All that advice is good, but they will pretty much say yes to all that. You should go there during the morning and late afternoon time if you can and watch through the door/window and observe it on your own. If the owner doesn't allow you to watch, then you don't want your child there. You can observe how the teachers act. I am not talking about a tour, because everyone will be on their best behavior. You should do a random walk-in and ask if you can observe w/o the children or the teacher seeing you.
Also, I know you don't want to put your child in daycare, no one does, but in this day it seems if you don't, your child will be behind the other children, since so many parents are working full-time. I have a 22 month old nephew and he is so behind where he should be (socially and mentally). His parents are smart, so it is not like he doesn't have the potential. Children now adays need to know so much more when they start kindergarten then what we had to know. My daughter is 4 now and has been in daycare on and off since she was 21 months old - of course, being a girl she was more advanced than my nephew was. She is currently home right now, but that is because I am pregnant and she is definitely prepared for kindergarten. I am staying home the 1st year for this baby, but it has nothing to do with daycares it has to do with me wanting the quality time and nursing reasons. Childcares are very good to babies, they love them to death. PS. My daughter has currently been in 4 different daycares (6 mon min in each) since she was 21 mon old. We moved alot. Good Luck and remember mother's intuition - you will know the daycare is right for your daughter.
These sites should help:
http://www.state.tn.us/sos/rules/1240/1240-04/1240-04-03.pdf
http://www.saferchild.org/daycarefaq.htm
http://childcare.about.com/od/daycarequicktips/qt/provide...
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babychildcare/5924....