Best Daycare Centers in Council Bluffs, IA
Compare 38 daycare centers in Council Bluffs. Average rating: 4.16/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Council Bluffs, Iowa at a glance
- Daycares
- 38
- Avg rating
- 4.16/5
- Parent reviews
- 114
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 10
Council Bluffs has 38 licensed daycares with 114 parent reviews averaging 4.16/5.10 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 45% of rated programs, well above average.The largest concentration is in 51503 with 20 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Council Bluffs
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.
- 1Montessori Children'S House4.74 score5(14)
400 Cloverdale Dr, Council Bluffs, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 35 children
Montessori Children's House receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, dedicated teaching staff and strong Montessori curriculum. Parents highlight significant academic and social growth in their children, along with a safe, welcoming environment that fosters a genuine love of learning.
Dedicated and caring teachersage-appropriate Montessori materialsindividualized learning at child's own paceseasonal shelf rotations - 2Beginning Memories Preschool4.28 score4.4(12)
2102 Avenue E, Council Bluffs, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children
Beginning Memories Preschool in Council Bluffs receives consistently positive feedback from parents who praise the caring staff, particularly the director/owner known as 'Memory.' Parents highlight strong academic preparation for kindergarten, engaging activities including field trips and swimming, and a balance of structured learning with play-based activities.
Patient and caring staffstrong academic preparationwell-organized curriculumregular field trips and outdoor activities - 3Madison Early Head Start3.89 score3.8(6)
755 Madison Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA · Headstart Programs · Capacity: 32 children
Madison Early Head Start receives mixed reviews with significant concerns about safety and organization. While some parents praise the teachers and parent advocate as kind and helpful, multiple parents report serious issues with food allergies, disorganization, and poor communication.
Kind and understanding teachershelpful parent advocatesupportive assistance provided - 4Council Bluffs I, II, III Head Start3.89 score3.8(6)
765 Madison Ave, Council Bluffs, IA · Headstart Programs · Capacity: 60 children
Council Bluffs I, II, III Head Start receives mixed reviews. Positive feedback highlights helpful staff and kind teachers, while negative reviews raise serious concerns about disorganization, failure to accommodate food allergies, and unresponsive staff.
Helpful staffkind and understanding early head start teachersparent advocate support - 5Shea'S Learning Days Child Development Center LLC3.45 score3.1(8)
2308 Ave J, Council Bluffs, IA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 67 children
Shea's Learning Days has highly polarized reviews. Some parents report positive experiences with clean facilities, responsive staff, and good communication. However, the majority of reviews cite serious concerns including poor management, understaffing, staff turnover, and questionable business practices.
Clean facilityfriendly and responsive staffgood communication via appaccommodating to parent preferences - 6The Learning Journey II3.24 score2.7(7)
17544 Sunnydale Rd, Council Bluffs, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 80 children
THE LEARNING JOURNEY II receives mixed reviews with stark contrasts. Positive reviewers praise the learning environment, staff compassion, and cleanliness. However, multiple negative reviews cite safety concerns, arbitrary child dismissals, alleged staff disrespect, unfair treatment between scholarship and private-pay families, and potential violations of state childcare ratios.
Learning and play environmentcaring and compassionate staffclean facilitychildren enjoy attending
Rating Distribution
Based on 22 daycares with Google ratings in Council Bluffs
What Parents Value Most
Top qualities mentioned across 114 reviews, analyzed by AI
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in Council Bluffs, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Council Bluffs zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51501 | 16 | 4.3 | 3 | |
| 51503 | 20 | 4.12 | 6 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Council Bluffs (17–200 children)
Small
up to 30 children
3
Medium
31–75 children
15
Large
76–150 children
17
Very Large
150+ children
2
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Council Bluffs based on parent reviews
Montessori Children'S House
400 Cloverdale Dr, Council Bluffs, IA
Montessori Children's House receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, dedicated teaching staff and strong Montessori curriculum. Parents highlight significant academic and social growth in their children, along with a safe, welcoming environment that fosters a genuine love of learning.
Love Kids Child Care Center LLC
901 N 35th St, Council Bluffs, IA
Parents describe LOVE KIDS CHILD CARE CENTER LLC as a highly positive environment where staff treat children with genuine affection and care. Reviewers highlight that their children enjoy attending and express strong satisfaction with the decision to enroll them in the program.
