Moving to a New Town Daycare Guide 2026: Finding Childcare When Relocating

Moving to a new town adds the stress of finding quality childcare to an already challenging transition. Whether you're relocating for work, family, or adventure, securing childcare in an unfamiliar community requires research, planning, and sometimes creative solutions. Understanding how to search remotely and transition smoothly helps you land in your new home with care already arranged.

This guide covers everything about finding daycare when moving in 2026: how to research from afar, timing your search, transition strategies, and helping your child adjust to both a new home and new childcare.

Table of Contents

• Planning Your Childcare Search
• Researching from Afar
• Timeline for Relocation
• Visiting and Evaluating
• Transition Strategies
• Helping Your Child Adjust
• Questions to Ask

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Planning Your Childcare Search

Getting organized.

Before You Start

Gather information: | What to Know | Why It Matters | |--------------|----------------| | Move date | Search timeline | | Work schedule | Hours needed | | New address/area | Location search | | Budget | Cost filtering | | Child's age | Program types |

Determining Your Needs

Consider:

• Full-time vs part-time
• Start time flexibility
• Location priorities
• Must-haves vs nice-to-haves
• Backup care needs

Types of Care to Consider

Options in new area:

• Daycare centers
• In-home daycares
• Nanny or nanny share
• Au pair programs
• Family help (if nearby)

Setting Priorities

Rank importance of:

• Location/commute
• Cost
• Philosophy/approach
• Hours
• Specific features

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Researching from Afar

Finding options remotely.

Online Resources

Start with:

• DaycarePath directory
• Child Care Aware
• State licensing database
• Google Maps search
• Local parent groups

Social Media Research

Valuable sources:

• Local Facebook groups
• Nextdoor in new neighborhood
• Reddit local communities
• Parent forums
• Moving to [city] groups

Questions for Online Groups

Ask locals:

• "We're moving to [area]. Recommendations for daycares?"
• "Any programs near [neighborhood] with openings?"
• "What's the childcare situation like in [town]?"
• "Tips for finding daycare in [area]?"

Virtual Tours

Many programs offer:

• Video tours
• Zoom walkthroughs
• Virtual meet-and-greet
• Photo packages
• Q&A calls

Remote Evaluation

What you can assess: | Remotely | In-Person Needed | |----------|------------------| | Policies and philosophy | Environment feel | | Cost and schedule | Staff interactions | | Licensing status | Cleanliness | | Reviews/reputation | Your gut feeling | | Location | Actual commute |

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Timeline for Relocation

When to do what.

Ideal Timeline

If possible: | Time Before Move | Action | |------------------|--------| | 3-6 months | Start researching | | 2-3 months | Get on waitlists | | 1-2 months | Schedule tours | | 2-4 weeks | Confirm enrollment | | 1-2 weeks | First visit with child | | Week before | Transition visits |

For Infant Care

Start earlier:

• Infant spots are hardest
• 6+ months ahead ideal
• Get on waitlists immediately
• Consider temporary care

Compressed Timeline

When moving quickly:

• Cast very wide net
• Consider temporary arrangements
• Be flexible on preferences
• Network aggressively
• Accept "good enough" initially

Military and Corporate Moves

Special considerations:

• Company relocation assistance
• Military child care options
• Employer childcare benefits
• Temporary duty options

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Visiting and Evaluating

In-person assessment.

Planning a Tour Trip

If visiting before move:

• Schedule multiple tours
• Plan efficiently
• Bring evaluation checklist
• Take photos/notes
• Involve child if possible

What to Observe

During visits: | Area | What to Look For | |------|------------------| | Environment | Cleanliness, organization, safety | | Staff | Warmth, engagement, ratios | | Children | Happy, busy, comfortable | | Atmosphere | Welcoming, calm, joyful | | Location | Actual commute, parking |

If You Can't Visit

Remote evaluation:

• Video tour in detail
• Ask many questions
• Request references
• Check all online reviews
• Talk to current parents

Trusting Your Research

Making decisions from afar:

• Sometimes necessary
• Do thorough research
• Trust your process
• Know you can change later
• Have backup options

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Transition Strategies

Making the change.

