
Compare 42 child daycare & preschools in Bellingham. Average rating: 4.08/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Bellingham has 42 licensed child daycare & preschools with 285 parent reviews averaging 4.08/5.8 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 36% of rated programs, well above average.The largest concentration is in 98225 with 25 programs.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.
3000 Northwest Ave, Bellingham, WA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children
St. Paul's Episcopal School receives consistently high praise from parents for its welcoming and compassionate community. Parents appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, beautiful facilities, strong music program, and supportive clergy. The church actively serves the community and offers quality children's programs.
2945 Douglas Avenue, Bellingham, WA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 101 children
Blossom Childcare & Learning Center in Bellingham receives consistently excellent reviews from parents, with all ratings at 5/5 stars. Parents praise the caring and professional staff, engaging curriculum that combines multiple educational approaches, extensive outdoor spaces, and the center's commitment to child development and family support.
495 East Bakerview, Bellingham, WA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 22 children
First Christian Church Preschool/Child Care in Bellingham has a 5/5 Google rating. Parents praise the welcoming and inclusive community atmosphere, describing the congregation as caring and down to earth. The facility appears to foster a strong sense of family and faith community.
1408 E Sunset Dr, Bellingham, WA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 22 children
A STEP AHEAD BILINGUAL LLC receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with 6 five-star reviews praising the caring staff, bilingual education, welcoming environment, and family-run atmosphere. One one-star review alleges a child was injured and the incident was not communicated promptly. Overall, parents report their children are happy, engaged, and learning Spanish in a clean, well-managed facility.
3230 Meridian, Bellingham, WA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 100 children
Parents consistently praise A Child's Life Learning Center for its caring, attentive staff who support children's development across speech, social skills, academics, and creativity. Children reportedly transition smoothly, show remarkable progress, and arrive happy each day. The facility is described as bright, well-designed, and offering quality meals with flexible scheduling options.
3210 Meridian St, Bellingham, WA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 56 children
Parents consistently praise A Child's Life Learning Center for its caring, attentive staff and nurturing environment. Children show significant developmental progress across speech, academics, social skills, and independence. Multiple families report smooth transitions, excellent communication, and feeling confident leaving their children in the center's care.
4605 Cable Street, Bellingham, WA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 60 children
The Firs Bible After School is a Christian retreat and camp facility in Bellingham, Washington that receives consistently positive reviews. Parents and visitors praise the welcoming staff, clean facilities, quality food, and water activities. The center is strongly appreciated for its Christ-centered mission and hospitable environment.
3140 Bennett Drive, Bellingham, WA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 86 children
Parents consistently praise Seedlings Early Learning Center (formerly Promise Day Care) for excellent staff care, strong communication, and child development. Children show significant growth, enjoy attending daily, and benefit from a stable teaching environment with minimal staff turnover. The center is highly recommended by families with multi-year enrollment history.
2600 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham, WA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 76 children
Bellingham Childcare & Learning Center receives predominantly positive reviews praising caring, patient staff, individualized child development, outdoor play, and daily parent communication. Most parents report their children thrived academically and socially, though two recent negative reviews cite staff cliques and safety concerns. The center has a waiting list due to its strong reputation.
3121 Squalicum Pkway, Bellingham, WA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 37 children
ERROR: The reviews provided are for Avalon Health Care, a rehabilitation and long-term care facility, not for St. Francis Childcare Center. These reviews cannot be used to summarize parent experiences at the daycare listed.
Based on 22 daycares with Google ratings in Bellingham
Top qualities mentioned across 285 reviews, analyzed by AI
Average ratings by facility type in Bellingham, based on parent reviews
Bellingham zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98225 | 25 | 4.23 | 4 | |
| 98226 | 17 | 3.88 | 4 |
Capacity distribution of daycares in Bellingham (8–161 children)
Small
up to 30 children
20
Medium
31–75 children
11
Large
76–150 children
11
Very Large
150+ children
1
Highest rated daycares in Bellingham based on parent reviews
3000 Northwest Ave, Bellingham, WA
St. Paul's Episcopal School receives consistently high praise from parents for its welcoming and compassionate community. Parents appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, beautiful facilities, strong music program, and supportive clergy. The church actively serves the community and offers quality children's programs.
2945 Douglas Avenue, Bellingham, WA
Blossom Childcare & Learning Center in Bellingham receives consistently excellent reviews from parents, with all ratings at 5/5 stars. Parents praise the caring and professional staff, engaging curriculum that combines multiple educational approaches, extensive outdoor spaces, and the center's commitment to child development and family support.
1400 Larrabee, Bellingham, WA
Parents highlight the center's loving and safe environment, noting that the transition was easy and staff were highly attentive. Reviewers appreciate the small class sizes and responsive administration, with children reportedly making friends and learning significantly. No specific drawbacks were mentioned in the available feedback.
1408 E Sunset Dr, Bellingham, WA
A STEP AHEAD BILINGUAL LLC receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with 6 five-star reviews praising the caring staff, bilingual education, welcoming environment, and family-run atmosphere. One one-star review alleges a child was injured and the incident was not communicated promptly. Overall, parents report their children are happy, engaged, and learning Spanish in a clean, well-managed facility.
3230 Meridian, Bellingham, WA
Parents consistently praise A Child's Life Learning Center for its caring, attentive staff who support children's development across speech, social skills, academics, and creativity. Children reportedly transition smoothly, show remarkable progress, and arrive happy each day. The facility is described as bright, well-designed, and offering quality meals with flexible scheduling options.
