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Childcare Safety Checklist: What to Ask Before Enrolling in Newbern, TN

Published August 17, 2026 • 6-minute read • Smarty Tots Too Staff

Choosing a daycare for your child is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a parent. You want your child to be safe, happy, and well-cared-for — and that means doing your homework before you sign enrollment papers. If you're searching for childcare in Newbern, Dyer County, or anywhere in West Tennessee, this checklist will help you evaluate any center with confidence.

At Smarty Tots Too, we encourage parents to ask hard questions. A center that welcomes your questions is one you can trust.

1. Start with Licensing

Every licensed daycare in Tennessee must hold an active state license. Childcare centers in Newbern and across Dyer County are regulated under Tennessee's child care oversight program — you can verify a center's standing through the state's online license lookup before scheduling a tour.

When you visit:

• Ask to see the current license — it should be posted visibly in the facility.
• Ask when the last state inspection was conducted and request a copy of the report.
• Check whether any violations were cited and how they were resolved.

A center with nothing to hide will hand you the inspection report without hesitation.

2. Verify Staff-to-Child Ratios

Tennessee sets minimum staff-to-child ratios by age group. These ratios directly impact how much attention your child receives every day:

• Infants (0–12 months): 1 adult per 4 children
• Younger toddlers (13–30 months): 1 adult per 6 children
• Older toddlers (31–48 months): 1 adult per 8 children
• Preschool (4–5 years): 1 adult per 14 children

Ask the director what the actual ratios are in each classroom on a typical day. A quality center should meet or exceed these minimums — especially for infants and young toddlers who need the most individualized care.

3. Background Checks and Staff Credentials

All Tennessee-licensed childcare staff are required to pass criminal background checks through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). But licensing minimums are a floor, not a ceiling.

Ask:

• Are all staff — including substitutes and volunteers — background-checked?
• How many staff members are CPR and first-aid certified?
• Does your lead teacher or director have early childhood education credentials?
• What does ongoing staff training look like?

At Smarty Tots Too, every staff member working with children is background-checked and CPR certified. We believe the quality of your caregivers is the single biggest factor in your child's daily experience.

4. Physical Safety of the Facility

During your tour, use your eyes. Look for:

If anything feels off during the tour — cluttered hallways, broken equipment, a smell of uncleaned restrooms — trust your instincts. The physical environment tells you a lot about how the center is managed day-to-day.

5. Emergency and Evacuation Procedures

Every licensed childcare center in Tennessee is required to have documented emergency plans. Ask to see them.

• Where is the posted evacuation route?
• How often does the center conduct fire and emergency drills?
• What is the plan if a child is injured — at what point do they call 911 vs. contact you first?
• What is the protocol for severe weather (tornado sheltering)?
• How do you handle a lockdown situation?

A well-run center will have clear, written answers to all of these — not just verbal reassurances.

6. Illness, Medication, and Health Policies

Sick-child policies directly affect working parents. Make sure you understand the rules before your child starts.

• At what temperature or with which symptoms will the center call you to pick up?
• How long must a child stay home after illness (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, pink eye)?
• Will staff administer prescription medication? What paperwork is required?
• How are allergies documented and communicated to all staff?
• What is the center's handwashing and sanitizing routine between activities?

These policies protect all children in the center. A strict sick-child policy might feel inconvenient in the moment, but it's a sign that the center takes health seriously across the board.

7. Communication and Transparency

You should never feel like a stranger at your child's daycare. Ask about day-to-day communication:

• How do you notify parents during the day — app, text, phone call?
• Do you send daily reports or activity updates?
• How are behavioral incidents documented and communicated?
• Can parents visit or observe at any time during operating hours?

Open-door policies — where parents are welcome to drop in without notice — are a strong positive signal. Centers that restrict parent visits raise questions worth asking.

8. Discipline and Behavior Management

Ask the director directly: "How do your staff handle challenging behavior?"

Tennessee law prohibits physical punishment in licensed childcare centers. Any center that uses or tolerates corporal discipline should be immediately removed from your list. Look for centers that use positive redirection, consistent routines, and age-appropriate boundary-setting.

9. Daily Schedule and Learning Environment

Safety isn't just about physical protection — it includes your child's emotional wellbeing and developmental appropriateness. Ask for a copy of the daily schedule and curriculum overview.

• Does the schedule include a balance of structured learning, free play, and rest?
• Are activities developmentally appropriate for each age group?
• How much screen time (if any) is permitted?
• Are children separated by age or mixed in classrooms?

At Smarty Tots Too, we serve infants through preschool-age children in separate classrooms tailored to each developmental stage — from our infant room (6 weeks and up) through our preschool program for children ages 3–5.

10. Trust Your Gut — Then Tour Smarty Tots Too

No checklist replaces the feeling you get when you walk into a well-run childcare center. The staff greet your child warmly. The rooms are clean and organized. The director answers every question without defensiveness. The children look engaged and happy.

That's what you should find at every tour. If you're still looking for the right fit in Newbern or Dyer County, we'd love to show you what Smarty Tots Too looks like in person.

Smarty Tots Too • 625 W Main St C, Newbern, TN 38059 • (731) 676-2628 • Monday–Friday 6:00 AM–5:30 PM