Infant care question

vspek · August 2009

Hi All,

I am new here and planning on being a Working Mom, after my maternity leave is up. So I was hoping that you'll be able to answer some of my questions about infant care. We will probably need it for 2-3 days a week. Where and how do you start looking?

What is the better option? We will probably need it from about 7:30 am - 6:30 or 7 pm. Is there such an option? We live in NY now, but planning on moving to NJ, where do we need to start looking? What should be the first step? What can be an approximate cost?

Thank you so much for all your help!

eb2277 · August 2009

In Ohio there is a web site that lists all the licensed day cares and home providers. I started there and also asked around work for recommendations/ideas. Costs and hours are going to vary a lot by the area of the country. Also, if you have a local nest board, they might be able to help. Good luck! It was a bit overwhelming when I started looking, but having good child care is important when you go back to work.

AlisaS · August 2009

You need to start looking now, finding a center open until 7:30 could be tough, think $1000/month.

yellowcar · August 2009

Start looking based on the demand of your area and what type of care you are looking for. If you want an in-home caregiver (either in your home, a la nanny, or someone in their own home) start now. Good ones are hard to find, and generally don't advertise--they fill up quickly just based on word of mouth.

If you go the center route, you need to figure out how popular certain ones are, and get on a waiting list if possible. Start touring them now if you need to--again, it all depends on demand. When I had my DD in 2005, I didn't start visiting centers until she was 6 weeks old and easily found a spot. 4 years later with DS I had my application in and a spot reserved when I was about 16 weeks pregnant! We had DD at a center that we loved, and wanted to make sure there was a spot for our DS there too.

Now, about those hours...every center I know of is only open from 6 to 6. It might be a state law here in PA, but you can only have your child in care for 10 hours a day. If that is the case in your state too, you might want to consider a nanny instead since this would not meet your needs.

Good luck! (and I don't mean to scare you with any of my answers here. I've just been a working mom for a while...)

rs_bride · August 2009

AlisaS:
You need to start looking now, finding a center open until 7:30 could be tough, think $1000/month.

Not if you're talking aout NYC/Jersey suburbs. I live in boston. Centers around here are around $2500 a month. I pay $1600 for in-home. I'd expect about $2750-3K for a center in NYC or the close Jersey burbs.

DEBBIE33CASEY · August 2009

I'd start looking NOW. It will be difficult finding a place open that late but I wish you the best of luck. Finding day care you love and trust is not easy.