Illinois Daycare Self-Inspection Checklist (Printable)

Recent and upcoming changes (2026–2027)

IDEC is the regulator from July 1, 2026 P.A. 103-0594; 23 Ill. Adm. Code Parts 2005–2010 Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes The Department of Early Childhood Act (P.A. 103-0594, signed June 2024) moved child care licensing from DCFS to IDEC on July 1, 2026.
Licensing redesign law: new names now, new exemptions in 2027 P.A. 104-0480 (HB 3595) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes Signed June 26, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026.
Second CPR-certified staff member (effective January 1, 2027, being corrected) P.A. 104-0583 (HB 2190) Centers Signed July 24, 2026, effective January 1, 2027.
Fingerprint background checks move to IDEC in 2027 P.A. 104-0692 (HB 5099) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes Signed July 31, 2026. Starting July 1, 2027, and subject to federal approval, IDEC takes over fingerprint-based criminal history checks for child care providers.
Director education in statute; interim conditional directors (July 1, 2027) P.A. 104-0773 (HB 4587); 225 ILCS 10/6.3, 6.5 Centers Signed August 7, 2026, effective July 1, 2027.
988 Lifeline contact information posted where children and staff can see it (from January 1, 2027) P.A. 104-0808 (SB 2771); 225 ILCS 10/7.01(a)(17) Centers
Three years of inspection reports online, including license-exempt programs IDEC monitoring reports (Sunshine) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes IDEC's monitoring-report page says that from August 1, 2026 it posts completed monitoring and inspection reports from the past 3 years for all licensed providers and for license-exempt homes and centers that take Child…

Who needs a license, and what kind

Center, home and group home defined 225 ILCS 10/2.09, 2.18, 2.20 Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes A center regularly cares for more than 8 children in a family home, or more than 3 children anywhere else.
Who is exempt 225 ILCS 10/3(d-5); 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2005 Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes Exempt from licensing: care in a home for no more than 3 children under 12 (counting your own), or up to 6 if all are from one household; you must tell parents you operate under an exemption.
Current license displayed; attendance never above licensed capacity 225 ILCS 10/5.01; 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.60 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
Renewal packet submitted at least 3 months before the license expires 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.55 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.55) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
IDEC license number in every advertisement 225 ILCS 10/12.1, 18.1 Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
Full licensing standards posted for staff, with signed staff review; parents' signed receipt of the standards summary in each child file 225 ILCS 10/7.01(c)–(e) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes

Staff-to-child ratios

Every room at or under its 2008.190 ratio and maximum group size all day, including first and last hours 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.190 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190) Centers
Mixed-age groups follow the youngest child 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.190 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190)(c)–(d) Centers Infants, toddlers and 2-year-olds may be combined; 2- to 5-year-olds may be mixed; 4- to 6-year-olds may be mixed; and all ages may be combined during the first and last hour in programs open 10 or more hours a day.
Nap time and assistant-only coverage 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.190 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190)(e)–(f); 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.90(e) Centers During naps, groups of children 2 and older may be directly supervised by 50% of the required staff, as long as the full ratio is on the premises; infants and toddlers keep full staffing in the room.
Children in care (including own under 12) within one of the 2007.13 age mixes at all times 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.13 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.13) Family child care
Group day care home capacity 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2009.65 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 408.65) Group child care homes A caregiver alone follows the same mixes as a day care home (or up to 8 preschoolers with none under 3, or 12 school-age children).

Group size and space

Indoor space 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.370 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370) Centers At least 35 square feet of activity area per child for children 2 and older.
Outdoor play area 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.390 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390) Centers At least 75 square feet of safe outdoor area per child for the number of children using it at one time.

Director and staff qualifications

Center director 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.130 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130) Centers At least 21 with a high school diploma or GED.
When the director is off site 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.130 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130)(l)–(n) Centers Designate a staff member who qualifies as a director to make decisions whenever the director is away, and record that in their personnel file.
Early childhood teachers and school-age workers 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.140 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140) Centers At least 19 with a high school diploma or GED, plus one of: 60 semester hours with 6 in child development; one year (1,560 hours) of experience plus 30 semester hours with 6 in child development; or a CDA, CCP, or…
Assistants 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.150 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150) Centers Early childhood and school-age assistants need a high school diploma or GED and work under a teacher's or school-age worker's direct supervision, except for the limited assistant-only periods the rules allow.
Home caregivers and assistants 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.9 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.9); 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.10 Family child care Day care home caregivers must be at least 18; those licensed after January 1, 2011 need a high school diploma or equivalent.
Group day care home caregiver 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2009.45 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 408.45) Group child care homes At least 21 with a high school diploma or GED, plus one year (1,560 hours) of child development experience with 6 semester hours in child care or child development, or 30 semester hours with 6 in those fields, or an…

