Why parents are asking harder daycare questions

Childcare has been in the news for the wrong reasons. A 2025 NBC News report described Maine parents who said their toddlers were given melatonin at daycare without their consent, and an investigation that is still being argued over. This week an Australian outlet reported on a Queensland centre's CCTV, which the child's mother says shows her three-year-old lying unresponsive for more than a minute before staff checked on him. The centre had not yet responded to the outlet's request for comment, so treat that as one family's account under investigation.

Most centres are careful, caring places. But these stories point to the same gap: parents often do not know exactly what happened during the day. The fix is not suspicion. It is better questions and better records.

8 questions to ask your daycare or childcare provider

About sleep

Where and how do babies sleep? Ask about cots, sleeping on the back, and whether anything soft is in the cot. Our summary of the CDC safe sleep report is a handy reference.
How often are sleeping children checked, and is it written down? A good answer includes a set interval and a sign-off sheet.

About medicine

Do you ever give any medicine or supplement, including non-prescription ones? The answer should be no, except as described below.
Do you require written parental consent first? It should be written, specific to the product and dose, and kept on file.
Do you tell parents the same day? You should hear about any dose when you pick up.

On melatonin specifically, the pediatrician quoted by NBC does not recommend it for children under five, and notes that long-term effects are unknown. Use that as a prompt to ask your own pediatrician, not as a rule.

About incidents

What counts as an incident, and when are parents told? Ask for the written policy.
What happens if a child seems unwell or unresponsive? Look for a clear first-aid and emergency procedure, and staff who hold current first-aid training.
Can I see the incident log for my child? A confident provider says yes.

What to look for in the answers

Specific beats reassuring. "Every 10 minutes, signed on this sheet" is better than "we always keep an eye on them".
Written beats verbal.
Willing to be asked matters most. Defensiveness is information.

If you are unhappy with the answers, your local childcare regulator is the next step. Check the licensing authority for your area.

What to keep your own record of

You cannot rely on a centre's records alone, and you do not need to treat anyone as a suspect to keep your own. A simple home log helps you notice things:

Sleep at home vs at daycare. If your child naps for two hours at home but "all day is fine" at daycare, ask how long they actually slept.
Unusually sleepy afternoons. Note them. Share the pattern with your pediatrician.
Handover details. Last feed, last nap, last medicine, and any mood changes.
Anything unexplained. A bruise, a new behaviour, a change in appetite. Date it and describe it plainly.

Common questions

Can a daycare give my child medicine without permission? In general, providers are expected to get written consent first. Rules vary by country and state, so check your local regulator.

Is it normal for daycare to give my child a calming supplement? Not without your consent. Ask directly, in writing.

How often should sleeping babies be checked? Policies vary and local regulations apply. Ask for the written interval and how checks are recorded.

Should I be worried about my current daycare? Not automatically. Ask the questions above calmly and see how they are received.

Keep one shared record with every carer

BubSync gives everyone caring for your baby the same log:

Log naps, feeds, nappies and medicine in a couple of taps
Invite a carer or grandparent to see only the babies you choose, using family sharing
Spot patterns with our guide to tracking baby sleep
Works offline, so a note is never lost to a bad signal

See the full feature list or what BubSync costs.

Start tracking with BubSync and walk into every handover knowing what you are asking about.

Sources

This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. Speak to your doctor or pediatrician about your child, and your local childcare regulator about a specific provider.

Daycare and Childcare Handover: 8 Questions to Ask About Naps, Medicine and Incidents