
Compare 21 daycare centers in Waterbury. Average rating: 3.99/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Waterbury has 21 licensed daycares with 125 parent reviews averaging 3.99/5.86% are child daycare & preschools, the dominant program type in Waterbury.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.
136 West Main Street, Waterbury, CT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 224 children
Parents praise the Waterbury YMCA Child Care Center's preschool program, highlighting strong teacher communication, individualized student support, and a nurturing environment where children thrive. The facility is noted as clean and well-maintained with excellent staff who are patient and helpful.
120 Store Ave, Waterbury, CT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 56 children
Parents consistently praise Toddler Town as an excellent childcare facility with deeply committed staff and strong developmental focus. Children show measurable academic and social progress, and parents report feeling confident and at ease leaving their children in care. The center prioritizes safety, cleanliness, and transparent communication with families.
222 W Main St, Waterbury, CT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 70 children
The Ark has mixed reviews with strong praise from most parents about caring teachers, quality education, and positive child development, but serious concerns from parents of children with special needs regarding accommodation, communication, and staff conduct.
444 North Main Street, Waterbury, CT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 322 children
Muriel H Moore Child Development Center receives mixed reviews. While some parents praise the staff and learning environment, multiple parents report serious concerns including staffing shortages leading to classroom instability, administrative disorganization, inconsistent enforcement of policies, and one incident involving a child injury.
2457 E Main St, Waterbury, CT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 67 children
New Horizon Kids Academy receives highly polarized reviews. Positive reviews praise attentive staff, clean facilities, strong child care, and a safe location. Negative reviews criticize rigid payment policies, inflexible scheduling, unprofessional business practices, and reported rudeness from staff.
1245 Thomaston Ave, Waterbury, CT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 77 children
Lighthouse Day Care receives highly polarized reviews. Positive reviewers praise the caring staff, religious curriculum, developmental activities, and communication updates. Negative reviewers report severe understaffing, poor behavior management, safety concerns, insensitive management, and high employee turnover.
Based on 14 daycares with Google ratings in Waterbury
Top qualities mentioned across 125 reviews, analyzed by AI
Average ratings by facility type in Waterbury, based on parent reviews
Waterbury zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06705 | 6 | 4.35 | 2 | |
| 06708 | 5 | 3.57 | 0 |
Capacity distribution of daycares in Waterbury (17–322 children)
Small
up to 30 children
4
Medium
31–75 children
8
Large
76–150 children
6
Very Large
150+ children
3
Highest rated daycares in Waterbury based on parent reviews
136 West Main Street, Waterbury, CT
Parents praise the Waterbury YMCA Child Care Center's preschool program, highlighting strong teacher communication, individualized student support, and a nurturing environment where children thrive. The facility is noted as clean and well-maintained with excellent staff who are patient and helpful.
120 Store Ave, Waterbury, CT
Parents consistently praise Toddler Town as an excellent childcare facility with deeply committed staff and strong developmental focus. Children show measurable academic and social progress, and parents report feeling confident and at ease leaving their children in care. The center prioritizes safety, cleanliness, and transparent communication with families.
128 Avenue Of Industry, Waterbury, CT
One parent highlights the center's exceptional care for non-verbal children, noting that staff treat students with deep affection and provide significant educational support. Another reviewer describes the staff as highly pleasant and caring toward both children and families.
2030 E Main St, Waterbury, CT
Parents highlight the center's small, clean facility and describe staff member Miss Liss as caring, patient, and dedicated to children's learning and social development. Reviewers report that their children feel safe and happy, noting visible progress in their development.
222 W Main St, Waterbury, CT
The Ark has mixed reviews with strong praise from most parents about caring teachers, quality education, and positive child development, but serious concerns from parents of children with special needs regarding accommodation, communication, and staff conduct.
100 Jefferson Square, Waterbury, CT
One parent describes the center as very nice and comfortable, noting that staff handle a diverse range of children daily. Another reviewer expresses affection for the facility but highlights that appointment availability is limited.
There are 21 daycare centers in Waterbury, Connecticut. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in Waterbury have an average rating of 3.99 out of 5 across 14 rated facilities, with 21% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 3.99 stars. Our analysis covers 125 parent reviews. Parents in Waterbury most frequently praise daycares for clean facility, caring staff, and clean environment.
When choosing a daycare in Waterbury, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
Showing 21 results
One parent highlights the center's exceptional care for non-verbal children, noting that staff treat students with deep affection and provide significant educational support. Another reviewer describes the staff as highly pleasant and caring toward both children and families.
Parents highlight the center's small, clean facility and describe staff member Miss Liss as caring, patient, and dedicated to children's learning and social development. Reviewers report that their children feel safe and happy, noting visible progress in their development.
Parents consistently praise Toddler Town as an excellent childcare facility with deeply committed staff and strong developmental focus. Children show measurable academic and social progress, and parents report feeling confident and at ease leaving their children in care. The center prioritizes safety, cleanliness, and transparent communication with families.
Parents praise the Waterbury YMCA Child Care Center's preschool program, highlighting strong teacher communication, individualized student support, and a nurturing environment where children thrive. The facility is noted as clean and well-maintained with excellent staff who are patient and helpful.
The Ark has mixed reviews with strong praise from most parents about caring teachers, quality education, and positive child development, but serious concerns from parents of children with special needs regarding accommodation, communication, and staff conduct.
One parent describes the center as very nice and comfortable, noting that staff handle a diverse range of children daily. Another reviewer expresses affection for the facility but highlights that appointment availability is limited.
Muriel H Moore Child Development Center receives mixed reviews. While some parents praise the staff and learning environment, multiple parents report serious concerns including staffing shortages leading to classroom instability, administrative disorganization, inconsistent enforcement of policies, and one incident involving a child injury.
Feedback for this center is sharply divided, with one parent describing the staff as the best while another reports a severely negative attitude from the front desk personnel. Parents should be aware of potential interpersonal conflicts with administrative staff.
Recent feedback highlights serious concerns regarding administrative leadership and safety protocols, with one parent alleging that the principal's actions have put children at risk and ignored parental requests. Another reviewer expresses strong dissatisfaction with the school's responsiveness, noting it caused their child to miss preschool and advising others against enrollment.
Some parents highlight the center's loving teachers, cleanliness, and strong infant program, while others report poor staff engagement and a hostile atmosphere. One review specifically criticizes a staff member's behavior and notes that teachers appear inactive with the children.
New Horizon Kids Academy receives highly polarized reviews. Positive reviews praise attentive staff, clean facilities, strong child care, and a safe location. Negative reviews criticize rigid payment policies, inflexible scheduling, unprofessional business practices, and reported rudeness from staff.
Lighthouse Day Care receives highly polarized reviews. Positive reviewers praise the caring staff, religious curriculum, developmental activities, and communication updates. Negative reviewers report severe understaffing, poor behavior management, safety concerns, insensitive management, and high employee turnover.
Catholic Charities Child Development Center receives consistently positive ratings from parents who praise the helpful services and staff. One long-term parent notes recent improvements under current leadership, though they mention past staffing challenges and concerns about medication management.
Country Garden Day Care and Preschool receives consistent praise from parents for its caring and experienced staff, reasonable rates, and strong kindergarten preparation. Parents highlight the welcoming atmosphere, themed activities, and family events that make them feel included in their children's education.
Parents praise the Waterbury YMCA's preschool program for its attentive, patient teachers and strong parent communication. Children with learning challenges reportedly thrive due to individualized support. The facility also offers excellent general amenities including pools, fitness classes, and a clean, welcoming community environment.
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