How soon is too soon

mesekula619 · May 2013

To start thinking about daycare options? More people at work know about the pregnancy now and the number one question is..."hey Meg, when you come back from leave who's going to watch the baby?" Ummmmmm----- Dunno! Lol

I'm lucky enough that the company I work for provides 3 full months of 100% paid maternity leave. But 3 months, in the grand scheme of things, is not a lot of time to be daycare cost free.

I'm thinking maybe I should start making some phone calls. Apparently a lot of the daycare facilities in my area have waiting lists. I don't want my beloved baby to wind up in some Podunk facility because Mommy and Daddy didn't have a plan.

Is anyone else thinking about this or am I neurotic?

SarahDavis83 · May 2013

You're not neurotic. I'm definitely thinking about this. I won't start to seriously inquire until I'm at least 12 weeks, because of previous losses. However, I think it's smart to plan ahead.

MEP923 · May 2013

I'm a SAHM but I do not think it is too early. I worked in a daycare for a long time and it is normal for women to call ahead of time, especially with infants. Most daycares I have worked at have not had more than 8 babies. This is because they have to have a 1 teacher to every 4 infants (also one of the reasons the price is so high). When you get to the older kids they can have 15 kids to 1 teachers which allows them to have a lot more children in the room and lower prices for the families. Waiting lists are not uncommon. I usually didn't see people taking tours until about 7 months but I think it's a good idea to start calling now.

bethLenell · May 2013

I am a SAHM as well but I have been looking into preschools for my DD there are waiting lists so I would start looking and asking questions asap.

GTown08 · May 2013

So I admit to being Type A and probably neurotic, but I started looking into daycare before I was even pregnant. We have one in the building I work in, so I called to ask about cost when DH and I were talking about starting TTGP so we could get an idea of how much a child would cost us and if we were ready financially. I also wanted to know what the time-frame was. And, they have a wait-list. So, probably not a bad idea to at least start doing some research.

tealowl · May 2013

Better to call too soon than too late.

I've already e-mailed one center. I'm not sure how to ask people that do in-home, because you really can't 'hold' a spot with them.

Hopefully I just find a babysitter, it'll be cheaper anyway.

shortms6 · May 2013

It really depends on your area and if you want a home provider or daycare center. In busier cities/towns, you need to start looking well in advance as places tend to have waiting lists, especially centers that are popular. In my area (more rural community), it's not nearly as much of an issue as it would be in a bigger city. I use an in-home provider and I started talking to her about caring for DD when I was about 4-5 months pregnant--but she is the sought-after "teacher" daycare lady.

It can be harder to find a place with openings for babies at the last minute, as there is a limit to how many infants centers and in-homes can and will take. I'd start calling about the end of first tri.

BellaElla79 · May 2013

I don't think you are being neurotic. This is a cost that you are going to have to work into your budget. A big cost. It's never too soon to start figuring out where the money is to pay for this is going to come from.

mesekula619 · May 2013

Thank you all for your input! I called my DH at work to get his input and I could hear it in his voice that he thought I was a crazy lady. This is also the man who thought our wedding reception should've been held in an empty grass field where not so great apartments once stood, complete with a tap wagon and a pig roast. And I mustn't leave out our attire: he in a tuxedo t-shirt and me in a prairie skirt. [[no offense to anyone who's taste that would be, I'm just soooooo not that girl]]

Love him more than anything but I immediately realized that questions like this are what Bumpies are for. Haha

ermimac · May 2013

With DS I put it off until I was on maternity leave because I didn't want to think about it and we don't live in a big city where you have to pay a deposit while pregnant. However, we told DS's sitter because she is amazing and she has limited spots because she has to drive her girls to school. We told her the day after my parents, which was good because her sister had asked her if she could watch her friend's child next year. Luckily she is taking the baby! She seriously is an amazing and very affordable sitter that DS loves so we didn't want to lose her!

bjb91byu · May 2013

I dont think your neurotic. I think its good to be prepared! I feel very blessed that I will be able to be a stay at home mom, your post made me realize that I am glad I wont have the stress of this on me. Eventually I may get a part time job, but at this point I will be home.

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