Port Coquitlam families looking for licensed infant or toddler daycare often find themselves searching across the Tri-Cities area. Licensed care for children under 3 is limited in PoCo — and many parents cross into Coquitlam to find it. Smiling Kids Childcare Centre, located on Coast Meridian Road and Hockaday Street in North Coquitlam, is a short drive from Port Coquitlam via the Lougheed Highway or Mary Hill Bypass. We serve infants 6–18 months and toddlers 18 months–3 years. Call 604-600-4393 to ask about current availability.
Why Port Coquitlam Families Come to Smiling Kids in Coquitlam
Licensed infant and toddler care is in short supply across the entire Tri-Cities region — Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody combined. Port Coquitlam (PoCo) has a significant population of young families but relatively few licensed centres serving the 6-month to 3-year age group. It is common for PoCo parents to be on waitlists at multiple centres in both Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam while actively searching for a licensed alternative.
Smiling Kids focuses exclusively on infants and toddlers. We are not a multi-age centre trying to serve children from 6 months to school age — our entire programme, physical environment, staffing model, and training investment is directed at the 6-month to 3-year developmental window. For Port Coquitlam parents who need licensed care in this age group, we are worth the short commute into North Coquitlam.
What Makes Smiling Kids a Reliable Choice for PoCo Families
- BC-licensed for infant and toddler care. Smiling Kids holds a BC Child Care Licence covering children 6 months to 3 years. Every classroom operates within BC Ministry of Health licensing ratios and standards.
- RECE educators with Infant/Toddler Certificate training. Lead educators hold full Registered Early Childhood Educator certification plus the Infant and Toddler Certificate — a specialised credential required by BC for those working with children under 3.
- BC Childcare Subsidy (ACCB) accepted. The Affordable Child Care Benefit is available to eligible families regardless of which municipality they live in — Port Coquitlam families can apply for the ACCB while enrolled at Smiling Kids in Coquitlam. The benefit is determined by family income, not by where the centre is located.
- Consistent, low-turnover staffing. PoCo families driving into Coquitlam for childcare need assurance that the centre is stable. Smiling Kids has consistent, qualified educators — not a revolving door of supply staff.
- Primary caregiver model. Each child is assigned to a primary educator who tracks their development, knows their routine, and builds the relational consistency that matters most in the 0–3 age range.
- Daily parent communication. Feeding times, naps, activities, and development notes — documented every day. Port Coquitlam families tell us this daily feedback is one of the main reasons they continue driving to Coquitlam for care.
Infant Daycare for Port Coquitlam Babies (6–18 Months)
Parents returning from parental leave in Port Coquitlam face the same challenge as families everywhere in the Tri-Cities: licensed infant care is genuinely hard to find, especially for babies under 12 months. At Smiling Kids, we accept infants from 6 months of age. Our infant programme starts with an intake meeting where we learn your baby’s individual routine — feeding schedule, sleep windows, soothing preferences — before their first day. We do not put babies on a group schedule.
Our infant rooms are small, calm, and staffed by educators trained specifically for this age group. Every baby has a daily record: feeds, naps, diaper changes, and notes from the day. Port Coquitlam parents driving in for pickup tell us knowing exactly what their baby’s day looked like makes the commute feel worthwhile.
Toddler Daycare for Port Coquitlam Children (18 Months–3 Years)
Toddlers 18 months to 3 years are at a stage where quality of care matters enormously for long-term development. Language, social skills, emotional regulation, and physical development are all progressing simultaneously. At Smiling Kids, our toddler rooms maintain a 1:4 educator-to-child ratio — the BC regulatory standard for this age group — and we keep group sizes small to ensure every toddler gets meaningful interaction with their educator throughout the day.
Port Coquitlam families who have toured multiple centres often comment that Smiling Kids feels calmer and more intentional than larger multi-age centres. The toddler programme includes language-rich structured play, outdoor exploration, movement, music, and simple art — all designed for the 18–36 month developmental stage, not repurposed preschool content.
BC Childcare Subsidy for Port Coquitlam Families Enrolling in Coquitlam
A common question from Port Coquitlam parents considering Smiling Kids: can I still use the BC Childcare Subsidy if the centre is in Coquitlam? The answer is yes. The BC Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) is tied to the licensed provider and the child’s eligibility — not the geographic location of the parent. If you live in Port Coquitlam and your child is enrolled in a licensed centre in Coquitlam, you can still apply for the ACCB.
Smiling Kids is a licensed provider, which means families enrolled with us are eligible to apply. Our admin team will walk you through the ACCB application process during your enrolment consultation. Many PoCo families are surprised by how much they qualify for — the benefit can reduce monthly out-of-pocket childcare costs significantly.
How to Enrol from Port Coquitlam
Enrolment begins with a phone call or contact form. We confirm current availability for your child’s age group and proposed start date, schedule a centre tour, and help you through the intake paperwork. If your child’s start date is more than a few weeks away, joining our waitlist now is the best way to secure a spot.
Call 604-600-4393 or visit our Contact page to begin the enrolment process. We’re happy to answer questions about the commute from Port Coquitlam, the ACCB subsidy application, and current programme availability.
Our Locations — Accessible from Port Coquitlam
- 1380 Coast Meridian Road, Coquitlam, BC V3E 3H1
- 1467 Hockaday Street, Coquitlam, BC
Both locations are open Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–6:00 PM. Phone: 604-600-4393. Port Coquitlam families can reach our Coast Meridian Road location via the Lougheed Highway heading west, or via the Mary Hill Bypass connecting to Coast Meridian Road — typically a 10–15 minute drive from central Port Coquitlam outside peak hours.
Frequently Asked Questions — Daycare Port Coquitlam
Can I use the BC Childcare Subsidy at a Coquitlam daycare if I live in Port Coquitlam?
Yes. The ACCB is tied to your family’s eligibility and the provider’s licensed status — not to whether you live in the same city as the daycare. Smiling Kids is a licensed provider and your family can apply for the ACCB while enrolled with us.
How far is Smiling Kids from Port Coquitlam?
Our Coast Meridian Road location is approximately 10–15 minutes from central Port Coquitlam via the Lougheed Highway, outside peak commute hours.
What ages does Smiling Kids accept?
Children from 6 months (infant programme) to 36 months (toddler programme).
Do you have waitlist availability?
Call 604-600-4393 for current openings and waitlist status in your child’s age group.
Our Coquitlam Childcare Programmes
Smiling Kids specialises exclusively in the 6-month to 3-year age range. Learn more about our specific programmes:
- Infant Daycare in Coquitlam (6–18 months) — Individual schedules, sensory play, daily parent updates
- Toddler Daycare in Coquitlam (18 months–3 years) — Language-rich programming, 1:4 ratio, outdoor play every day
Ready to book a tour or check availability? Call 604-600-4393 or contact us online.