Mother Goose Child Care & Preschool Site III
108 N 22nd St, Council Bluffs, IA
Parents highlight a caring staff that builds strong relationships with children, resulting in high satisfaction and enthusiasm from both grandchildren and parents. One reviewer notes that their son enjoys attending daily, making drop-offs stress-free, while another expresses gratitude for the dedicated care provided to multiple grandchildren.
Beginning Memories Preschool
2102 Avenue E, Council Bluffs, IA
Beginning Memories Preschool in Council Bluffs receives consistently positive feedback from parents who praise the caring staff, particularly the director/owner known as 'Memory.' Parents highlight strong academic preparation for kindergarten, engaging activities including field trips and swimming, and a balance of structured learning with play-based activities.
Ymca Early Learning Center - Charles E Lakin
235 Harmony St, Council Bluffs, IA
A parent highlights the center's balanced approach to education and play, noting that the program effectively prepares children for Kindergarten. The review specifically praises Director Joyce for her supportive involvement and the teachers' friendliness.
Children'S Choice
3501 Harry Langdon Blvd, #180, Council Bluffs, IA
Map
Daycare types in Council Bluffs
Browse by type in Council Bluffs
Daycare Centers in Council Bluffs, Iowa
There are 38 daycare centers in Council Bluffs, Iowa. 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 Council Bluffs have an average rating of 4.16 out of 5 across 22 rated facilities, with 45% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Before or After School Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.27 stars. Our analysis covers 114 parent reviews.
When choosing a daycare in Council Bluffs, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
All Daycare Centers in Council Bluffs
Showing 38 results
- Address
- 3303 Harry Langdon Blvd, Council Bluffs, IA
- Phone
- (712) 323-2474
One parent reports that the center successfully addressed and resolved all issues, while another describes negative interactions with specific staff members. A third review details severe allegations regarding billing for unprovided special needs staffing, improper handling of children, and arbitrary dismissal without evidence.
- Address
- 210 S 7th St, Council Bluffs, IA
- Phone
- (712) 355-3290
One parent reports that all issues were addressed and resolved, while another describes a negative experience involving failed staffing for a child with special needs and allegations of unsafe handling of children. A third review notes that while the center is liked, some staff members are perceived as mean.
- Address
- 2011 S 10th St, Council Bluffs, IA
- Phone
- (712) 355-3296
Little Hands at Work and Play has received mixed reviews with significant concerns about management and staff treatment. While some parents praised teachers and overall care quality, multiple parents reported sudden dismissals without notice, inconsistent discipline policies, poor communication, and unprofessional behavior from leadership. Several families report losing childcare arrangements abruptly, causing financial and logistical hardship.
- Address
- 205 S 27th St, Council Bluffs, IA
- Phone
- (712) 325-5530
One parent reports that issues were addressed and resolved, while another describes billing for unprovided special needs staffing and unsafe conditions involving older children. A third review notes that some staff members are perceived as mean.
- Address
- 2218 Third Ave, Council Bluffs, IA
- Phone
- (712) 355-3291
- Address
- 1603 Grand Ave, Council Bluffs, IA
- Phone
- (712) 322-8800
Feedback for this center is mixed, with one parent noting that issues have been addressed, while others report significant concerns regarding staff conduct and facility safety. Specific complaints include allegations of unfulfilled special needs staffing requirements, unfair termination of enrollment, and unsafe supervision practices involving other children.
- Address
- 3130 Avenue C, Council Bluffs, IA
- Phone
- (712) 322-8800
One parent reports that issues were addressed and resolved, while another describes a negative experience involving unfulfilled special needs staffing and allegations of unsafe conditions. A third comment notes that some staff members are perceived as mean.
- Address
- 1205 N Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA
- Phone
- (712) 322-8800
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Frequently asked questions
- Licensing status with Iowa's regulatory agency
- Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Iowa)
- Safety measures and cleanliness
- Daily routines and educational curriculum
- Parent reviews and ratings
- Location and hours that fit your schedule
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 19 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 2 facilities
- Church Daycare — 2 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 15 facilities