Leaving Current Daycare

Handle well:

• Give proper notice
• Express gratitude
• Get records/documentation
• Allow goodbyes
• Request transition notes

Information to Transfer

Bring to new program: | Document | Why Needed | |----------|------------| | Immunization records | Required | | Developmental notes | Continuity | | Routine information | Easier transition | | Allergy/health info | Safety | | Comfort strategies | What works |

Phased Transition

If possible:

• Visit before starting
• Short days initially
• Gradual increase
• Consistent presence
• Extra patience

When Immediate Start Needed

If no transition time:

• Share detailed information
• Comfort items are important
• Extra communication
• Extended drop-off if possible
• Patience with adjustment

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Helping Your Child Adjust

Supporting through change.

Understanding Child's Perspective

They're experiencing:

• New home
• New routine
• New caregivers
• New friends
• Multiple transitions at once

Age-Specific Considerations

By age: | Age | Considerations | |-----|----------------| | Infants | Maintain routine, comfort items | | Toddlers | May regress, need extra patience | | Preschoolers | Can be prepared, may have anxiety | | School-age | More understanding, still stressful |

Strategies That Help

Support adjustment:

• Maintain consistency where possible
• Extra connection time at home
• Talk about feelings
• Read books about moving
• Visit new daycare together

What to Expect

Normal adjustment reactions:

• Increased clinginess
• Sleep disruption
• Behavioral changes
• Emotional fluctuations
• Regression in some areas

When to Worry

Seek help if:

• Extreme, prolonged distress
• Significant regression lasting weeks
• Unusual behaviors
• Not improving after a month
• Your gut says something's wrong

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Temporary Care Options

Bridging the gap.

When You Need Temporary Care

Situations:

• Waitlisted at preferred program
• Haven't found permanent solution
• Just moved and still searching
• Need time to evaluate options

Temporary Options

Consider: | Option | Best For | |--------|----------| | Drop-in care | Short-term, flexible | | Nanny/babysitter | Immediate start | | Family/friends | If available nearby | | Work from home | If possible | | Part-time programs | While waiting |

Making Temporary Work

Strategies:

• Set expectations
• Communicate with child
• Maintain some consistency
• Keep searching
• Stay organized

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Questions to Ask

Before Moving

1. "What's the childcare availability in our new area?"
2. "How long are typical waitlists?"
3. "Can I get on waitlists remotely?"
4. "Do you offer virtual tours?"

During Remote Research

1. "What's your current availability?"
2. "What's the enrollment process from out of town?"
3. "Can you hold a spot before we arrive?"
4. "What's required to enroll?"

About Transition

1. "How do you help new children adjust?"
2. "What information do you need from our current daycare?"
3. "Can we visit before officially starting?"
4. "What's typical adjustment like?"

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Moving Childcare Checklist

Before Moving

• [ ] Research new area
• [ ] Identify programs
• [ ] Get on waitlists
• [ ] Schedule virtual tours
• [ ] Understand costs/policies
• [ ] Arrange transition from current care

During Move

• [ ] Finalize enrollment
• [ ] Complete paperwork
• [ ] Transfer records
• [ ] Plan transition visits
• [ ] Prepare child
• [ ] Arrange first week

After Move

• [ ] Attend transition visits
• [ ] Start care
• [ ] Communicate with new program
• [ ] Support child's adjustment
• [ ] Evaluate fit
• [ ] Stay flexible

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Special Situations

Moving Internationally

Additional considerations:

• Different childcare systems
• Language barriers
• Cultural differences
• Visa requirements
• Longer planning needed

Frequent Movers

If you move often:

• Document what works
• Keep records organized
• Build adjustment strategies
• Accept some instability
• Focus on consistency you can control

Emergency Moves

When move is sudden:

• Use any available care initially
• Network intensively
• Accept temporary solutions
• Prioritize safety, then quality
• Give yourself grace

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Resources

• Find Quality Daycare Near You
• Daycare Waitlist Guide
• First-Time Parent Daycare Guide
• Daycare Transition Guide

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Last updated: December 2025