Daycare RecordChild care inspection records

Cradles and Crayons

2230 N Zaragoza Rd Ste 101, El Paso, TX 79938 · El Paso County
Conditions on permit2 high-risk citations in last 12 monthsAccepts child care subsidies

Cradles and Crayons is a licensed child care center in El Paso, TX, licensed for up to 64 children and serving infants through school-age children. It has held its Texas license since 2018. Since October 2021, state inspectors have visited 22 times and investigated 8 reports. Inspectors recorded 24 citations, 6 of them high-risk, most often for training & qualifications (5 of 24). 3 citations came in the last 12 months, including 2 high-risk. 8% were corrected during the inspection itself. Its last 2 inspections found no violations. Measured by risk-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #200 of 238 centers in El Paso and better than 28% of licensed centers statewide.

Inspection record

Better than 28%of 9,147 Texas licensed centers, comparing risk-weighted citations per inspection. More citations than most
Tied for #200 of 238 centers in El Paso
6High risk
11Medium High risk
6Medium risk
1Medium Low risk
0Low risk
24 citations from 22 inspections and 8 reports since Oct 1, 2021 · 3 in the last 12 months · last inspected Aug 25, 2026

Every state visit

20222023202420252026INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom)Aug 25, 2026 · Inspection · no citationJul 28, 2026 · Inspection · no citationJul 20, 2026 · Inspection · no citationJul 18, 2026 · Report/investigation · citation foundMay 5, 2026 · Inspection · no citationApr 2, 2026 · Inspection · no citationMar 31, 2026 · Report/investigation · no citationDec 15, 2025 · Inspection · no citationDec 11, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundSep 3, 2025 · Inspection · no citationMay 19, 2025 · Inspection · no citationApr 14, 2025 · Report/investigation · no citationFeb 19, 2025 · Inspection · no citationFeb 18, 2025 · Report/investigation · no citationMay 29, 2024 · Inspection · no citationJan 17, 2024 · Assessment · citation foundJan 3, 2024 · Inspection · no citationAug 31, 2023 · Inspection · no citationJul 5, 2023 · Inspection · no citationJun 16, 2023 · Inspection · citation foundJun 12, 2023 · Report/investigation · no citationJun 12, 2023 · Report/investigation · citation foundMay 10, 2023 · Report/investigation · no citationMar 16, 2023 · Inspection · no citationMar 10, 2023 · Inspection · citation foundFeb 13, 2023 · Inspection · no citationFeb 3, 2023 · Report/investigation · citation foundOct 20, 2022 · Inspection · no citationOct 4, 2022 · Inspection · citation foundNov 1, 2021 · Inspection · no citationOct 12, 2021 · Inspection · citation found
Citation foundNo citation

What inspectors cited most

Training & qualifications5
Health & medication3
Records & paperwork3
Food & feeding3
Staff ratios3
Sleep safety3
Caregiver conduct2
Other standards1
Building & playground safety1

