Day cares

RachelM82

When are you going to start looking into day cares? There are a few in our neighborhood, but we're not sure when to start checking them out.

SullyN

I think it depends on where you live. Some have waiting lists. I would say it would hurt to start now!

ashs88

This is my 2nd pregnancy and we told our current daycare provider pretty much right away when we found out I was pregnant. She is an in-home provider so we wanted to make sure she would have a spot available once baby comes. I would recommend starting to look at least by 20 weeks. I know at least in my area daycares tend to fill up way in advance, especially for babies. If you are looking at in-home daycares some may not know yet if they'll have a spot available but it would be good to start looking and interviewing to make sure you find someone you are comfortable with.

mommiesandbabies

I'd start browsing now.
We will add ourselves to the waitlist (it's under a year) after my NT scan.

RachelM82

Thanks! I'm going to look at a few different ones (in-home and more of a group setting). I guess that's probably something I should start looking into. Good thing we have a vacation coming up soon!

katie0613

Start NOW!!  Day cares fill up very fast for newborns and sometimes there are waiting lists.  My DD is already in day care and she was the first to know cause I wanted to make sure my new baby got into the same one.

raychelmarie33

I'm not planning on using a daycare for a while. Both my mother and MIL are retired and can't wait to help with their first grandchild! Plus I work 12 hour shifts, 2-3 days a week so we don't need a full weeks coverage anyways.

bananers

Depends on your area, but definitely doesn't hurt to start looking now. I think I started looking around 20 weeks last time and all my top choices were full already. I'm 12 weeks tomorrow so we'll be telling our current daycare this week and putting down a deposit to secure our spot.

Karenin

Not sure where you live, but if you're looking at in home options, I definitely recommend a nanny share. We've been doing one for over 3 years now and it's amazing! Very affordable (at least compared to the prices of day care where I live, which is very expensive) and so convenient!

JoJoMama730

In Michigan, infant care is hard to find. I waited too long with my first and was scrambling. Six months in advance was not enough time. I told our current provider already and snagged the first open infant spot, in April. So, I would say start now. Better to be early than too late.

ainverso

We started at 18 weeks looking and found The perfect in home daycare.all the group settings were already full when we started looking . This time I just let my sitter know and. She has a spot for the new baby

MrsReese28

I got lucky with my son and was able to find a great place two months before pre-school work week but that was only because they had just opened an infant room. We wont need a daycare till August but i will secure his spot come April at the latest.

lwebley

Our daycare center had an 11 month wait list with our first and a 14 month wait list with this one. I think it depends on your area though

TurtleMeg

My daycare is my MIL. Very thankful! She runs an in home daycare so we will have our baby go there.

ChrissyD1203

We are looking to have someone come in for a few hours a day to our house (which is actually a small apartment). I work from home and will need someone to watch baby for a few hours so that I can get my work done. I was reading an article yesterday how many nannys do not like to take jobs where one of the parents will be home (something along the lines of too many hens in the house/ they don't want to be under a microscope every minute). Does anyone have any experience with this?

mollyj931

I stay home now but I think we met with our daycare provider when I was over 20 weeks but I knew she was going to have an opening. I started talking to friends/coworkers earlier than that.

@ChrissyD1203 I would just make sure you have a really good open line of communication. We have had really good luck using care.com. You can interview multiple people to get the best feel for someone. Maybe the days the nanny is there they can go to the library, park or a class to get out of the house.

katiedid0907

Like others have said, start as soon an you can (without stressing yourself out about it). Depending on your area, some have wait lists for newborns. Also you want time to explore all of your options. I would also see if you have a local resource to help you find a reputable in-home childcare. They can be much more affordable than daycare centers. HTH!

yankeeinthesouth

Both of the preschools I worked at were on waiting lists months and months in advance. I would definitely start looking now. The ratios for infant care are quite low so there aren't a ton of spaces available at each center. It's a big, stressful decision so it certainly doesn't hurt to give yourself as much time to think it over as possible!

skfg

@ChrissyD1203, we have a nanny who comes to our house and I am in and out a few days a week as I am in grad school. Being home does narrow the field to choose from as far as individuals comfortable w/you being there. I would say about half of the people we interviewed were not comfortable w/me being around. It's about hiring someone who is a good fit for all of you. We were honest and asked point blank, a lot of candidates said yes they were ok w/that but their body language said otherwise. Feel free to pm me if you have more questions.

cawalp

Karenin said:

Not sure where you live, but if you're looking at in home options, I definitely recommend a nanny share. We've been doing one for over 3 years now and it's amazing! Very affordable (at least compared to the prices of day care where I live, which is very expensive) and so convenient!

@Karenin
I was wondering what a nanny share is?

ChrissyD1203

Thanks @skfg !

kgcnyc

@ChrissyD1203 as a former nanny who has worked with a work-at-home-mom, I'd say it really comes down to you. The best way I can put it is would you like your boss sitting in the room with you, watching you while you were doing your job?
It can just get uncomfortable and feel as though you're being micromanaged and judged.
Plus, most children act very different when their parents are around, which can make the job of babysitting VERY difficult. Ex: there is a no juice rule, which babysitter enforces fine when you're not home, but the second you're home the child throws a tantrum for juice because they know mommy will give it to them.
You'd really have to commit to being "out of sight and out of mind" if you're working from home - at least in the beginning when all parties are testing the waters.
Btw, my experience was really great - the mom would stay in her office while I was there and if the boys ran back there (they were twin 7 years olds, so a different exp from a baby) occasionally she would immediately tell them that she was working at that they needed to leave. I had no problems at all working with her in the home.
I'm sure you'll find someone great!! Good luck!

ChrissyD1203

Thanks @kgcnyc - I appreciate what you are saying and totally agree.

SullyN

For the people thinking of a nanny. The family I worked with left an envelope for the week for spending money. The spending money was for us to go to activities and such (and they included getting myself a coffee which was nice). Only rule, every night before I left I kept a balance of what I spent and what it was spent on. It helped keep everyone in the loop. I also would write all the things we did that day, how behavior was, if there were anything's I wanted to discuss or clarify when I got there in the morning, etc. It really helped keep communication open. It also allowed them to think about and discuss my questions together without me there and then discuss with me in the morning, or if it was going to be a busy day they would just write a note.

Definitely set clear boundaries, will you want them to clean up after all meals, make dinner, driving, doctors appointments, grocery shopping, etc. Also, what if LO is sick, do you expect them to come if LO has a slight fever and a cold? Are you ok with them bringing their own children?

I always had good luck finding families to sit for through sittercity. I've never used care.com but I know sittercity the nannys can pay to have a background check run on themselves and the families can see the results.

Karenin

cawalp Sorry, should have explained!

A nanny share is basically this. You and another family each have a child. If you each got a nanny, you'd pay, let's say $14 per hour for that nanny for one child. But a nanny usually only charges a few dollars more per hours for 2 kids, so let's say $17 per hour. So if you and family #2 decide to do a share, you hire one nanny to watch both kids for a total of $17 per hour and you each pay HALF of that price, so only paying $8.50 each instead of $14 each if you had your own nannies. Where I live I pay less for a share than I would for a daycare. You decide on the logistics- for example, our share is at our home, so the other family lives close by and just drops their daughter off at our house and picks her up, like they would with a daycare. Some people split it up so some days are at one home, some at the other. So basically, you get the benefits of a nanny at a lower cost, plus a playmate for your child. If you want more details feel free to message me!