Children at daycare

Best Daycare Centers in Amherst, NY

Compare 18 daycare centers in Amherst. Average rating: 4.13/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Amherst, New York at a glance

Daycares
18
Avg rating
4.13/5
Parent reviews
164
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Amherst has 18 licensed daycares with 164 parent reviews averaging 4.13/5.The largest concentration is in 14228 with 8 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Amherst

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.

  1. 1
    Edukids, INC.
    4.48 score
    4.6(20)

    2715 Niagara Falls Blvd, Amherst, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Parents consistently praise BrightPath NFB (note: reviews mention BrightPath NFB, not EDUKIDS, INC.) for its caring staff, welcoming environment, and strong communication. Children reportedly transition well, show happiness at drop-off, and parents feel confident leaving their children in the center's care. The facility is noted for cleanliness, engaging activities, and developmental focus.

    Caring and patient staffwelcoming environmentsmooth transitions for new studentsresponsive director
  2. 2
    Butterfly Kisses
    4.48 score
    4.6(20)

    596 N. French Rd., Amherst, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Butterfly Kisses is highly regarded by parents as a nurturing, well-run daycare center in Amherst, New York. Parents consistently praise the warm, caring staff, strong communication, educational curriculum, and safe environment where children thrive. Multiple families have enrolled multiple children and report excellent experiences spanning several years.

    Caring and nurturing staffstrong parent-teacher communication with daily updates and photossafe environmentstructured early childhood curriculum
  3. 3

    885 Sweet Home Road, Amherst, NY · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children

    This is a Roman Catholic Church facility, not a daycare center. Reviews praise the welcoming parish community, engaging clergy, modern facilities with traditional aesthetics, and various community activities and services offered.

    Welcoming and friendly atmosphereengaging priests and homiliesmodern facilities with traditional designonline streaming services
  4. 4

    4350 Millersport Highway, Amherst, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Amherst Baby and Childcare Center receives consistently high praise from parents for its caring, experienced staff, strong safety measures, and structured learning environment. Parents report that their children thrive socially and academically, with excellent communication between teachers and families. The center is noted for staff longevity, creating meaningful relationships between teachers and children.

    Experienced and caring staff with low turnoversafety meas
  5. 5

    2153 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Amherst, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Little People's Park Day Care Center in Amherst receives consistently high praise from parents. Reviews highlight caring, attentive staff, safe facilities, strong communication, and engaging activities that promote child development. Parents report their children are happy, well-adjusted, and eager to attend.

    Warm and caring staffprofessional and attentive teacherssafe and clean facilitygood security
  6. 6
    Shining Stars
    3.89 score
    3.8(6)

    20 Northpointe Parkway, Amherst, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Shining Stars is a center-based daycare in Amherst, New York that receives mostly positive feedback from parents. The majority of reviews praise the friendly and caring staff, clean facilities, family-like environment, and comprehensive services including meals and CPR/First Aid certification. One review criticized the center as unprofessional without additional details.

    Friendly and caring staffclean and tidy roomsfamily-like atmospheremeals provided (breakfast
  7. 7

    100 St. Rita'S Lane, Amherst, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    University at Buffalo Child Care receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with most parents praising the quality of classroom teachers, clean facilities, and focus on social-emotional learning. However, two parents expressed significant dissatisfaction with administrative responsiveness and professionalism, despite acknowledging good classroom instruction.

    Attentive and caring teachersclean and well-maintained facilitiesstrong nutrition programsocial and emotional learning focus

Rating Distribution

Based on 10 daycares with Google ratings in Amherst

4.5 - 5.0
3
4.0 - 4.4
4
3.0 - 3.9
3
Below 3
0

What Parents Value Most

Top qualities mentioned across 164 reviews, analyzed by AI

1Family-like atmosphere
3

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Amherst, based on parent reviews

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Amherst zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
142288
4.3
2
142268
4.05
1

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Amherst (– children)

Small

up to 30 children

0

Medium

31–75 children

0

Large

76–150 children

0

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Amherst based on parent reviews

Edukids, INC.

4.6(20)

2715 Niagara Falls Blvd, Amherst, NY

Parents consistently praise BrightPath NFB (note: reviews mention BrightPath NFB, not EDUKIDS, INC.) for its caring staff, welcoming environment, and strong communication. Children reportedly transition well, show happiness at drop-off, and parents feel confident leaving their children in the center's care. The facility is noted for cleanliness, engaging activities, and developmental focus.