3210 Meridian St, Bellingham, WA
Parents consistently praise A Child's Life Learning Center for its caring, attentive staff and nurturing environment. Children show significant developmental progress across speech, academics, social skills, and independence. Multiple families report smooth transitions, excellent communication, and feeling confident leaving their children in the center's care.
There are 42 child daycare & preschools in Bellingham, Washington, making up 98% of the 43 total childcare facilities in the city. 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 Bellingham have an average rating of 4.08 out of 5 across 22 rated facilities, with 36% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 285 parent reviews. Parents in Bellingham most frequently praise daycares for friendly and helpful staff, welcoming environment, and affordable pricing.
When choosing a daycare in Bellingham, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
Showing 42 results
One parent highlights that their daughter enjoys the program so much she asks to stay longer, noting significant learning progress. The reviewer also commends the teachers for actively collaborating with families to address individual needs.
Parents highlight the school's warm, community-focused environment where students are encouraged to think independently and solve problems at their own pace. Reviewers note that the STEAM curriculum supports this approach, resulting in strong critical thinking skills for children.
A few reviewers highlight the center's thoughtful approach to parent training and describe the staff as kind, respectful, and great with families. The feedback emphasizes a supportive environment for both children and parents. No negative aspects were mentioned in the available reviews.
St. Paul's Episcopal School receives consistently high praise from parents for its welcoming and compassionate community. Parents appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, beautiful facilities, strong music program, and supportive clergy. The church actively serves the community and offers quality children's programs.
Parents highlight the center's loving and safe environment, noting that the transition was easy and staff were highly attentive. Reviewers appreciate the small class sizes and responsive administration, with children reportedly making friends and learning significantly. No specific drawbacks were mentioned in the available feedback.
Blossom Childcare & Learning Center in Bellingham receives consistently excellent reviews from parents, with all ratings at 5/5 stars. Parents praise the caring and professional staff, engaging curriculum that combines multiple educational approaches, extensive outdoor spaces, and the center's commitment to child development and family support.
A STEP AHEAD BILINGUAL LLC receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with 6 five-star reviews praising the caring staff, bilingual education, welcoming environment, and family-run atmosphere. One one-star review alleges a child was injured and the incident was not communicated promptly. Overall, parents report their children are happy, engaged, and learning Spanish in a clean, well-managed facility.
Parents consistently praise A Child's Life Learning Center for its caring, attentive staff who support children's development across speech, social skills, academics, and creativity. Children reportedly transition smoothly, show remarkable progress, and arrive happy each day. The facility is described as bright, well-designed, and offering quality meals with flexible scheduling options.
Parents consistently praise A Child's Life Learning Center for its caring, attentive staff and nurturing environment. Children show significant developmental progress across speech, academics, social skills, and independence. Multiple families report smooth transitions, excellent communication, and feeling confident leaving their children in the center's care.
One parent highlights the homey environment, staff stability, and personalized care, noting that the director and assistant director are responsive and willing to accommodate specific needs like tracking food intake. Two other reviewers simply describe the center as great and the best they have experienced.
The Firs Bible After School is a Christian retreat and camp facility in Bellingham, Washington that receives consistently positive reviews. Parents and visitors praise the welcoming staff, clean facilities, quality food, and water activities. The center is strongly appreciated for its Christ-centered mission and hospitable environment.
Parents consistently praise Seedlings Early Learning Center (formerly Promise Day Care) for excellent staff care, strong communication, and child development. Children show significant growth, enjoy attending daily, and benefit from a stable teaching environment with minimal staff turnover. The center is highly recommended by families with multi-year enrollment history.
Bellingham Childcare & Learning Center receives predominantly positive reviews praising caring, patient staff, individualized child development, outdoor play, and daily parent communication. Most parents report their children thrived academically and socially, though two recent negative reviews cite staff cliques and safety concerns. The center has a waiting list due to its strong reputation.
ERROR: The reviews provided are for Avalon Health Care, a rehabilitation and long-term care facility, not for St. Francis Childcare Center. These reviews cannot be used to summarize parent experiences at the daycare listed.
Note: The reviews provided are for the YMCA gym facility, not the daycare center. Reviews consistently praise the affordable membership, friendly and helpful staff, clean equipment, and community-oriented environment. Most reviewers rate it highly as a gym.
Note: The reviews provided are for the YMCA gym facility, not the YMCA Infant Center daycare. Reviews praise the gym's affordability, equipment quality, friendly staff, and community focus, with most ratings being 4-5 stars.
NOTE: These reviews are for the YMCA gym facility, not the KEY PROGRAM daycare. The reviews cannot be used to assess the daycare center's quality, as they focus on gym membership, equipment, and adult fitness programs rather than childcare services.
Kids World 2000 receives highly polarized reviews, with five 5-star and four 1-star ratings reflecting dramatically different experiences. Positive reviewers praise attentive staff, good communication, and quality care, while negative reviewers cite safety concerns, poor hygiene practices, inadequate diaper changes, inconsistent policies, and dismissive management.
Kids World Northwest has experienced a significant decline in quality and management. While some parents praised the center under previous leadership (particularly former director Rosa), current operations are marked by chronic staffing shortages, inconsistent care, poor communication, and safety concerns. Multiple families report being forced to find alternative childcare due to repeated early closures and class caps.
Kids World NW Firehouse has experienced a significant decline in quality following a change in management. While some parents praise the affordable rates and caring staff under previous leadership, numerous recent reviews cite severe staffing shortages leading to frequent classroom closures, early pickups, and last-minute cancellations. Additional concerns include missing items, safety issues, poor hygiene practices, and unresponsive management.
One parent highlights the center's supportive staff and specialized services, noting they go to great lengths to assist children with learning disabilities. The review specifically praises the availability of speech and occupational therapy as well as resource guidance for families.
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