Timing for securing in-home daycare

calhoun05 · February 2009

I have a center that I really really like that is likely to have openings in August or September, which I had previously thought was going to be perfect for me. However, due to some recent financial issues, which may or may not resolve themselves by that time, I'm don't know if we can spend that kind of money (it's pretty pricey), and I might have to go back to work earlier, more like June or July.

My thought is that I just take a wait-and-see approach, and if it looks like I need to go back early or we need to find a more economical option, I'll start looking for in-home daycare maybe 6 weeks or a month before I return to work. Am I screwing myself for waiting this long - should I start talking to people about in-home now? My impression had been that in-home daycare is something you can (or even have to) do with less lead time than centers, but I don't know if I'm making an assumption I shouldn't. My in-laws do live here and have expressed some willingness to help out, so we do have a backup plan.

We'd be looking in the Bethesda/Rockville area.

HikerBride07 · February 2009

I've called a few and was told by all that I should call them back after I deliver since I'll be taking 8 weeks off for Mat Leave.

I hate to wait until the baby is here and things are chaotic but I guess that's how it goes.

GrayPumpkin · February 2009

I found my in-home about 6 weeks out in Mont. Co. and it was just before the holidays. Typically I found that in-home daycares ask only for 2 weeks notice when a child is leaving, so unless they have a child hitting a birthday, they wouldn't know of an opening until like a month to even 2 weeks beforehand (depending on why the other child is leaving).

tracy042206 · February 2009

I found my in-home about 6 weeks out as well. I was signed up for all the centers in the area and none ever called and when I called them they didn't have openings. I got lucky and my friend's neighbor had a spot open - at the time I don't know if I could have done an in-home without a friend's rec

crazyDCbride · February 2009

It's tricky... b/c if you call too soon, they tell you it's too soon - if you call too late, then there's no openings.

I'm looking for a place now to start April 13. I must have called 25 places from the MD locator - and only a small handful called back.

I don't know what your budget is - but, you might want to call this place called Monday Morning Moms. They help locate daycare, then tack on a fee to the monthy cost. Our quote with them is around $1200/month for a very good inhome place.

https://mondaymorningmomsmcmd.com/

calhoun05 · February 2009

crazyDCbride:

It's tricky... b/c if you call too soon, they tell you it's too soon - if you call too late, then there's no openings.

I'm looking for a place now to start April 13. I must have called 25 places from the MD locator - and only a small handful called back.

I don't know what your budget is - but, you might want to call this place called Monday Morning Moms. They help locate daycare, then tack on a fee to the monthy cost. Our quote with them is around $1200/month for a very good inhome place.

https://mondaymorningmomsmcmd.com/

Thanks for the Monday Morning Moms tip!

Artslvr · February 2009

Yeah, I want to say we found ours about 4-6 weeks out. In-home is typically cheaper than centers, definitely worth looking into.

Timing for securing in-home daycare

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