How to find a daycare

madalynnsmommy09

I am only 8 weeks along but I have been reading of year long wait at Day Care centers. I am wondering where to start my search, most likely home day care instead of a center. Where do I start?

We are in Bloomington/Eden Prairie area but willing to go to Savage, Shakopee, Burnsville, Bloomington, Eden Prairie area.

nellieboo

I'm not sure, but I'm due in 7 wks and still need to find daycare!! I would like to find an in-home one. This freaks me out so I've been proscratinating. GL on your search!

Janell's Nest

The website that someone put on the Local MPLS board worked for us...there were two others as well, I'll try to find info on them.  You can also call your county and get a listing of licensed day care providers (then you'll know they are licensed and have their record).  We got ours just before Christmas last year and were so fortunate to start early its like shopping for a reception site.  We looked at 3 places one of which had us come in anyway knowing full well they were fully booked for August/September.  The other told us flat out that unless they had a cancellation they had no openings and the one we went with ended up working out, and she took a deposit.

shellhead

You can also get a good list started if you go to MNchildcare.org. ?It's the state's website, gives you info on how many kids are at each site, if they have future infant availability, etc. It will also give you both child care centers and home day care info. DH and I started there and got some good leads (Richfield area). ?Good luck!

jlw2505

Unless things have really changed since my older DD was born, I did not find any waits like that in the area.  I am at a center and had visited before my DD was born and went back when she was about 2 weeks old and signed her up.  That was in the summer of 2006.  I had called some home daycare's as well and most told me that they would not know if they had space until it was closer to when she was going to be starting.  I had started making calls the winter that I was pregnant and my DD started daycare in Sept.

I would start by asking people you know for referrals and then make surprise visits to the places you are considering.  You can call in advance to ask about space, price and that stuff so you can narrow down the search before you go look.  If a place is not open to a surprise visit, don't use them.

KimandTravWed

If you are really picky and know one or two places you will only send them to then I would worry about a wait but right now with the economy as it is I have noticed that daycares aren't as full as they normally are seeing as a lot more people have lost jobs and/or stay at home. I would just start looking so that you aren't stressed about doing it later.

JenTim0530

I am a licensed daycare provider in Inver Grove Heights. Myself, my mom and my sister (who is pregnant, due in July) all work together, so there is three of us! We run the daycare at my mom's house in Inver Grove. We have one opening as of now for any age. My mom's name is Terri and her phone number is 6514556632 if you have more questions!