Citations, newest first

HighJul 18, 2026Found during an investigationCaregiver conduct
Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Demonstrate Competency, Good Judgment, Self-control §746.1201(1)
During a DFPS investigation, it was determined that a caregiver admitted to telling children in care that if another child hits them, they can hit them back.
Correction verified Aug 25, 2026
HighJul 18, 2026Found during an investigationCaregiver conduct
Prohibited Punishments - Using Inappropriate Long Period of Silence or Inactivity Including Requiring Child to Remain in a Restrictive Device §746.2805(10)
During a DFPS investigation, a child in care was observed in "timeout" for an inappropriately long period of time.
Correction verified Aug 25, 2026
Medium HighDec 11, 2025InspectionHealth & medication
Employee Handwashing After Diapering a Child §746.3415(4)
Employees did not wash their hands after diapering.
Correction verified Jan 2, 2026
Medium LowJan 17, 2024InspectionRecords & paperwork
Report Number of Employees §746.303(b)
A review of the Employees Who Left Employment in 2023 Report with a run date of 01/16/2023 indicates that the operation did not report the number of employees who left employment in 2023 by the required date of 1/15/2024.
Correction verified Jan 17, 2024
Medium HighJun 16, 2023InspectionHealth & medication
Employee Handwashing After Diapering a Child §746.3415(4)
The infant caregiver did not wash her hands between diaper changes of two infants.
Correction verified Jul 5, 2023
Medium HighJun 16, 2023InspectionFood & feeding
Requirements for Feeding Infants - Other Use of Handwashing Sink §746.2419(8)
Three bottles were washed at the hand washing sink in the infant room.
Correction verified Jul 5, 2023
Medium HighJun 16, 2023InspectionStaff ratios
Child/Caregiver Ratio - 18 Months Difference in Age §746.1605(1)
Fifteen children were placed in one area doing the same activity with the youngest child being 9 months and the oldest being 10 years old.
Correction verified Jul 5, 2023
MediumJun 16, 2023InspectionOther standards
Screen Time Activities - Not Used for Under Two §746.2207(a)
Three infants were observed watching a movie with school aged children in the same room.
Corrected during the visit
Medium HighJun 16, 2023InspectionStaff ratios
Food Service and Preparation Requirement - Cover All Stored Food §746.3317(8)
Food in refrigerator was stored uncovered.
Correction verified Jul 5, 2023
HighJun 12, 2023Found during an investigationFood & feeding
Mark Cleaning Supplies, Toxic Materials; Keep Separate from Food and Inaccessible to Children §746.3407(12)
Cleaning supplies were accessible to children in care in the main classroom. Multi-purpose spray cleaner was placed on 3ft shelf.
Correction verified Jul 5, 2023
Medium HighJun 12, 2023Found during an investigationStaff ratios
Food Service and Preparation Requirement - Safe and Sanitary §746.3317
Food stored in refrigerator was observed to be passed the expiration date.
Correction verified Jul 5, 2023
HighMar 10, 2023InspectionSleep safety
AP Cribs - Only Snug Fitting Sheet and Crib Mattress Cover Allowed if Infant Younger than 12 Months of Age §746.2415(b)
A ten-month-old infant was observed sleeping on bouncy with a blanket inside a crib. Corrected during inspection infant caregiver removed the blanket and bouncy from the crib. Infant did not have a medical need to sleep in a bouncy inside the crib. Photos were taken.
Correction verified Mar 16, 2023
HighMar 10, 2023InspectionSleep safety
Infant May Not Sleep in a Restrictive Device §746.2426(a)(1)
Inspector observed a thirteen-month-old and a fifteen-month-old infant sleeping in stationary swings at 11:58am. Infant caregiver confirmed, infants fell asleep approximately around 10:59am. Infants did not have a medical need for sleeping in the swings. Corrected during the inspection, both infants were placed in their individual cribs. Photos were taken.
Correction verified Mar 16, 2023
MediumFeb 3, 2023Found during an investigationFood & feeding
Written Feeding Instructions - Review and Update Every 30 Days §746.2421(b)
Infant monthly feeding instructions had not been updated since infant's enrollment November 2022.
Correction verified Mar 9, 2023
Medium HighFeb 3, 2023Found during an investigationRecords & paperwork
Sign-in and Sign-out Tracking System §746.631(a)
Sign-in log was not available for parents to sign-in children during early morning drop off at the center.
Correction verified Mar 9, 2023
Medium HighOct 4, 2022InspectionTraining & qualifications
Each Caregiver and the Director Must Have Current Training in pediatric CPR §746.1315(b)
One caregiver in care of Children did not have pediatric CPR training.
Correction verified Oct 11, 2022
HighOct 4, 2022InspectionHealth & medication
Required Admission Information - Emergency Medical Authorization §746.605(12)
One child's file was missing authorization signature for emergency medical care.
Correction verified Oct 11, 2022
Medium HighOct 4, 2022InspectionTraining & qualifications
Each Caregiver and the Director Must Have Current Training in pediatric first aid with rescue breathing and choking. §746.1315(a)
One caregiver in care of children did not have pediatric first aid training.
Correction verified Oct 11, 2022
MediumOct 4, 2022InspectionSleep safety
Cots, Beds, Mats Labeled With Child's Name §746.4503(b)
Four 12-month-old infants' cots were not labeled.
Correction verified Oct 20, 2022
MediumOct 4, 2022InspectionTraining & qualifications
Required Records Maintained and Made Available - Personnel and Training Records §746.801(3)
One of operation's director's file was not available during the inspection.
Correction verified Oct 20, 2022
MediumOct 4, 2022InspectionRecords & paperwork
Required Admission Information - Physician Information §746.605(11)
One child's file was missing a medical health statement.
Correction verified Oct 11, 2022
Medium HighOct 4, 2022InspectionTraining & qualifications
Pre-service Training for Caregivers of Children Under 24 Months §746.1305(b)
Two caregivers who take care of children under 24 months were missing SIDS and Shaken Baby Syndrome training.
Correction verified Oct 11, 2022
MediumOct 12, 2021InspectionTraining & qualifications
Required Records Maintained and Made Available - Personnel and Training Records §746.801(3)
A caregiver's file was not available during the inspection. File was available at a different operation.
Correction verified Nov 1, 2021
Medium HighOct 12, 2021InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes §746.5205(1)
A monthly fire drill was missing for June, July, August, and September. Corrected during inspection, a fire drill under three minutes was conducted and documented during this inspection.
Corrected during the visit

About this center

Licensed capacity64 children
Ages servedInfant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours05:30 AM-06:00 PM
DaysMon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Licensed sinceMay 31, 2018
DirectorYessenia Lerma-ortiz
Phone9158577760
State operation #1672845

Common questions

Does Cradles and Crayons take infants?

Yes. Texas licenses it to care for infants through school-age children.

What are Cradles and Crayons’s hours?

5:30 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday, according to its state licensing record. Confirm holiday and summer hours with the center.

Does Cradles and Crayons accept child care subsidies?

Yes, according to its state licensing record.

How much does Cradles and Crayons cost?

Texas does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Cradles and Crayons for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-day price at licensed centers in the Borderplex area, which includes El Paso, is $31.60 a day for infants, $30.60 a day for toddlers and $29.60 a day for 3-year-olds (2025 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey).

Has Cradles and Crayons had any serious violations?

Inspectors recorded 6 high-risk citations since 2021. The most recent was on Jul 18, 2026: “Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Demonstrate Competency, Good Judgment, Self-control.” Each one is listed in full above.

How does Cradles and Crayons compare with other daycares in El Paso?

It is tied for #200 of 238 centers in El Paso by risk-weighted citations per inspection, and is better than 28% of licensed centers statewide (out of 9,147 Texas centers with enough inspection history).

When was Cradles and Crayons last inspected?

Aug 25, 2026. No violations were found during that visit.

Licensed centers nearby

Citations are quoted from Texas HHS inspection records. Many are corrected the same day, and a citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall.

To see the official record, search operation 1672845 on Search Texas Child Care. Data refreshed Sep 30, 2026.