In Germany, responsibility for early childhood education and care (ECEC) lies with the 16 federal states, which define the structures, financing and regulations concerning ECEC. Due to a subsidiary system, municipalities are not able to offer ECEC as long as private providers offer enough places. These providers employ a large variety of pedagogical concepts and practices. The article explores the role of welfare associations and interest groups in ECEC policies. What is their position in legislative procedures and their influence on the development of a competent system under the perspective of professionalization? First, we give a theoretical framework about professionalization and the development of a competent system and then describe the structure of the German ECEC system. Then we provide a content analysis of documents on the influence of associations in an exemplary legislative procedure to promote quality in ECEC. The results illustrate how welfare associations can influence ECEC policies.