Background checks

Who is checked and what is checked 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2010.10 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 385.30) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes A comprehensive check covers license applicants, center directors and other operators, every employee and volunteer 18 or older, employees and volunteers aged 14–17 (with parent consent), adults living in a day care…
Every staff member, volunteer and adult household member has a current (under 5 years) cleared background check on file 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2010.10(f) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
Starting work before results come back 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2010.20; 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.9(b) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes Federal and state law allow probationary employment while checks are pending.
Tdap and 2 MMR (or immunity) proof on file for every staff member 225 ILCS 10/4.6 Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes

Training, first aid and CPR

15 in-service hours per staff member per year; Mandated Reporter, SIDS/SBS (infant rooms) within 30 days of hire; safe sleep every 3 years 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.100 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100)(c) Centers
Home providers: 15 hours before and 15 hours a year 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.4 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.4)(b)(2); 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.9(t) Family child care · Group child care homes Applicants for a day care home license must complete at least 15 hours of pre-service training within a year before applying, including Mandated Reporter Training and, if caring for infants, SIDS, SUID, safe sleep and…
A first aid/CPR/Heimlich certified person (all ages served) on site every hour you are open 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.100 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100)(h); 225 ILCS 10/7.01(a)(4) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
Written anaphylaxis plan shared with parents; an anaphylaxis-trained staff member present at all times 225 ILCS 10/5.11 Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes

Supervision, health and safety

Daily illness screening and exclusion 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.310 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310)(b)–(c); 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.14 Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes Staff screen each child for obvious signs of illness on arrival.
Serious injuries reported to parent and licensing office immediately; written confirmation within 2 business days (centers) or 1 week (homes) 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.70 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70)(m); 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.24(n) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
Accident and incident records 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.310 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310)(h)–(i) Centers Record every major and minor accident or illness in the child's file and notify the parents.
Signed mandated reporter acknowledgment and training certificate for every staff member Mandated reporting; 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.24(l)–(m) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes

Facility, furniture, equipment and hazards

Cordless window coverings, outlets covered, fans mounted or anchored, chemicals locked, no extension cords in infant/toddler rooms 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.370 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370)(e) Centers
Radon test less than 3 years old, posted next to the license 225 ILCS 10/5.8; 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.370(d)(4); 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.8 Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
Lead-in-water results posted (pre-2000 buildings); mitigation plan for any result of 2.01 ppb or more 225 ILCS 10/5.9; 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.370(j) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
Firearms disassembled and locked, ammunition locked separately, parents notified, no-firearms sign posted 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.8 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.8); 225 ILCS 10/7.01(a)(12)–(15) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
Equipment and first aid kits 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.380 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380) Centers Furniture and equipment are sized for the children and kept in good repair; padded furniture must meet the state furniture fire safety rules.

Fire safety, drills and emergency plans

Monthly fire drill and twice-yearly tornado drill logged with date and time; exit/shelter floor plan posted in every room 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.370 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370)(f); 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.70(k) Centers
Monthly fire AND tornado drills documented (keep 3 years); monthly fire safety inspection; daily exit-route check 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.8 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.8); 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2009.30 Family child care · Group child care homes
Daily list ready for evacuation 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.12 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.12)(i) Family child care · Group child care homes The daily list of children in care must be readily accessible during emergency evacuations and fire drills.

Medication

Original containers; written parent permission; dose log with date, time, dose, Rx number and staff name; locked storage; written OK for sunscreen/diaper cream 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.360 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360) Centers
Giving medication in homes 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.14 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.14)(e) Family child care · Group child care homes Give medicine only with the parent's signed permission and written instructions.

Immunizations and health exams

Medical report (within 6 months before enrollment, renewed every 2 years) with IDPH immunizations for every child 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.310 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310)(a); 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.14(c) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
Staff physicals current (every 2 years in centers, 3 years in homes) 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.100 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100)(d)–(f); 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.24(i)–(j) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
Hearing and vision screening 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.310 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310)(d) Centers Centers must make sure annual hearing and vision screening is provided under IDPH's screening codes.

Food and nutrition

Menus planned a week ahead and posted; corrected menus kept 1 year 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.330 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330) Centers
Infant feeding 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.210 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210)(f) Centers Hold infants for bottle feeding; no propped bottles and no bottles in cribs.
Meals in homes 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.17 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.17) Family child care · Group child care homes Children 1 and older here 2 to 5 hours get a mid-session snack; 5 to 10 hours, at least one-third of daily needs including a balanced meal; over 10 hours, at least two-thirds.

