Best Infant & Toddler Daycares in Santa Monica, CA
Find the best infant & toddler daycares in Santa Monica, California. Browse 5 options, compare ratings, and choose the right program for your child.
Best Infant & Toddler Daycares in Santa Monica
Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — infant & toddler daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.
- 1Les Infant INC. Infant Center4.38 score5(3)
2702 Virginia Avenue, Santa Monica, CA · Capacity: 32 children
Parents highlight that My First Place provides a safe, clean, and joyous environment with extended hours and comprehensive enrichment activities like soccer and music. Reviewers note that the staff, particularly Maria, offer personalized attention and strong academic preparation for kindergarten, with some noting the higher cost is offset by sibling discounts.
extended hourssafe and clean environmentenriching extracurricular activities (soccermusic - 2Les Infants INC. Preschool4.38 score5(3)
2702 Virginia Avenue, Santa Monica, CA · Capacity: 37 children
Parents highlight exceptional staff care and a strong academic foundation that prepares children well for kindergarten. Reviewers appreciate the extended operating hours, diverse enrichment activities like soccer and music, and the use of a daily activity app. While the cost is noted as higher than average, families value the clean, safe environment and sibling discounts.
caring and dedicated staffstrong academic and social-emotional preparationextended hoursenriching extracurricular activities (soccer - 3Lighthouse Center For Infants4.29 score5(2)
1424 Yale Street, Santa Monica, CA · Capacity: 16 children
- 4Dreamland Infant Care Center4.09 score4.2(4)
1635 Centinela, Santa Monica, CA · Capacity: 29 children
Parents highlight the center's personalized approach, reasonable tuition, and extended hours, with one family noting their daughter's strong emotional connection to the staff. However, a separate review warns of rigid financial policies, citing a dispute over an unreturned deposit that required small claims court. The few reviews so far mention a mix of high satisfaction with care quality and serious concerns about administrative handling of refunds.
personalized attentionreasonable tuitionextended hours (7:30-5:30)loving and attentive staff
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Infant & Toddler Daycares in Santa Monica, California
Finding quality infant and toddler care in Santa Monica is critical for working families. These 5 facilities specifically cater to children under age 3, with appropriate staff-to-child ratios and age-appropriate activities.
When choosing a infant & toddler daycare in Santa Monica, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
All Infant & Toddler Daycares in Santa Monica
Showing 5 results
Parents highlight that My First Place provides a safe, clean, and joyous environment with extended hours and comprehensive enrichment activities like soccer and music. Reviewers note that the staff, particularly Maria, offer personalized attention and strong academic preparation for kindergarten, with some noting the higher cost is offset by sibling discounts.
- Address
- 2702 Virginia Avenue, Santa Monica, CA
- Phone
- (310) 315-0058
Parents highlight exceptional staff care and a strong academic foundation that prepares children well for kindergarten. Reviewers appreciate the extended operating hours, diverse enrichment activities like soccer and music, and the use of a daily activity app. While the cost is noted as higher than average, families value the clean, safe environment and sibling discounts.
- Address
- 2702 Virginia Avenue, Santa Monica, CA
- Phone
- (310) 315-0058
- Address
- 1424 Yale Street, Santa Monica, CA
- Phone
- (310) 633-0130
Parents highlight the center's personalized approach, reasonable tuition, and extended hours, with one family noting their daughter's strong emotional connection to the staff. However, a separate review warns of rigid financial policies, citing a dispute over an unreturned deposit that required small claims court. The few reviews so far mention a mix of high satisfaction with care quality and serious concerns about administrative handling of refunds.
- Address
- 1635 Centinela, Santa Monica, CA
- Phone
- (310) 828-8454
- Address
- 601 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA
- Phone
- (310) 399-5865
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Frequently asked questions
- Low caregiver-to-infant ratios (ideally 1:3 or 1:4)
- Experienced staff trained in infant CPR and first aid
- Safe sleep practices following AAP guidelines
- Clean, age-appropriate environment with proper sanitization
- Consistent daily routines for feeding, napping, and play
- Open communication with parents throughout the day
- Visit the facility in person to observe the environment
- Ask about teacher qualifications and experience
- Check licensing status with California's regulatory agency
- Review the curriculum and daily schedule
- Read parent reviews for firsthand experiences
- Compare staff-to-child ratios across facilities