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Day care search - before or after LO arrives?

bracystakebracystake
in 3rd Trimester

My mom is so good at asking me about the few things I don't have pegged down yet and now each phone call starts with me not having started looking for daycare.  Ugh! 

I work full time and will do so until DD decides it's her birthday.  I'd rather do my search during my 10 weeks of maternity leave.  My mom says that will be harder because I'll have to bring DD along but I almost think that's a good thing.  Plus, she offered to stay for a week or so which means I'd have support in taking care of DD and could do some easier day care visits.

Is it really that big of a deal if I wait to find daycare for post-maternity leave until I'm actually ON maternity leave?  Of course it's always better to plan ahead, but it's really difficult right now with all the other last minute things going on just preparing for L&D.

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Re: Day care search - before or after LO arrives?

  • jkfranklinjkfranklin member
    Many places have waiting lists so you may not be able to find daycare on such short notice.
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  • NaHokuNaHoku

    I started my search before DS was born and thought I was good to go - only to find out after I had him that the DCP had found out she was pregnant and wouldn't be taking any more infants.  So I ended up looking after he was born and it was fine - it was actually nice to bring him along so I could see how they interacted with him.

    I think it will depend on where you're looking - center vs in-home.  Centers may have a waiting list and you might want to get on that ASAP.  In-homes usually do or don't have an opening, so you can cross them off your list right away if you need to (we use in-home).

    GL! 

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  • sunshine_77sunshine_77
    I would at least start calling places. in my area i had to get on a waiting list in Sept for February. It totally depends on your area.
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  • bracystakebracystake

    imagejkfranklin:
    Many places have waiting lists so you may not be able to find daycare on such short notice.

    Cripes!  I didn't even think about that.  Guess I know what I'm working on this week.

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  • mom2b_09mom2b_09 member
    Before-because you might run into issues with availability and you might have to get on a wait list.  It only took me a week to find daycare though so hopefully you will be lucky like me!  :)
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  • madhatter2003madhatter2003

    You may already be out of luck. Places around here have year long waiting lists. With DS I was on the list for 6 months and that was even a priority spot given DD was already there.

    You need to look NOW.

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  • heather_09_15_07heather_09_15_07 member
    You should have started to look months ago.
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  • D*sMayBrideD*sMayBride
    I guess it depends on where you live. Over here all of the daycares have 6 month waiting lists, and it takes several weeks-months to visit all the good candidates so you pretty much start the research by at least 2nd tri.
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  • sbollenbachsbollenbach

    I would start looking right away.  I don't know how things are in MN as far as waiting lists, but here in CA, the wait time is 6-9 months. :(

    Good luck!

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  • kimberleigh30kimberleigh30 member
    We did our search at 20 weeks, and even then there was a waiting list.  My suggestion to you is to get on it!
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  • TeamReyTeamRey

    I think there are pros and cons to both.

    You might not find one the closer you wait because a lot of places have waiting lists.

    You might not want to bring the baby out for the first few weeks especially to a place with lots of kids/germs

    If you do bring the baby you will be able to see how the provider interacts with the baby which is a plus.

    If you wait until you are no longer working you can go during the hours that children would be there.

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  • Married2MrWrightMarried2MrWright member
    Depends upon where you live, but most of the desirable places have waiting lists.  We started looking when we decided to TTC and made our decision on our first choice when I was 20 weeks...placed the deposit and everything to hold her spot even though we don't anticipate needing to use daycare until she's about 6 months old.  If you can look now, you might be better off than waiting.
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  • dukemcdukemc
    We have 1- 1.5 yr waiting lists in my area.  I started looking at 10 wks and unfortuantley am stuck on the wait list until next August for the 2 places I really like.  Good luck!
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