Infant Group Childcare Coquitlam is waitlist only right now. All three of our licensed under-3 spots are currently taken, and we hold a firm cap because BC family childcare licensing sets the limit at three children under age 3 across the whole home. If you want a spot, call (604) 338-8020 or email lovekidsdaycare@outlook.com and we'll add you to the list. We call families in order the moment a spot opens.
Love Kids has been running licensed group childcare from our home on Pasture Cir for over 16 years. Same owner-operator, same address, same daily rhythm. Families in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and the wider Tri-Cities put younger siblings on the infant waitlist while they're still pregnant. That's how tight the under-3 spots are.
When a spot does open, here is what infant group childcare looks like at Love Kids. One primary ECE-certified caregiver for the baby, a very small group of preschool-aged children in the same home, safe-sleep naps, feeds on your baby's schedule, and a written daily log that goes home with you.
The Waitlist, and How It Actually Works
We keep the infant waitlist honest. When you call, we take your name, your baby's expected or actual birthdate, the neighbourhood you're in (usually Coquitlam or somewhere close like River Springs, Eagle Ridge, or Port Coquitlam), and the earliest month you'd want a start. That goes on the list in date order.
Spots open in one of three ways. A current under-3 child ages up into our preschool group, a family moves out of the Tri-Cities, or a parental leave gets extended and the reserved start date is released. None of that is predictable, so we won't invent a timeline. What we do is call in order and give you a real answer inside a few days.
If you're still pregnant, put yourself on the list now. Parents in Oxford Heights and Mary Hill routinely call at week 20 so the target start month lines up with the end of parental leave.
What Infant Group Childcare Looks Like Here (When a Spot Opens)
One primary caregiver, all the way through
Every infant in our program is assigned a primary ECE-certified caregiver. That person handles feeds, naps, diaper changes, and the daily log. Not a rotating room of six staff. One familiar face who learns your baby's cries, your baby's nap window, and the exact way your baby likes to be held after a bottle. This is the single biggest difference between our infant group childcare and a big centre's infant room.
Safe-sleep every nap, no shortcuts
Every under-3 child at Love Kids naps on their back, on a firm approved sleep surface, with nothing loose in the sleep space. That is the BC Ministry of Health safe-sleep standard and the Fraser Health licensing standard, and we follow it on every single nap. Sleep spaces are visible to a caregiver at all times. You get the exact nap start and end time on your written daily log.
Feeds on your baby's schedule, not the group's
Infants don't run on the same clock as three-year-olds. Your baby's feed plan stays your baby's feed plan. Breastmilk stored properly, formula prepped to your instructions, solids introduced only when you say so.
Written daily log every day
Every under-3 family gets a written daily log at pickup. Feed times and amounts, diaper changes, nap start and end times, mood notes, and one or two moments from the day. Parents tell us the log is the difference between guessing at bedtime and actually knowing how the day went.
Why BC Licensing Limits Us to Three Under-3 Spots
People ask why we don't just take more infants. The honest answer is legal. Under the BC Community Care and Assisted Living Act, a licensed family childcare has a firm cap of seven children total, with a maximum of three under age 3, and only two of those three may be under 12 months. Those numbers are our provincial license, and they are what Fraser Health inspects against.
That three-under-3 ceiling is why families in Chineside and neighbouring pockets of Coquitlam get on our waitlist as early as they do. Our infant gets closer to one-to-one care than any big centre can offer.
Why Coquitlam Parents Want Group Childcare, Not Home-Alone Care
Peer exposure from month one
Even at eight months old, your baby watches the older kids. Language exposure, social modelling, and the calm rhythm of a group shape how a child settles into daycare when the toddler years hit.
ECE-certified, not a well-meaning neighbour
Every caregiver here holds a valid Early Childhood Educator certification from the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development. Completed post-secondary training, cleared criminal record check, current first aid, ongoing professional development.
Fraser Health licensed, publicly inspected
Love Kids is licensed under the BC Child Care Licensing Regulation and inspected by Fraser Health. Our inspection reports are public. Search "Fraser Health child care facility inspections" and look us up before you enrol.
Same house all the way to kindergarten
Families who start with us stay through toddler years, our preschool group, and out to their SD43 kindergarten start. Same address, same familiar caregivers, no forced switch when your baby turns two. That continuity is why parents in Port Coquitlam and Mary Hill drive past closer daycares to get here.
Fees, Subsidies, and What's Included When a Spot Opens
Under-3 group childcare at Love Kids is billed monthly. One honest monthly fee holds your baby's spot Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, with the primary caregiver, safe-sleep naps, daily logs, and diaper support built in. You supply diapers, wipes, formula or breastmilk, and any special-food items. We handle the rest.
Two provincial reductions apply and come straight off the monthly fee. The Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) is an automatic reduction we apply on your behalf, no application from you. The Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) is income-based and requires a family application to the Province of BC. Under-3 care carries the largest CCFRI reduction of any age band in the province, so once both stack, families in our subsidized child care stream often pay very little out of pocket.
