am I the only one noticing this? (daycare related... a little vent)

kdussault

**sorry it's long... I probably rambled a bit... 

I have not been impressed AT ALL at 90% of the daycares I have visited  It makes me sad/depressed/angry/nervous every time I leave one when before going I thought it could be "the one"  Our first choice is sooo clean and neat and open and bright, but probably won't have room come December (they are booked through september and we are 12th on the waiting list...).  Another one I have been in before, but didn't even bother going to look because their waiting list is all the way through June of 2012!  Crazy, right?!

original choice 2: infant room is downstairs on the inside of a hallway, no outside windows, currently involved in a laundry list of a lawsuit (most of which I heard are pretty minor issues)

highly recommended place: it smelled musty when I first walked in and the carpet didn't look very clean, on the other hand, another room smelled of bleach (from cleaning I assumed!), but very small... infant "room" and one year olds were separated by a half wall and gate...

on the other side of town and not easily accessible due to busy roads: cheapest, but again, no outside windows in the infant room

the one i just left: on the "Licensed Plus" list for the state but still very "old fashioned" and small, with outdated equipment (swings, etc).

one I called but haven't visited: "yes we'll have room, we are working on starting up our infant room" -- this made me kinda nervous... should it?

 

Am I being too picky?!  I just can't seem to find the "perfect" place.  All of these centers are right around $200/week for an infant, really with nothing included (pretty standard I guess).  My husbands grandmother (who is a "young" grandmother) offered, but currently works evenings... she would watch him cheap but I have this fear of dealing with family (and even friends to an extent), which my husband doesn't see as an issue.  also, we live at least 30 minutes from any of our family so they would have to come here because it is totally out of my way to bring him to their house in the morning.  We have two boxers, who are going to be a handful I'm sure... so if someone comes to our house, they will have to watch the dogs too... I don't feel like his grandmother (or even his mother) can really handle them and an infant...  ***sigh*** so frustrated with this whole issue...  anyone else having a hard time?  Please tell me I am not the only one!

jcath

yes yes yes!  There are hardly any daycares near me and the only one I like I am #50 on the waiting list and I got on that waiting list when I was pregnant and m/c in Jan 10. 

I think you should hold out for something that feels right to you.  No daycare or school for that matter is going to be 100% perfect but you should feel good about the place.

We're going to start with a nanny which with twins probably makes sense but I also think there are drawbacks to that. 

lckcdc3

No I haven't even started looking yet due to your same reasoning (. Sucks

Sunshine05

I'm sorry.  I think we were really lucky in that the first and only place we visited was great.  It's attached to a church, the people were very friendly, very open about letting us come through and showing us every.little.detail, and answered all questions really well.  I was impressed.  All the babies were happy, the kids weren't screaming, and the teachers seemed happy as well... that all made a great impression on me. 

Is it an option to look at any church-associated daycares?  Even though we don't attend this church, we were able to use the daycare.  I was thrilled with the price and it's less than 5 miles from our house.  I hope with some more searching you'll be able to find a great fit for you and your baby!

FabulousMrs.P

I agree...its really hard to find a daycare that I truly love. I know a lot of it is just the thought that I won't be personally taking care of  the baby in my home. But, I am  the breadwinner and we need 2 incomes. I have finally found an in-home daycare that I like. A friend recommended it to me and raved about the care-giver.  Like everything else it has its pros and its cons.

MrsMAF

I met with one today and although it was clean and seemingly fine(home day care) I walked out of there and cried wondering is this place good enough?? I can't believe I have to leave my baby boy in the hands of someone else but financially I don't have a choice since my stepdaughter is going to college next year, and my stepson goes the following.

I think all of us as mother's to be, are picky about the day cares...its tough... 

kdussault

thanks everyone for the reassurance  I know in this situation being "picky" really isn't a bad thing... I just wish I could find somewhere that just "clicks"

ChicagoWeded2007

Wow, $200 a week is cheap!  I know what you mean.  We found a place we loved, but it was $472 per week.