Safe sleep

Infants on backs in bare cribs; physician's note for any other position 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.350 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350)(i)–(j); 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.22(b) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
Cribs, cots and nap time in centers 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.350 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350)(a)–(e) Centers Infants sleep in cribs that meet federal crib standards (16 CFR 1219/1220), with a firm mattress at least 2 inches thick, no more than a half-inch gap and slats no more than 2⅜ inches apart; one crib per licensed infant…

Discipline and guidance

Discipline policy signed by every staff member and parent; no time-out under 24 months; no expulsion for challenging behavior 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.270 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270) Centers
Discipline in homes 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.15 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.15) Family child care · Group child care homes The same limits apply in homes: expulsion for a repeated pattern of challenging behavior is prohibited, time-out is limited to one minute per year of age and not used under 24 months, and corporal punishment (including…

Records

Signed enrollment application, consents and medical report in every child's file; birth certificate copy within 30 days 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.250 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250)(i) Centers
Personnel files 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.120 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120) Centers A locked confidential file for each staff member: the state employment form, current medical exam, three verified written references, proof of education (with an equivalency statement for foreign credentials),…
How long to keep records 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.70 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70)(n) Centers Keep general and financial records 5 years, personnel records 5 years after the employee leaves, children's records 5 years after discharge, and daily attendance records by group for 1 year (longer if an audit or…
Post violations until they are fixed (homes) 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.24 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.24)(g) Family child care · Group child care homes When a licensed day care home is cited for substantiated violations, it must post the list of violations and the corrective plan prominently in the home, on the agency's form, until the licensing representative confirms…

Attendance and release of children

Attendance log shows the number present at any time; written parent confirmation for any stay over 12 hours 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.260 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260)(c)–(d) Centers
Departure time logged and signed/initialed by the person picking up; photo ID for anyone unknown 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.260 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260)(e) Centers
Release and late pickup in homes 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.12 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.12)(d)–(h) Family child care · Group child care homes · Centers Homes release children only to parents or people named in writing, require photo ID from strangers, keep primary and contingency pickup lists, and record the name, date, time and manner for any contingency release.

Transportation and field trips

Center drivers 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.280 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.280)(c)–(e); 225 ILCS 10/5.1 Centers Drivers must be 21 or older, have held a license without revocation or suspension for 3 years, pass a medical exam, have no more than 2 moving violations in 12 months, and have no reckless driving, DUI or vehicular…
Vehicle checked for children after every trip; driver approval and medical on file; restraints for every child 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.280 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.280)(l)–(t) Centers
Transportation by homes 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007.18 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.18) Family child care · Group child care homes Homes keep their capacity limits in the car, drivers are 18+ with the right license, every child is buckled in an approved restraint, no child is left unattended in the vehicle, and proof of liability insurance is kept…

Inspections and enforcement

Unannounced monitoring 89 Ill. Adm. Code 383.25; 225 ILCS 10/6.1; Sunshine monitoring guide Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes Every licensed program is monitored at least once a year, usually unannounced, and permit holders at least monthly.
Correction plans 89 Ill. Adm. Code 383.50 Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes When a violation is substantiated and can be fixed within 90 days, you agree a correction plan with your representative (extendable in 30-day steps for good cause).
Conditional licenses and closure orders 225 ILCS 10/8.2a, 11.3 Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes IDEC may issue a non-renewable 6-month conditional license when there is no threat to children's safety and an approved correction plan exists; failure to correct leads to revocation.

Contesting a violation or sanction

Supervisory review of a cited violation 89 Ill. Adm. Code 383.55 Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes Every citation letter offers a supervisory review.
Request a hearing in writing within 10 days of a revocation notice 225 ILCS 10/9.01 Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes
Court review and reapplying 225 ILCS 10/17; 6.1(c) Centers · Family child care · Group child care homes Final decisions can be appealed to circuit court under the Administrative Review Law.

Illinois daycare self-inspection checklist

Recent and upcoming changes (2026–2027)

Who needs a license, and what kind

Staff-to-child ratios

Group size and space

Director and staff qualifications

Background checks

Training, first aid and CPR

Supervision, health and safety

Facility, furniture, equipment and hazards

Fire safety, drills and emergency plans

Medication

Immunizations and health exams

Food and nutrition

Safe sleep

Discipline and guidance

Records

Attendance and release of children

Transportation and field trips

Inspections and enforcement

Contesting a violation or sanction

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