Anybody Calling Daycares?

dasmel30

Just wondering if I'm really doing it too early.  I called an in-home daycare this week and she basically laughed at me and said it's too early and I should call back in a couple months.  I thought by calling early it meant I could secure a spot?  DH said he already didn't like her....

 Anybody in a similar boat?

526SadieSadie

With my impromtu vacation from work (thanks hurricance Irene!) I went and visited a daycare that I had driven by a bunch of times.  I fell in love with it.  All of the babies in the baby area will have moved over to the "starting to walk" area by the time my child will be ready for daycare, I was excited.

Maybe she blew you off because her daycare is just her and she won't hold a spot for that long.  Keep in mind if you're due in March, baby probably won't be in day care until May or later, that's a long time for a small place to hold space.

lulling

I am one of those people that think that nothing is too early!  I would at least attempt to get pricing information so that you could see if you need to save money or adjust your expenses at all.  If a provider won't give you an estimated price I would move on to the next one.

I can understand why she would not sign you up or hold you a spot though.  I bet she has done that before and people have backed out or changed their minds and then she was left with missing income. 

pink100

I haven't yet called or visited, but I'm certainly thinking about it.  I need my IL's to tell me first what they are willing to offer so that I know what I will actually NEED in a daycare.  DH's best friends Mom has a daycare from her home so I'm hoping she will have room for two more by next summer.  She charges $50/day per child.  Does that sound reasonable?

honeybunches101

I called day cares the day I got my BFP, right after I called to schedule a doctor's appointment.  I live in a city and most day care centers around here have a year or more wait list for the infant rooms.  From what I hear, centers in the suburbs or in home day cares are very different and only need a couple of months notice. 

Mrs_MBed

This time around I am not calling daycare places just yet, as we're moving next year and won't find out where until December.  Plus we don't know when exactly I will be going back to work.  Before I got pg I was planning on starting right away.

With DD1 I had her daycare set up and secured around 22 wks.  I was very lucky as she was in the day care at my job.  I was SAH by the time DD2 was born.   

 

P.s.  I love your siggy pic!  That was such a good game last night!!!  GO PACK GO!!

vanillacourage

For in-home it's probably too early.  For the better centers in a decent-sized town, it's not.

dasmel30

Mrs_MBed:

P.s.  I love your siggy pic!  That was such a good game last night!!!  GO PACK GO!! 

Thanks  I ended up going to bed early and missed the last 15 minutes of the 4th quarter!  I'm shooting myself now!

 

@Everyone else:  Thanks for the feedback! 

JennaAmalie18

I haven't called any yet but I did some online research yesterday evening.  I found a bunch of in-home and centers in my area.  They all had their hours and rates on their websites which was nice.  Unfortunately, all of the in-homes close at 5pm or earlier.  Um, what?  Both my DH and I work until at least 5pm if not later.  Looks like we'll have to do a center. 

Does anyone have opinions on what is better for an infant; center or in-home??? 

JennaAmalie18

Just out of curiosity I just called a daycare center in my area and was told that for infant care beginning in June 2012 not to call until April 2012.  So only a couple months in advance.  Whoa.  That is much later than I assumed!

Mrs_MBed

dasmel30:

Mrs_MBed:

P.s.  I love your siggy pic!  That was such a good game last night!!!  GO PACK GO!! 

Thanks  I ended up going to bed early and missed the last 15 minutes of the 4th quarter!  I'm shooting myself now!

 Oh no!! It was SOOO good!!  It was hard not to get excited (I get waaaay too into the games) b/c the girls had already gone to bed.  And they don't need to be woken up that late by me yelling LOL

HSartteach

I haven't read all the responses yet, so forgive me if I repeat.

I personally don't think it's too early depending upon where you live.  Centers in some places have waiting lists for a long time.  Last time we signed up at least 6 months prior and we weren't guaranteed a spot.

kel716

I think actual centers vs in home is going to vary.  There are pros and cons to each, it kind of depends on you.  I personally like a center for the structure, accountability- legal regulations and multiple people watching your kid, and not having to worry about them "closing"

I think it's ok to look now, and if you live somewhere with a waiting list and it's a place you love, then get yourself on the list.  Otherwise, you could wait and be ok.