For moms with 2 or more in DC...

Aloe0l

When did you secure your spot for your newest LO?  The DC that DD is in currently is fantastic, and because of that, very popular and very hard to get into.  They've been full for this fall since before Christmas, and that includes giving preference to siblings.

Now, it is super early in my current pregnancy, but I'm already starting to calculate when this LO would need to start so I can be prepared to give our provider a head's up, or get on a list (I see lots of other pregnant mama's daily!)

aglenn

We talked to them about it at the end of my first tri so that they could plan on saving a spot for us.  We didn't have to put down a deposit or anything since DD is already going there. 

mittensonkittens

aglenn:

We talked to them about it at the end of my first tri so that they could plan on saving a spot for us.  We didn't have to put down a deposit or anything since DD is already going there. 

Same here.  But if the waiting list was long enough, I'd talk to them earlier.   

Aloe0l

Yeah, I'm obviously not going to rush in there and tell them to hold a spot now (God forbid anything happens), but, we did have to wait just a little over a year to get a spot for DD.  Of course, we weren't given sibling privledges then, so it may not be so bad this time around.

Thanks!

WinesNotWhines

Why wouldn't you put your name on the waiting list now? Are you worried they'll offer you a spot too early? If your name comes up on the list before you need a spot, do you know what happens?

I can tell you how it works at my DC. When you register, you tell them your expected due date and when you expect to need a spot. After the baby is born, you call them back to confirm the dates (or change them if necessary). If a spot opens up within one month the date you gave, and your name is at the top of the list, they will offer it to you. Then you have to decide whether to take it. So, worst case scenario is you have to pay for an extra month that you don't need, which isn't perfect, but it's doable. I ended up going back to work PT one month early because that happened to us. It was a nice way to ease back in.

pumpkinwife07

I found out I was pregnant on a Sunday and told daycare provider Monday. We love her so much, I wasn't willing to sacrifice a spot incase something happened.

LoCarb

I had to put our name & deposit 5 months in advance to hold the spot due for the month and even the week she would start based on my due date.  When the time came, I tried to enroll DD2 a week earlier than anticipated and the DC did not have the opening.

jnealet

We have an inhome daycare provider and we had the formal talk late in pregnancy but I knew she couldn't make it work with her current kids but I also knew that another family wanted to send their infant, they already send their son, so we kind of ganged up on her to hire another person.  She knew that we would pull D1 if we had to find another place and the other family would pull S1 and that would take her enrollment down to 3 fulltime kids and she wants 4-5.  We actually talked to the other family about a nanny share but happily dcp found someone to help out.

Aloe0l

WinesNotWhines:

Why wouldn't you put your name on the waiting list now? Are you worried they'll offer you a spot too early? If your name comes up on the list before you need a spot, do you know what happens?

I guess in case of a miscarrage or something worse and then having to explain why I need to be taken off the list...?  Avoiding potential emotional trauma (which may not even be necessary) I guess....

Bella427

DCP was the first person we told!  We told her the morning after we found out.  I swore her to secrecy, explained we hadn't told anyone else but that we needed that spot!  It took 2 years to get our oldest into the school we wanted; I wasn't going to chance it!  And pretty much our whole infant room is full of siblings of older kids at the same school because siblings get priority. 

UsedToBeGoldie

our daycare always makes room for siblings -- so it's never an issue- but i'd let them know as soon as you are comfortable telling them.

I told our daycare around 8 weeks that i was pg with twins - they were probably excited to have 2 more in daycare, lol.  It was never an issue for me to worry about them having a spot.  I told them the time i expected they'd be entering daycare... they made sure the room was made.

Pesky

I registered DS when I was 9 wks.  I figured I didn't care about them knowing of a m/c and just wanted to ensure I had a spot for the baby.

Iblamethebeer

How much maternity leave do you get?

How screwed would you be if you needed to find back-up care for a few months before new LO got a spot?

If you really need the spot, I would tell before the end of first tri.  If the worst happens, you send an email to the director saying that you don't need the spot and reminding her that you're handling the loss privately, so not to mention it around other teachers/parents.