How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

I am 8 1/2 weeks pregnant and my child will need to go into daycare when or is about 2 months old, which would be next March. When did everyone start looking into day cares? And about how much per week do they cost?

Re: How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

I would start researching day cares now. Call up a few and ask about waiting lists etc. I am not sure about the costs.

Re: How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

I signed up for daycare at 8 weeks. :D

In my town the good daycare have wait lists that are 1 year long!

Unless I can find a nanny to share I'll be paying $1200 a month for daycare.

Good luck in your search, I remember coming across a thread about daycare cost for some popular ones in LI. If you can't find it let me know and I'll try to help.

Edited to post link:
Some LI daycare cost

Message edited 6/4/2008 8:08:17 PM.

Re: How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

I started looking at daycare options around 12 weeks. I am now 18 weeks and have it narrowed down to 2 and plan to make a decision shortly. Daycares in my area range between $1100-$1500.

Re: How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

Right after my amnio results came in and the day of my level 2. Too superstitious to do it sooner. I am 28 weeks now. This was almost 2 months ago. There were already waiting lists for infant rooms in centers for babies up until Feb and March of 2009 when I signed up.

Message edited 6/4/2008 7:58:49 PM.

Re: How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

Holy cr**! I better get on top of this!! Thanks girls...

Re: How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

I am 19 weeks and started looking into it at 15 or so weeks. At the encouragement of a friend I actually have a spot on reserve beginning February 2009.

Re: How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

With DS id idnt have to b/c my MIL and mom took care of him until about 2 weeks ago. With DD i have already put her on the waiting list at the daycare where DS is now attending for FEb.

Re: How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

I would start now. Depending on the area you live, the waiting lists are horrible. I started looking in Sept. 2007, my DS was due in February and one daycare told me that they have a waiting list until 1/09!

Re: How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

AHHH...I don't know what I'm doing yet regarding work, whether I'll be working from home a few days or not going back at all, so I didn't think I needed to look into daycare, now I'm getting nervous that I have to even if I don't end up using it

Re: How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

I know I started looking in March and found a place I loved and even did a visit in April.

I am on the WAIT LIST!!

Long wait list no less


Mind you .. that is for a January 2009 drop off!!

I’m in Huntington and costs are about $300 a week or average of $1500 or less a month for I’m looking for.

Good Luck

Re: How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

I live out east and just signed up for one and i think they were booked until Dec-Jan...i am 15 weeks..get it now, it is a total relief to know where the baby will be and you have a plan. The sooner the better!

Re: How far in advance did everyone start looking into day care?

Start now and have a backup. I started looking last October and everyone had a wait list... DD was born in January.

I wound up going with a babysitter but I hate her (to put it mildly) so now I'm planning to move DD to a daycare within the next month or so.

This is so stressful.