Finding child care in Toronto is one of the most stressful experiences for new parents in the city. With over 1,046 licensed centres, 82,000+ spaces, and famously long waitlists, knowing where to start is half the battle. Here's your comprehensive guide.
The Numbers
Toronto has approximately 1,046 licensed child care centres providing 82,119 spaces. About 87%% participate in CWELCC, meaning fees are capped at $22/day. The city also operates its own quality rating system — the Assessment for Quality Improvement (AQI) — rating centres on a 1–5 scale across multiple program areas.
The Waitlist Reality
More than 11,000 children are typically waiting for subsidized spots in Toronto at any given time. The practical advice: get on waitlists as early as possible — many parents register during pregnancy. Some centres charge a waitlist fee ($25–$100). Register at multiple centres across different neighbourhoods to improve your odds.
Where the Gaps Are
Child care access isn't evenly distributed across Toronto. Wards like Scarborough–Rouge Park and Humber River–Black Creek have licensed spaces covering less than 20%% of local children, while University–Rosedale and Toronto–St. Paul's have capacity for over 50%%. If you're flexible on neighbourhood, this matters.
Top-Rated Centres
Based on our analysis, the highest-rated centres in Toronto include Galloway Early Learning & Child Care Centre (4.89/5), McNicoll Avenue Child Care Program (4.83/5), and City Kids Daycare (4.78/5). See the full Toronto daycare rankings for our complete top 10.
Non-Profit vs. Commercial
About 66%% of Toronto's centres are operated by non-profit agencies, 30%% by commercial operators, and 4%% by the City of Toronto directly. Non-profits tend to score slightly higher on quality ratings, but there are excellent commercial centres too. We include both in our rankings.
Beyond Toronto
If Toronto's waitlists and competition have you considering a move, the 905 belt offers strong alternatives. Mississauga (312 centres), Vaughan (135 centres), and Markham (142 centres) all have growing child care infrastructure with shorter waitlists.
Compare Toronto school rankings alongside daycare data, and read what residents say about family life in different parts of the city at Rate My Neighbourhood – Toronto.
If you're considering a move to or within Toronto and want to land near the best child care, talk to Steve — he helps families find homes near top-rated daycares and schools across the GTA.