Question for BTDT Moms re: Daycare

I'm newly pregnant and due in April (I know I know, WAY ahead of myself here) .........

Or am I? When did everyone start researching/putting their names on lists etc. for daycare?

I will most likely take the full 6 months of my materinty leave, and then go back to work .......

Any advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated !!

TIA !!


PS - If there's alreayd a thread on this you know about, can you please bump it for me? I couldn't find anything in my search -

Re: Question for BTDT Moms re: Daycare

I started looking after my Level II. I worked in a place that had daycare, but I looked into others in the event that there was not room for him. Many places had up to a 5 mo wait.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms re: Daycare

It depends on the place and its availibility - some have waiting lists and others have spots. I know this isn;t too helpful of an answer.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms re: Daycare

Hi! I'll bump the "research" thread we started on PG when I was looking. I started around 18 wks and found where I wanted then. I was told there were no spots for THIS month (Ryan still hasn't started - so essentially a year after I was looking). Luckily, by Feb.08 we got the spot for mid Sept 08, but I found we had to be put on many waitlists. IMO, not to early to start your research!

Re: Question for BTDT Moms re: Daycare

There wasn't many options for daycare centers where we lived when I was pregnant with DD. I looked into it after my level II but that was too late.

I'd try to do it as soon as possible.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms re: Daycare

My DS was born this February and when I went looking for daycares in September of '07, there were waiting lists at a few of them. My top choice had a waiting list until January of 2009!!!! I would definitely start researching and even visiting some places. You never know what will happen during your pregnancy - bedrest, etc. and then you won't be able to do the research and once your DC comes, it will be difficult to get out there and look around.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms re: Daycare

You're absolutely right to start looking now. I was looking this time last year and I was due in January and every place in my area had a wait list.

Do it while you have the time to make a well thought-out decision. Go look at these places, talk to the people who run them. Watch them operate and see if you like them.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms re: Daycare

Depends on the daycare. I've had zero waiting to a 20 month waiting list.

The 20 month waiting list was an employee daycare center that accepted a few kids from the community. It was the least expensive, but IMO one of the best daycare settings in the area.

We got on the list when I was pregnant. He got in when he was a year old.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms re: Daycare

You are SOOOOOOO not ahead of yourself. I was due in Feb, needed daycare for the following July and called the previous October (that's right - 9 months BEFORE I needed the care) and was told there were waiting lists to the following November (13 mos!) for the infant room. My big question was how is that possible since you wouldn't even be PREGNANT at that time!

Nassau county only allows for 8 infants in a room max. So, centers either only accept 8 or they have 2 rooms and do 16. Either way, big crunch for spots - I would totally do your research and reserve a spot asap.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms re: Daycare

I had DD in October 07. She started daycare in Feb 08 and I signed her up for it in June of 07.

I would start researching now and if you find a plce you like, put a deposit down.