A Simpler Search Experience on Daycare Finder

We recently simplified the search experience on Daycare Finder to focus on the tools families use most. The search page now centers on finding licensed daycares by name, and the city pages continue to offer a complete, browsable directory for every Massachusetts community we cover.

What changed. The address search, "use my location" option, and map view on the search page have been temporarily paused. The name search box remains, and it still searches across every licensed provider in the Massachusetts EEC dataset. City pages such as Lexington and Boston are unchanged and still list every licensed provider in those communities.

Why we made the change. Live address and map features depend on third-party geolocation and mapping services that can scale unpredictably with traffic. Rather than risk an inconsistent experience during busy periods, we decided to temporarily streamline search around the name-based lookup that already serves the majority of visitors. This keeps response times fast and results reliable while we evaluate the best long-term approach.

What still works.

• Type a daycare name, city, or keyword into the search box on Daycare Finder search.
• Browse every licensed provider in a specific city through our city directory pages.
• Filter and sort results by relevance, rating, distance, and capacity.
• View full daycare profiles with photos, hours, reviews, and contact details.

Coming next. We are exploring a more sustainable way to bring map-based discovery and address search back. Our priority is a solution that stays responsive and accurate as the site grows, without making families wait or showing stale results.

In the meantime, the city directories remain the fastest way to see all licensed providers near home or work. If you have feedback on the new search flow, let us know through the newsletter signup on the homepage or the provider dashboard. We read every note.