approach? How is food handled, including allergies and whether meals are provided? What are the hours, closure days, and late pickup rules? How do parents receive updates during the day? Ask to see the written parent handbook.
Understand cost and assistance. Tuition varies widely by age, program type, and schedule, so ask for the current rate sheet and what it includes. Tennessee offers child care payment assistance for eligible families through the Department of Human Services, and some employers provide dependent care benefits. Head Start and voluntary Pre-K are free for eligible children.
Trust your read of the place. A program should welcome questions, allow unannounced visits by enrolled parents, and give straight answers about inspections and staffing. If you feel rushed or discouraged from asking, keep looking. Talk with other parents currently enrolled if the program will connect you.
Nooga Local does not endorse any specific firm or business, and this guide does not recommend one. Listings marked Featured are paid placements and are clearly labeled as such; paid status never influences how a guide is written.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check whether a Chattanooga child care provider is licensed?
Tennessee child care agencies are licensed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services, which publishes licensing status and inspection information for providers. Search the department's site by the program's name before you tour, and ask the director which license category they hold. Programs under a school system or certain exempt organizations may be overseen differently.
When should I start looking for infant care?
As early as you can, often during pregnancy, because infant rooms have the smallest group sizes and the longest waitlists. Ask each program how its waitlist works, whether a deposit is required, and whether it is refundable. Joining several lists at once is normal.
What should I ask on a child care tour?
Ask about staff-to-child ratios and group sizes for your child's age, staff turnover and training, the daily schedule, illness and discipline policies, how food and allergies are handled, and how you will get updates during the day. Watch how caregivers interact with children. Request the parent handbook and the most recent inspection results.
Is there help paying for child care in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Department of Human Services administers a child care payment assistance program for eligible families, and Head Start and Tennessee's voluntary Pre-K program serve eligible children at no cost. Some employers offer dependent care accounts or subsidies. Ask each program which forms of assistance it accepts.
What is the difference between a child care center and a family child care home?
A center operates in a dedicated facility with classrooms grouped by age and a larger staff, while a family child care home serves a smaller mixed-age group in the provider's residence. Both can be licensed in Tennessee and both can provide excellent care; the choice often comes down to your child's temperament, your schedule, and the feel of the specific program.
Sources
Published September 4, 2026. Dates are Eastern Time. Guides are editorial and are never influenced by paid placement; see our editorial standards.