Childcare in Birmingham, AL: Choosing and Arranging Care

Define the care schedule before comparing providers

Write down your child’s age, preferred start date, care days and earliest drop-off and latest pickup. Include travel between work and the provider. For school-age care, name the school and ask who handles transportation, school holidays and early dismissals. Decide who can collect your child if you cannot reach the provider before closing.

Choose the arrangement you want to investigate: recurring care in a center or home setting, a caregiver in your own home, or occasional coverage. Give each prospective provider the same description. Include allergies, medication needs, feeding routines and support your child needs so the provider can discuss the arrangement before quoting a price.

UAB lists its Child Development Center at 1113 15th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205, with Monday through Friday hours of 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Use that address and schedule to assess your journey. Ask the center about enrollment eligibility, your child’s age group and openings before arranging your work schedule around it. [4]

Verify status and discuss supervision

Alabama DHR states that child day care centers operate as licensed or license exempt. Centers that require a license must obtain one from DHR and renew it every two years. Ask which category applies to the location you plan to use, and verify its current status with DHR before paying a deposit. [3]

DHR’s licensing office visits centers and homes to check compliance, investigates licensing complaints and determines potential staff employment eligibility using comprehensive background checks. Discuss recent compliance findings and corrective steps with the provider. Ask how the provider confirms staff eligibility and who supervises your child when the usual caregiver takes a break or misses work. [3]

For a sitter or nanny, request references, evidence of current CPR and first-aid training, and permission to complete appropriate screening. Discuss visitors, driving, emergency contacts and backup coverage. Write down the agreed duties, hours and payment terms. Include how the caregiver should contact you about an injury, illness or change in plans.

Use DHR search controls with a verification step

DHR’s Day Care Directory search page displays a TEST label. It offers county selection, full or partial ZIP-code and provider-name fields, and controls for centers, family child care homes, group child care homes, licensed care and exempt care. Use those controls as a starting point, then confirm any provider records with DHR and discuss openings with the provider. [2]

Visit the setting before committing. Ask to see the room your child would use and meet the person who would provide care. Discuss authorized pickup, arrival security, sleep arrangements, illness exclusions, allergy management and incident communication. Describe a difficult transition or emergency and ask the caregiver to explain how they would respond.

Separate a provider’s status from its fit for your family. Record the answers about age groups, hours, transportation and support needs alongside your tour notes. Resolve unclear answers before signing. If you need care before the provider can offer a place, agree on an interim arrangement and its end date.

Compare full fees and confirm assistance timing

Obtain provider quotes for your child’s age and exact schedule. Request registration fees, deposits, meals, supplies and late-pickup charges in writing. Ask what you owe during closures and absences, which deposits the provider refunds, and how much notice you must give to withdraw. Compare total payments over the same period rather than comparing headline rates alone.

In its May 15, 2026 notice, DHR announced that new Child Care Assistance applications received on or after May 8, 2026 would enter a waitlist until further notice because of demand and funding-related slot availability. The notice said DHR would fill available assistance slots in first-come order and continue accepting applications for specified priority categories. Confirm whether that notice still governs your application. [1]

The May 15 notice names Protective Services, Foster Care, DHR Early Head Start, TANF Other Relative, transitional families within 30 days of ending TANF benefits, and JOBS among the priority categories. Ask DHR which category applies to your household and what happens next. Request a written explanation from the provider of what you would owe before assistance approval. [1]

For families receiving assistance, the same notice says continued participation requires meeting eligibility and program rules, including participation in an allowable activity, income thresholds and proper attendance-app use. Confirm your responsibilities with DHR when your work, school or care arrangement changes. Keep your assistance decision and provider enrollment agreement together for reference. [1]

UAB Child Development Center weekday opening and closing times

Match your care needs to the next step

Your hiring checklist

1. Write down your child’s age, start date, care days and pickup deadline.
2. Verify the specific location’s licensing or exemption status with DHR.
3. Discuss age-group openings, enrollment eligibility and support needs.
4. Tour the care space and discuss supervision, emergencies and authorized pickup.
5. Obtain written fees, deposit terms, closure charges and withdrawal requirements.
6. Agree on illness arrangements and backup care or pickup.
7. Confirm current assistance application rules with DHR and budget for any waiting period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an Alabama child care center have to be licensed?

DHR recognizes licensed and license-exempt centers. Centers that require a license must obtain one from DHR and renew it every two years. Ask the specific location which status applies, then verify its current status with DHR. [3]

Can I budget on immediate child care assistance?

Wait for DHR to confirm your approval before relying on assistance. Its May 15, 2026 notice announced a waitlist for new applications received on or after May 8 and identified priority categories. Ask whether that notice still applies and how DHR will handle your application. [1]

What hours does UAB’s Child Development Center publish?

UAB lists Monday through Friday hours of 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1113 15th Street South, Birmingham. Ask about enrollment eligibility, current hours and openings before planning care around the center. [4]

How should I compare childcare quotes?

Give providers the same child age, days and hours, then compare total payments over the same period. Include registration, deposits, meals, supplies and closure charges. Discuss payments for absences, refunds and the notice required to end care.