If you live in Westwood Plateau and need licensed childcare in Coquitlam for an infant or toddler, Smiling Kids Childcare Centre serves children 6 months to 3 years at two North Coquitlam locations — on Coast Meridian Road and Hockaday Street. Both are a manageable commute from Westwood Plateau via Coast Meridian Road. Call 604-600-4393 to ask about current availability for your child’s age group and start date.
Licensed Childcare in Westwood Plateau: Why It Is So Hard to Find
Westwood Plateau is a hillside community in upper Coquitlam with a large concentration of young families. Licensed infant and toddler care — for children under 36 months — is genuinely scarce across all of Coquitlam, and Westwood Plateau is no exception. Most licensed centres in the area serve preschool-age children (3 years and up), leaving families with babies and young toddlers with few licensed options and long waitlists.
Smiling Kids specialises exclusively in the 6-month to 3-year age group. We are not a full-spectrum daycare trying to serve all ages — we focus on infants and toddlers because this age group requires specialised training, specific ratios, and an environment designed for their developmental stage.
What Westwood Plateau Families Get at Smiling Kids
- BC-licensed for infants and toddlers. Smiling Kids operates under a BC Child Care Licence covering children 6 months to 3 years. Every room meets BC Ministry of Health licensing requirements — ratio, safety, programming, and physical space standards.
- RECE-certified educators with Infant/Toddler specialisation. Lead educators hold Registered Early Childhood Educator certification AND the Infant and Toddler Certificate — a specialised qualification beyond the general ECE licence that focuses specifically on care for children under 3.
- Low group sizes. We maintain small groups to keep the environment calm, relational, and developmentally appropriate. For infants, every baby needs attentive, responsive care — that is impossible in large groups.
- BC Childcare Subsidy (ACCB) accepted. The Affordable Child Care Benefit is available to eligible Westwood Plateau families based on household income. The subsidy can significantly reduce monthly costs. We help families understand and apply for the benefit at enrolment.
- Consistent primary caregivers. Your child is assigned to a primary educator who knows their personality, routine, and developmental progress. This consistency is foundational for infants and toddlers building their first relationships outside the home.
- Daily documentation for parents. Naps, feeds, diaper changes, play activities, and developmental observations — documented every day and available to parents at pickup.
Infant Care for Westwood Plateau Babies (6–18 Months)
Our infant programme is designed around the reality of caring for babies under 18 months: every baby has a different schedule, different temperament, and different developmental pace. We do not put infants on a group schedule. Your baby’s natural feeding times, nap windows, and wake periods are respected from day one.
Before your infant’s first day, we hold an intake meeting with you to learn everything about your baby’s routine, preferences, and any special considerations. Westwood Plateau families tell us this meeting alone makes the transition to daycare feel less intimidating — you know your baby’s caregivers personally before handing them over.
Toddler Care for Westwood Plateau Children (18 Months–3 Years)
The toddler years are where Smiling Kids’ programming really shines. Children 18 months to 3 years are in an explosive developmental window — language is emerging, social awareness is forming, emotional regulation is beginning, and gross motor skills are developing rapidly. All of this happens simultaneously, and it requires skilled educators who understand what is developmentally normal versus what needs attention.
Our toddler rooms maintain a 1:4 educator-to-child ratio (the BC regulatory standard for under-36-month care). Westwood Plateau parents enrolling toddlers often comment that our programme feels calmer and more intentional than the larger centres they have toured. That is a direct result of smaller group sizes and consistent staffing.
BC Childcare Subsidy for Westwood Plateau Families
The BC Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) is one of the most underutilised programs in BC — many Westwood Plateau families qualify for significant monthly support and do not realise it. The benefit is income-tested, not asset-tested, and is available to working families across a wide income range. For infant and toddler care, maximum benefit rates are higher than for older age groups.
Because Smiling Kids is a licensed provider, your family is eligible to apply for the ACCB while enrolled with us. Our admin team will walk you through the application during your enrolment consultation. Many families are surprised by how much they qualify for.
How to Enrol from Westwood Plateau
The enrolment process begins with a call or contact form submission. We confirm current availability for your child’s age and proposed start date, schedule a centre tour, and walk you through intake paperwork including the ACCB subsidy application.
Infant spots (especially under 12 months) fill quickly. The earlier you reach out, the better your chances of securing a spot for your target start date. Call 604-600-4393 or contact us online to begin.
Our Locations — Accessible from Westwood Plateau
- 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. Westwood Plateau families can reach our Coast Meridian Road location by heading south on Coast Meridian Road — a direct route with no highway required.
Frequently Asked Questions — Childcare Westwood Plateau Coquitlam
Is Smiling Kids a licensed daycare?
Yes. We hold a BC Child Care Licence for infant and toddler care. Licensing is verified and renewed annually by the BC Ministry of Health.
What age does Smiling Kids accept?
Children from 6 months (infant programme) to 36 months (toddler programme).
Do you accept the BC Childcare Subsidy?
Yes. As a licensed provider, we accept the ACCB. Many Westwood Plateau families qualify for significant monthly support.
How do I get on the waitlist?
Call 604-600-4393 or fill in the contact form on our Contact page. We will add your child to the waitlist for their age group and target start date.
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.