Here are the most important things to take into consideration when selecting a day care center for your child:

• Find out the staff to child ratio of the day care center. The state requirements vary greatly depending on the age of your child.
• Research if the child care center is licensed and if it is, find out what regulatory agency licenses the center.
• Make sure that annual physical examinations and proof of immunizations are requirements for children to be at the center
• Visit the center when children are there to see what the facility looks like during a normal day
• Check out the nap time equipment and options
• Look at the kitchen and ask to see what kind of nutritional standards they adhere to. See where to food is served.
• Check out the toys and equipment available to the kids, and see if there is outdoor play time and equipment as well
• Ask how conflict is managed and ask to see a procedure booklet
• See what child safety features are in place (including fire alarms)
  

Those suggestions do not cover everythign you should be looking for in a day care center, they are just some helpful tips. The most important thing is your child's happiness and level of comfort at the day care center that you choose. Keep that in mind when researching all of the different child care centers in your area.