Caring and patient staffwelcoming environmentsmooth transitions for new students

Butterfly Kisses

4.6(20)

596 N. French Rd., Amherst, NY

Butterfly Kisses is highly regarded by parents as a nurturing, well-run daycare center in Amherst, New York. Parents consistently praise the warm, caring staff, strong communication, educational curriculum, and safe environment where children thrive. Multiple families have enrolled multiple children and report excellent experiences spanning several years.

Caring and nurturing staffstrong parent-teacher communication with daily updates and photossafe environment

St. Leo The Great Roman Catholic Church, Amherst, New York

4.5(20)

885 Sweet Home Road, Amherst, NY

This is a Roman Catholic Church facility, not a daycare center. Reviews praise the welcoming parish community, engaging clergy, modern facilities with traditional aesthetics, and various community activities and services offered.

Welcoming and friendly atmosphereengaging priests and homiliesmodern facilities with traditional design

Amherst Baby And Childcare Center

4.3(19)

4350 Millersport Highway, Amherst, NY

Amherst Baby and Childcare Center receives consistently high praise from parents for its caring, experienced staff, strong safety measures, and structured learning environment. Parents report that their children thrive socially and academically, with excellent communication between teachers and families. The center is noted for staff longevity, creating meaningful relationships between teachers and children.

Experienced and caring staff with low turnoversafety meas

Little Peoples Park Day Care Center, INC.

4.2(20)

2153 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Amherst, NY

Little People's Park Day Care Center in Amherst receives consistently high praise from parents. Reviews highlight caring, attentive staff, safe facilities, strong communication, and engaging activities that promote child development. Parents report their children are happy, well-adjusted, and eager to attend.

Warm and caring staffprofessional and attentive teacherssafe and clean facility

Amherst Childrens House

4(2)

785 Millersport Hwy., Amherst, NY

One parent describes a positive experience with small, cozy classrooms and friendly staff, noting low turnover and a family-like atmosphere. In contrast, another parent reports being asked to pick up their son on the first day due to his distress, alleging the director refused to let them speak to the child and charged a full-day deposit deduction.

friendly stafflow employee turnovercozy and age-appropriate classrooms

Map

Daycare Centers in Amherst, New York

There are 18 daycare centers in Amherst, New York. 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 Amherst have an average rating of 4.13 out of 5 across 10 rated facilities, with 30% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.5 stars. Our analysis covers 164 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Amherst, 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 Amherst

Showing 18 results

Edukids, INC.
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.6

Parents consistently praise BrightPath NFB (note: reviews mention BrightPath NFB, not EDUKIDS, INC.) for its caring staff, welcoming environment, and strong communication. Children reportedly transition well, show happiness at drop-off, and parents feel confident leaving their children in the center's care. The facility is noted for cleanliness, engaging activities, and developmental focus.

Caring and patient staffwelcoming environmentsmooth transitions for new students
Address
2715 Niagara Falls Blvd, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 204-3506
Butterfly Kisses
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.6

Butterfly Kisses is highly regarded by parents as a nurturing, well-run daycare center in Amherst, New York. Parents consistently praise the warm, caring staff, strong communication, educational curriculum, and safe environment where children thrive. Multiple families have enrolled multiple children and report excellent experiences spanning several years.

Caring and nurturing staffstrong parent-teacher communication with daily updates and photossafe environment
Address
596 N. French Rd., Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 688-8266
St. Leo The Great Roman Catholic Church, Amherst, New York
Church Daycare
4.5

This is a Roman Catholic Church facility, not a daycare center. Reviews praise the welcoming parish community, engaging clergy, modern facilities with traditional aesthetics, and various community activities and services offered.

Welcoming and friendly atmosphereengaging priests and homiliesmodern facilities with traditional design
Address
885 Sweet Home Road, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 832-6340
Amherst Baby And Childcare Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.3

Amherst Baby and Childcare Center receives consistently high praise from parents for its caring, experienced staff, strong safety measures, and structured learning environment. Parents report that their children thrive socially and academically, with excellent communication between teachers and families. The center is noted for staff longevity, creating meaningful relationships between teachers and children.

Experienced and caring staff with low turnoversafety meas
Address
4350 Millersport Highway, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 688-2068
Little Peoples Park Day Care Center, INC.
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.2

Little People's Park Day Care Center in Amherst receives consistently high praise from parents. Reviews highlight caring, attentive staff, safe facilities, strong communication, and engaging activities that promote child development. Parents report their children are happy, well-adjusted, and eager to attend.

