Day Cares

kmn3

Anyone else looking yet??

 DH and I visited 2 yesterday, it's a hard decision!

 I'm assuming you'll just "know", right?

jenine482

Yes, right now only 1 is under our price range, it's so expensive!!!

kmn3

I'm actually, pleasantly, surprised by the prices in our region.  I had plans for $50+ more a week than the places we've looked at.

Still doesn't make the decision any easier.  I feel like I need to look and every single place around before I make a decision lol

iluvmylab

Yes, we've already picked a place and paid to hold our spot.  And yes, we did just "know."  There were specific things we were looking for of course, but the overall feeling we got about the place was the most important thing.

whirlygirl00

Yup! We've toured 4 centers so far. 2 were absolute no's. 1 was totally fine and is my second choice but 1 blew the others out of the water.

The only thing is I felt like that one was too good to be true! I'm going to go back and visit it at a different time of day (they let you just stop in anytime for tours, no apointment necessary) and see if I still get the same vibe and see the same things.

MrsT624

We have it easy this time since the baby will be going to the same daycare DD attends. But, yes, you will know! It's still a difficult decision and can be stressful, but trust your instincts. They won't steer you wrong.

aishabryant

That's what we're working on now.  I find it time-consuming and stressful!  AND EXPENSIVE! LOL!

DaisyKD

this has been majorly stressing me out.  I called probably 8-10 daycares and only 1 was flexible with my schedule (I am PRN and may only work one day one week and 5 days the next week, so it has to be day by day and no minimum amount of days).  The one we went to see I really didn't like.

I got a few recs for in home daycares but they both had hours that wouldn't work with DH and I's schedule.  So now I am going to start looking in a bigger city about 30 minutes away (but DH works there so he can pick up/drop off) because I think there will be more options.

But I have heard that when you know you just "know" so I am hoping that is the case!! 

iluvmylab

DaisyKD:

this has been majorly stressing me out.  I called probably 8-10 daycares and only 1 was flexible with my schedule (I am PRN and may only work one day one week and 5 days the next week, so it has to be day by day and no minimum amount of days).  The one we went to see I really didn't like.

I got a few recs for in home daycares but they both had hours that wouldn't work with DH and I's schedule.  So now I am going to start looking in a bigger city about 30 minutes away (but DH works there so he can pick up/drop off) because I think there will be more options.

But I have heard that when you know you just "know" so I am hoping that is the case!! 

It may be hard to find day to day.  Essentially what you are looking for is drop-in care.  Anyone who runs a business will want your money whether you are there or not for the most part, because the teachers still have to get paid, building still needs electricity, etc.  I'm off in the summer and we did find 1 place that lets me pull out for the summer and then re-register for late August, but it was the exception.  The daycare we went with allows part-time, which is at least 2 half days a week, so that's what we are going with. 

You might be better off looking for a family home, not a licensed home or center.  I'd try just asking around for someone who might want to make some extra cash, like maybe a stay at home mom who doesn't need a steady income, but woundn't mind babysitting when you need her.

DaisyKD

iluvmylab:

DaisyKD:

this has been majorly stressing me out.  I called probably 8-10 daycares and only 1 was flexible with my schedule (I am PRN and may only work one day one week and 5 days the next week, so it has to be day by day and no minimum amount of days).  The one we went to see I really didn't like.

I got a few recs for in home daycares but they both had hours that wouldn't work with DH and I's schedule.  So now I am going to start looking in a bigger city about 30 minutes away (but DH works there so he can pick up/drop off) because I think there will be more options.

But I have heard that when you know you just "know" so I am hoping that is the case!! 

It may be hard to find day to day.  Essentially what you are looking for is drop-in care.  Anyone who runs a business will want your money whether you are there or not for the most part, because the teachers still have to get paid, building still needs electricity, etc.  I'm off in the summer and we did find 1 place that lets me pull out for the summer and then re-register for late August, but it was the exception.  The daycare we went with allows part-time, which is at least 2 half days a week, so that's what we are going with. 

You might be better off looking for a family home, not a licensed home or center.  I'd try just asking around for someone who might want to make some extra cash, like maybe a stay at home mom who doesn't need a steady income, but woundn't mind babysitting when you need her.

Yeah it has been a struggle.  Most daycares want the three day a week minimum (understandably) but some weeks that would put us in the hole, so we really don't want to do that.  DH's co-worker's wife is a stay at home mom and she said she would do 1-2 days a week.  My mom offered to help and DH's mom probably will, but they both live 1 hr 20 min. away and so they can't do it all especially in the winter, and I wouldn't ask/expect them too.  It's just hard because I might get called in the night before to work or even that morning, so to find reliable/flexible daycare is next to impossible!!!

I'm really hoping we can find one daycare that will let us "drop in" even though the rate will be outrageous I'm sure.  The one we looked at was very flexible and there was no minimum amount, but I didn't really like the center.  We may have to use them once in a while in a pinch if we don't find anything better.  That way between co-workers wife, our mom's and the daycare hopefully we'll be covered!!!  I could hardly sleep thinking about this last night. 

brookie9

We are in the process of calling/touring places. It's stressful! We visited our first in-home daycare yesterday...she was ok but I wasn't blown away and didn't get the warm fuzzies. We visit our second in-home daycare this evening. I talked to another one who was flexible with hours/days, which I somewhat need as a nurse working day/evening shifts, but she didn't want to do a visit until the end of August or first week in Sept. She sounded like our best option over the phone/on paper but we'll see once we meet her. Also, a friend of ours gave me the number of her daycare lady so I'm going to check her out. She sounds pretty flexible and cheap (as far as daycare costs go!) I can't wait until this is over with and we've found THE ONE! I was also having stressful dreams about it last night which is pretty uncommon for me. Good luck ladies!

JoAnna914

Yes - we have paid for our spot, too.  We toured two different daycare centers, and I was actually REALLY surprised that we chose the one we chose. 

The first one we visited is a little bit small, so I thought it would be way too crowded for me to feel comfortable.  We visited at possibly the craziest time of day (start of the day), and it was crowded, like I expected.  It offers some structure in terms of education, but it seems somewhat flexible.

The second one we looked at is part of a national franchise/chain, and is a well-oiled machine, with tons of structure and progress reports, etc. etc.  It was spacious, and beautiful.

We chose the first one.  I've never seen a happier bunch of kids, but more importantly, I've never seen a happier bunch of teachers!  The teachers at the crowded center were having genuine fun with the kids, regardless of whether they were with the infants or the four year olds.  And the director knew every kid by name, and what their story was.  The folks at the "swanky" center were organized, but looked very serious and, well, like they were just waiting for their next break.  I sincerely didn't expect to choose the crowded center, but the vibe was exactly what I want for my child. (Bonus - no charge at the crowded center for extended hours!)

michelle142

We've had our daycare since about 14weeks. If we wouldn't have looked then, we'd be out of luck since options are so limited around here!