We walk you through both reductions when your spot is close to opening. Filing early matters, because the ACCB approval can take a few weeks and you want the reduction on your first invoice, not your third.
Nine things Coquitlam parents should know about infant group childcare
Sixteen years of running a licensed under-3 program in Coquitlam, these are the things we say to nearly every family on the waitlist call.
- Get on the waitlist before you are ready. The single biggest mistake is calling at month 11 of parental leave. By then, licensed infant group childcare spots in Coquitlam are booked out for six to twelve months. Call at week 20 of pregnancy if you know you want a spot.
- Ask any program how many under-3 kids they legally hold. A licensed family childcare in BC caps at three under 3. A group centre with an infant-toddler room may hold up to twelve. Group size drives ratio, and ratio drives how much attention your baby actually gets.
- Look up the Fraser Health inspection reports. Every licensed program has a public inspection history. Search the facility name and read the last two inspections before you commit. This applies to us, and it applies to every other program on your shortlist.
- Confirm safe-sleep policy in writing. Ask the specific question: does every infant nap on their back, on a firm approved sleep surface, with nothing loose in the sleep space, visible to a caregiver? The answer should be a fast yes, in writing, no qualifiers.
- Ask about the primary caregiver model. One consistent person is not the standard everywhere. In a centre, your infant may see three or four staff a day. In a family setting like ours, one primary ECE handles feeds, naps, and diaper changes. That difference shapes attachment.
- Read the daily log before you leave the tour. If a program can show you a sample log with feeds, diapers, nap times, and mood notes, that is a good sign. If they say "we tell parents at pickup", plan on guessing at bedtime.
- Apply for ACCB as soon as you have a start date. The Affordable Child Care Benefit takes a few weeks to process through the Province. Under-3 ACCB reductions are the largest in the province, so you want it on invoice one, not invoice three.
- Coquitlam rain runs eight months of the year. Boots that fit today will not fit in three months. Keep a spare pair in the cubby year-round. Same with a spare outer layer, spare socks, and a spare sleep sack.
- Continuity is worth the wait. A family that starts in infant group childcare here and moves through to SD43 kindergarten never switches daycares. Same address, same caregivers, same routine. That is the argument for staying on our waitlist even if a nearby centre calls with an open spot next week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you accepting new infants into your infant group childcare right now?
No. All three of our licensed under-3 spots are taken right now. We run a waitlist for infant group childcare. Call (604) 338-8020 or email lovekidsdaycare@outlook.com and we'll add your family. We call the moment a spot opens and we work down the list in order.
How long is the waitlist for infant group childcare in Coquitlam?
It moves in an unpredictable way. Sometimes a spot opens because a family moves out of the Tri-Cities. Sometimes an older sibling ages up into our preschool group and frees a room. We won't quote you a fake timeline. Get on the list early, keep your contact info current, and we'll call when it's your family's turn.
Why do you only have three licensed under-3 spots?
BC Community Care and Assisted Living licensing sets a firm cap of seven children in a licensed family childcare setting, with a limit of three children under age 3. We follow that limit exactly. Three under-3 spots is not us being cautious, it is the legal ceiling on our license and it is what keeps ratios safe for the youngest kids in the group.
What does infant group childcare actually look like at Love Kids when a spot opens?
One consistent primary caregiver, a very small group, and the same predictable rhythm every day. Feeds, safe-sleep naps on the infant's own approved sleep surface, tummy time, sensory play, outdoor time in the stroller or the yard, and a written daily log that goes home with you. Nothing rushed, no big-centre chaos.
How do you handle safe sleep for infants in a group setting?
Every infant naps on their back, on a firm approved sleep surface, with nothing loose in the sleep space. We follow the BC safe-sleep policy from the Ministry of Health and the Fraser Health licensing standard. Sleep spaces are visible to a caregiver at all times. Parents get the exact nap timing and duration on the daily log.
Do you provide a daily log for infant families?
Yes. Every under-3 child gets a written daily log. Feed times and amounts, diaper changes, nap start and end times, mood notes, and one or two moments from the day. You get it at pickup. Parents tell us the log is the difference between guessing at bedtime and actually knowing how the day went.
What is the ratio of caregiver to child in your infant group?
Because our under-3 group is capped at three by license, and because Love Kids runs with a primary ECE plus a support caregiver on site during peak hours, you get very close to one-to-one attention for infants. Compare that to a large centre where infant ratios sit at one to four and you can see why our waitlist stays full.
Can I put my infant on the waitlist while I am still pregnant?
Yes, and honestly that is the smartest move if you know you want infant group childcare in Coquitlam. Call once you have a due date. We add expected-arrival families to the list with the target start month. That way you are in the queue before your baby is even born and we call as soon as a spot lines up with your return-to-work date.
What happens when my child ages out of the infant group?
Families already in our program get priority on our preschool group as their child turns three. Same house, same familiar caregivers, same daily rhythm. Your child moves up without changing daycares. That continuity is one of the reasons families put younger siblings on the waitlist as early as they do.