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Northern California Babies
My Boys!
How soon do you look for daycare?
Now, I realize I'm still in the first trimester here, but how soon should you look for daycare? I live in the peninsula, so things are pretty expensive. Unfortunately, after my 3 months maternity leave, I'm going to have to go back to work--since we are going to rely on my work for health insurance for baby and I. I've heard stories about getting on the waiting list before baby is born, so is that what I have to do now?
Any recs for daycares in the peninsula? I can do anything between Mountain View and San Mateo (since I live in Menlo Park, but work in Foster City).
My Boys!
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Re: How soon do you look for daycare?
I think a lot depends on your area. I'm in Sac, and we looked at a few daycares when I was about 17 weeks pg. One couldn't get us in until January if we'd gotten on the list right away, and the one we chose is going to start letting us know about openings starting earliest in November (they can't actually guarantee a spot on a specific date b/c they have to give priority to federal families, but since we ended up #2 of 8 on the waiting list for November, I'm confident about getting in there). Anyway, we signed with them and gave them a deposit when I was about 19 weeks pg, and they thought we were definitely early, but then again b/c they can't guarantee a spot and it's based on me possibly being bumped by federal families, I was glad I got on the list asap (and I was #2, so obviously someone else was as eager as me
).
Long story longer - I would start making your list, touring, and calling around asap. You have some time, but it also takes time and they'll want a deposit, and you'll want to discuss with your H after you tour, etc...so it doesn't hurt to look sooner rather than later. GL!
Depends on what sort of place you're looking for. In-home daycares you'd look closer to your due date. If you want a daycare facility you should look now. When I called with my first child at around 4 months in-home daycares said call back much later. I went with in-home because it was cheaper. I have a rec in RWC right off 101 if you're interested. Do you still have my email? Email me if you want it.
With DS1, he was starting daycare in July, and every place I called at the time had availability for July, so we waited until I was on maternity leave to tour the centers and put a deposit down about a week after DS was born.
With DS2, he'll be starting in December. I talked to the director awhile ago about when to save our spot for him, and she said to pay the registration fee right away, that they already had families reserving their spots for November/December. Crazy.
Anyway, I'd start calling around and feeling the places out for your anticipated start date and go from there.
The place we wanted couldn't get us a spot until this coming October, and i went when I was 14 weeks pg.
The place we ended up choosing wasn't full when I signed Ellie up, but its full now.
We were interested in daycare centers.
~~ married 8.11.07
~~ DD1 1.16.11 ~~ DD2 1.3.14 ~~
~~ BFP3 12.22.15 MMC 2.29.16 @ 13 weeks ~~
~~ 2 D&Cs (3.1.16 and 3.10.16) for MMC
~~ BFP4 10.27.16 MMC 1.23.17 @ 16 weeks ~~ D&E 1.26.17 ~~
I would first narrow down if you want an in-home daycare or a daycare facility. Daycare facilities have a wait lists of about a year, so yes, you'd want to tour a few and get on some wait-lists now.
In-home daycares I found had a lot more flexibility and you can wait until you're closer to your due date.
Our boys go to Footeps @ Nesbit and we've been really happy there. However, their wait list is in fact a year long. Sometimes openings happen unexpectedly and you can get in sooner, but my experience there was a year. Happy Campers in San Carlos is shorter, and I'm yet to get a call back for my oldest from getting on the wait-list at Kindercourt... 3 years ago X-(
Then if you want a nanny you'll want to interview once you're already on leave.
Good luck w/ your decision.
Photo by Zemya Photography
Ditto on the in-home Day Cares. We didn't start looking until 6 weeks before. I was pretty confident I wanted a smaller in-home day care. We found a great fit after searching 3 places.