Day-care

kmilon01

Has anyone started looking into day-care options yet?  This is our first child so we're not sure if it's too early to start touring centers or if we're already behind schedule.  I'm 14 weeks and due January 6th. 

DCrider

We started looking around 16 weeks and clinched it at 20 with our son.

JaneW2

I'd say it's a good time to start.  The best centers may have waiting lists, so don't wait too long.

thelittlepear

I'm 11 weeks, and get a full year off, and I'm already on the wait lists at 10 different centres. We will be lucky if we get a spot in time for me to go back to work...  Child care is hard to get here, not sure how it is in the US/your city...

Jen4033

I'd start as soon as you can.  I'm willing to bet infant slots in either a center or a home day care environment are tough to find in any city.

Do some research first to determine the most important, must-have qualities you are wanting in a day care & start calling. (ie: must be licensed, fenced yard, qualifications/credentials of provider, # of children enrolled, etc)

Unknown

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sugarland726

Not too early to get started. In some locations the wait list can be longer than a full term pregnancy. Plus what if you tour what you think you want and you realize you hate it? Then you need to reevaluate your options and you'd want time for that.

Karenin

Start calling places and getting on lists- it depends on your area but most places have waiting lists. We actually did not end up using a cneter- we have a nanny share, which we have been really happy with. We live in a bog city, and DS and a boy his age a block away share a nanny. This has become very popular where we live. I recommend looking into all of your options.

susieandmarty

Start now. I waited until 20 weeks with dd and I was on do many waitlists

leighkinpa

kmilon01:

Has anyone started looking into day-care options yet?  This is our first child so we're not sure if it's too early to start touring centers or if we're already behind schedule.  I'm 14 weeks and due January 6th. 

 

It depends. If you are in an area where it is hard to find an infant spot, then you would want to get on a waitlist asap. This was our situation with DD#1 when we lived in DC. If you are going with a Center, I still don't think its a bad idea to have a look around now. Then, you can just revisit your top choices when it comes time. If you are going for an in-home center, then those openings are fewer and farther between so you could probably start looking about 4-6 weeks before you need a spot. Good luck! 

JKVanValey

kmilon01:

Has anyone started looking into daycare options yet?nbsp; This is our first childnbsp;so we're not sure if it's too early to start touring centers or if we're already behind schedule.nbsp; I'm 14 weeks and due January 6th.nbsp;

I'm due on the 9th and I am a teacher, so "the right daycare" was a must on my list... This is also my first and at 8 weeks when some friends told me I better get strayed, I freaked out! Don't worry, I spent time looking centers up online and then polling my FB friends and took some tours, and in the end DH and I put a week's deposit down on the place I am sure I want... There was a second choice, but their waiting list policy was that I could put my name down, and they'd call me closer to the time and let me know if there was availability ... Uh, panic much?! YES! They also said that if someone came in after me but wanted even a week before mine, I'd be "bumped"...

Different places have different policies, but I wouldn't wait, depending on your area...

SvedkaStoli

My awesome work daycare has a 14 month waiting list. I had to start early.