Start with the need, not the name. If you want a second language from infancy, begin with Living the Language; Montessori Gifted Prep starts at age 2. If your work day starts early, look at BrightPath Bucktown. If you are looking for Early Head Start or Head Start, start with Educare Chicago, Erie Neighborhood House and Gads Hill Center. Each entry ends with a link to the centre’s DaycareOn listing, where you can save it to your tracker.

Living the Language runs full-immersion programs in Spanish and French, with a room for babies from birth to 14 months, one for 15 to 35 months, and one for ages 3 to 6. It has a South Loop site and a second site in Bronzeville.

Its approach is inspired by Montessori, with an emphasis on children doing things for themselves. If your baby will spend long days in a second language, ask how the language is split across the day and which teachers speak which one.

Montessori Gifted Prep in Lincoln Square describes a trilingual immersion Montessori program: children hear Mandarin, Spanish and English through daily contact with native-speaking educators. The Chicago campus takes children from age 2 to 6.

It is an American Montessori Society member school and says it prepares graduates for Chicago Public Schools gifted and classical programs. If that is your goal, ask how many recent graduates went on to those programs.

Montessori Academy of Chicago in the West Loop starts with a nursery for children from 6 weeks to 3 years, then moves into Primary for ages 3 to 6, and continues through elementary and middle school.

That makes it a fit for a family that wants to settle once and skip the school search at age 3 or 5. Ask how firmly a nursery place carries through to the later levels.

Stepping Stones in Lincoln Square uses a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach. It has a dedicated indoor mud and art room for clay, paint and loose parts, and regular walks to nearby parks through the seasons.

It takes children from 12 weeks to 5 years and sends photos and updates through a parent app during the day. Its site mentions daily Spanish lessons from one bilingual teacher, so ask which classes get them.

BrightPath Bucktown opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m., earlier than many centres open. For parents with hospital, transit or commuter-rail shifts, that changes which centres are even on the list.

It takes children from 6 weeks to 5 years, serves scratch-made meals in a nut-free facility, and includes diapers for infants. Its site also lists tuition assistance, so ask what applies to your family.

Mary Crane Center serves children of all abilities from birth to 5. Its North site is in West Lakeview, and more than ten languages are represented across its classrooms.

All four Mary Crane locations run 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, using the Creative Curriculum. If your child has a diagnosis or an IEP, ask how classroom teachers and specialists work together.

Wicker Park Kid’z is a small neighbourhood centre with infant, toddler, junior preschool and preschool programs, starting at 6 weeks. It lists nutritious meals and a caring staff among its main benefits.

Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., a shorter day than the larger centres here, so check that it fits your commute.

Educare Chicago serves children from birth to age 5 in full-day, year-round programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, with Early/Head Start programming. Its site was accepting Early/Head Start applications when we checked.

Families with child care subsidy approval can use it from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eligibility rules apply to Head Start, so read the eligibility page on its site before you apply.

Erie Neighborhood House runs a year-round early childhood program from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, with NAEYC accreditation and the Gold Circle of Quality from Illinois ExceleRate.

A social worker and family workers help families reach other services, and a clinical psychologist supervises graduate interns who provide play therapy. It suits a family that wants help beyond the classroom.

Gads Hill Center runs center-based early childhood education in North and South Lawndale, Chicago Lawn and Pilsen. It reports serving 267 preschool-aged children and 40 Early Head Start children across its sites.

It also runs a home visiting program for expectant parents and families with children up to age 3. If a full-day centre is not the right first step, that is a way in.

Pick three from this list and three near home, then:

• Open each listing and save it to your DaycareOn tracker.
• Ask each centre which room your child would join on your start date, and how many places open then.
• Get the weekly fee in writing, and ask which child care subsidy or scholarship options it accepts.
• Confirm the centre’s license status with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services before you tour.