Warm and caring staffprofessional and attentive teacherssafe and clean facility
Address
2153 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 691-5956
The Center For Handicapped Children, INC.
Child Daycare & Preschools
4

One parent highly recommends The Center for Handicapped Children, Inc., citing wonderful staff and a positive long-term experience for their daughter. The reviewer notes that their child has attended since the age of two and would suggest the facility to others.

wonderful stafflong-term positive experiencehighly recommended
Address
1085 Eggert Road, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 204-0355
Amherst Childrens House
Child Daycare & Preschools
4

One parent describes a positive experience with small, cozy classrooms and friendly staff, noting low turnover and a family-like atmosphere. In contrast, another parent reports being asked to pick up their son on the first day due to his distress, alleging the director refused to let them speak to the child and charged a full-day deposit deduction.

friendly stafflow employee turnovercozy and age-appropriate classrooms
Address
785 Millersport Hwy., Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 446-5546
Shining Stars
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.8

Shining Stars is a center-based daycare in Amherst, New York that receives mostly positive feedback from parents. The majority of reviews praise the friendly and caring staff, clean facilities, family-like environment, and comprehensive services including meals and CPR/First Aid certification. One review criticized the center as unprofessional without additional details.

Friendly and caring staffclean and tidy roomsfamily-like atmosphere
Address
20 Northpointe Parkway, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 568-1040
Boys And Girls Clubs Of Buffalo, INC.
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.7

One parent describes a positive experience where their child enjoys the activities and comes home sharing good stories. In contrast, another reviewer expresses serious safety concerns, noting that the facility allows walk-ins without sign-in procedures.

engaging activitiespositive child feedback
Address
4110 Bailey Avenue, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 836-0516
University At Buffalo Child Care
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.6

University at Buffalo Child Care receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with most parents praising the quality of classroom teachers, clean facilities, and focus on social-emotional learning. However, two parents expressed significant dissatisfaction with administrative responsiveness and professionalism, despite acknowledging good classroom instruction.

Attentive and caring teachersclean and well-maintained facilitiesstrong nutrition program
Address
100 St. Rita'S Lane, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 645-6509
Early Childhood Research Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
15 Baldy Hall, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 645-2379
Ohr Temimim
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
411 John James Audubon Pkwy, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 568-0226
Play And Learn Scholars
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
700 Sweet Home Road, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 836-6565
Bornhava
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
25 Chateau Terrace, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 839-1655
Town Of Amherst Youth Board
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
4255 Harlem Road, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 631-7208
Ymca Buffalo Niagara
Child Daycare & Preschools

Feedback for the Amherst location highlights convenient access and a welcoming staff team. One parent notes the facility is easy to work with, while another appreciates its utility for exercise during bad weather, though cleanliness concerns regarding the steam room are raised.

easy to work withnice facility for exercisegreat staff
Address
2545 Sweet Home Road, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 276-8315
Buffalo Hearing And Speech Center, INC.
Child Daycare & Preschools

Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center receives consistently high ratings from parents and clients. Staff are praised for being friendly, professional, and caring, with therapists effectively helping children with speech, autism, and sensory processing disorders. Families report quick appointment access and efficient service.

Friendly and professional staffquick appointment schedulingknowledgeable speech therapists
Address
700 Sweet Home Road, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 885-1354
Doodle Bugs! Children'S Centers
Child Daycare & Preschools

Doodle Bugs! Children's Centers in Amherst receives consistently high praise from parents. All 10 recent reviews are 5-star ratings highlighting caring staff, engaging activities, strong communication, and security features. Parents particularly appreciate the optional camera access, daily photo updates, and the welcoming environment created by leadership.

caring and nurturing staffengaging activities and sensory playdaily photo and written updates
Address
100 North French Road, Amherst, NY
Phone
(716) 564-1300

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Frequently asked questions

There are 18 all daycares in Amherst, New York. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Amherst have an average Google rating of 4.13 out of 5 across 10 rated facilities. About 30% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Amherst, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with New York's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in New York)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Amherst offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 17 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 1 facilities
Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.
Daycare costs in New York typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Amherst for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Amherst must be licensed by New York's childcare licensing agency. Licensed facilities are required to meet standards for safety, health, staff qualifications, and staff-to-child ratios. You can verify a facility's license status through your state's licensing database.