1st time mom-to-be here!
I know for looking at daycare centers, the sooner you look the better. But, how far in advance should you look for in-home care? Most nannies are going to be looking for a job as soon as possible, not waiting for one in May/June when I would need them!
Re: In-Home Care
I didn't start looking for in home care until after my son was born. Typically, in home providers do not have waiting lists....they will advertise openings as they are available. I starting looking when my son was six weeks old and was able to find someone within a couple of weeks.
mdchildcare.org is a great place to start, they list licensed child care providers, most of them list rates, and phone numbers. I went there and just started calling.
I was a nanny until very recently and most families would start their search about 6-8 weeks before they needed a nanny to get a feel for things. However, I usually didn't put myself out there until I was just about ready to start working (about 3 weeks).
I advertised on Sittercity and Nannies4Hire and had great success. My last family was a Sittercity member and they had a great experience. There is a sign up fee but no agency fee. Background checks, etc. are also offered through both sites.