Finding childcare in Lodi is its own kind of stress. You are weighing your budget, your work hours, your kid's age, and a wait for a spot, all at once. National sites list a few Lodi names and a lot of places an hour away. This guide is just Lodi, and it is built from the actual licensed list.
Lodi Kids Activities tracks every licensed daycare and preschool in town, pulled from California's child care licensing records and kept current. Below is how to think about the options. You can browse and filter them all on the [Lodi daycare directory](https://lodikidsactivities.com/daycare).
The short answer
Lodi has around 40 licensed childcare options, split between larger centers and smaller in-home family daycares. For infants and babies, your best bet is usually a licensed family home (many take kids from 1 month old) or one of the few centers that accept infants like Zion Child Care Center and La Petite Academy. For ages 2 to 5, Lodi has a deep bench of preschools, from faith-based programs like St. Paul Lutheran and Grace Presbyterian to Lodi Montessori. If cost is tight, the state-funded preschools (Lawrence, Heritage, and Washington State Preschools) and income-eligible programs accept subsidies. Many family daycares and centers also offer care in Spanish. Monthly tuition across Lodi runs roughly $150 to $1,045 depending on age, hours, and setting.
Centers vs. family home daycares
Lodi has both, and the right choice depends on your kid and your hours.
Licensed centers are larger, structured, and usually preschool-focused for ages 2 to 5. Examples include La Petite Academy, Zion Child Care Center, First Steps Preschool, Lodi Christian School Preschool, and Lodi Montessori. Centers tend to have set hours, a curriculum, and more staff, but many do not take infants.
Family home daycares are run out of a licensed provider's home with smaller groups. These are often your best option for infants and for mixed-age care, and many in Lodi take babies from 1 month old. They can be more flexible and more affordable, and a large share are Spanish-speaking.
Daycare for infants and babies in Lodi
Infant care is the hardest to find anywhere, and Lodi is no exception. Most Lodi preschools start at age 2. For a baby, look first at the licensed family homes, many of which accept kids from 1 month, and at the handful of centers that take infants such as Zion Child Care Center (from 1 month) and La Petite Academy (from 6 weeks). Start your search early, because infant spots fill first.
Free and subsidized childcare in Lodi
If paying out of pocket is hard, Lodi has real options. The state-funded preschools, including Lawrence State Preschool, Heritage State Preschool, and Washington State Preschool, serve income-eligible families at low or no cost. Programs like CAPK Lodi UCCC and the Capslo Adelita Center also serve families through subsidized slots. Many family home daycares accept child care subsidy vouchers as well. If you qualify for a subsidy, ask each provider directly whether they accept it, because not all do.
Bilingual and Spanish-speaking daycare
A large share of Lodi's licensed providers offer care in Spanish, which matters for the roughly 37% of Lodi families who are Hispanic or Spanish-speaking. Spanish-speaking options include Live Oak, the Capslo Adelita Center, Nichols Preschool, Zion Child Care Center, St. Paul Lutheran Preschool, and many family home daycares. At least one provider also offers care in Hindi. Filter for language on the directory or ask when you call.
What daycare costs in Lodi
Tuition depends on age, hours, and whether it is a center or a family home. Real monthly ranges from Lodi providers: Little Methodist Pre-School runs about $150 to $500, St. Peter's Preschool about $175 to $550, St. Paul Lutheran about $218 to $668, Lodi Christian about $360 to $690, First Steps about $680 to $940, Lodi Montessori about $695 to $850, and Zion Child Care about $318 to $1,045. Part-time and half-day options bring the low end down. Subsidized state preschools can be free for families who qualify.
How to choose, and what to do next
Start with the two hard constraints: your kid's age and your budget. That narrows the Lodi list fast. Then sort by hours (do you need full-day or just a preschool morning), language, and location. Tour two or three before you commit, and ask each one about their current waitlist, since that changes month to month and is not always posted.
Browse and filter every licensed Lodi option on the [Lodi daycare directory](https://lodikidsactivities.com/daycare). It is free, has no ads, and is built by a local parent.
Frequently asked questions
How many licensed daycares are there in Lodi?
Lodi has around 40 licensed childcare options, a mix of larger centers and smaller in-home family daycares. You can see and filter the full current list on the Lodi Kids Activities daycare directory.
Which Lodi daycares take infants?
Infant care in Lodi is mostly at licensed family home daycares, many of which accept babies from 1 month old, plus a few centers like Zion Child Care Center (from 1 month) and La Petite Academy (from 6 weeks). Infant spots fill first, so start early.
Is there free or low-cost daycare in Lodi?
Yes. State-funded preschools including Lawrence, Heritage, and Washington State Preschools serve income-eligible families at low or no cost, and programs like CAPK Lodi UCCC and the Capslo Adelita Center offer subsidized care. Many family home daycares also accept child care subsidy vouchers.
How much does daycare cost in Lodi?
Monthly tuition runs roughly $150 to $1,045 depending on the child's age, the hours, and whether it is a center or a family home. Examples include Little Methodist at about $150 to $500 and First Steps at about $680 to $940. Subsidized programs can be free for qualifying families.
Are there Spanish-speaking daycares in Lodi?
Yes, many. Spanish-speaking providers include Live Oak, the Capslo Adelita Center, Nichols Preschool, Zion Child Care Center, St. Paul Lutheran Preschool, and a large number of family home daycares. At least one Lodi provider also offers care in Hindi.
What is the difference between a daycare center and a family home daycare?
A center is larger and more structured, usually focused on preschool ages 2 to 5 with set hours and a curriculum. A family home daycare runs out of a licensed provider's home with smaller, often mixed-age groups, and is frequently the better option for infants and for flexible or more affordable care.
How do I find a daycare with an opening in Lodi?
Waitlists change month to month and are not always posted, so the fastest path is to shortlist a few licensed providers that match your kid's age and your budget on the Lodi daycare directory, then call each to ask about current availability and to schedule a tour.