Do you have daycare figured out?

Ravenbaby · June 2014

Do all you working mommas have child care figured out?

shelly2314 · June 2014

I am taking a bit off, then my wife also gets maternity leave (3 months). Then we have someone we know very well that will come to the house M-F 7:15-4 to care for them until they are at least a year old.

golfingdarwinfish · June 2014

We will start interviewing nanny candidates in September (for a May 2015 start) and I will probably start visiting daycare centers at the same time in the event I want him closer to me during the day after his 1st bday.

JessAnnJ · June 2014

The new LO will be at the same center as DD. DD was on the wait list for 18 months to get in but siblings get priority so the new LO will get in right away. We considered a nanny since we will be paying more than $2,000 per month for two, but I think DD will benefit more from the school setting and continuing to socialize. She has really learned so much. I also like the flexibility of the daycare hours and never having to scramble for a backup because the nanny is sick or on vacation.

angeltennis3 · June 2014

I haven't even started looking...but I am very lucky and get six months of maternity leave, so my plan is to start in August. If I only 2-3 months I probably would start looking about now.

Ravenbaby · June 2014

Eek I just realized after daycare I will only be bringing in $100-$200 a week! Sooo I might be staying home. If I had a 401k I could justify it more

Firemanswife11 · June 2014

I started looking into home child care but it turns out I will probably be able to stay home 2x per week when my husband is at work. So hopefully, fingers crossed, we won't have to do daycare. We live in a town of 40k and the daycares here suck. I'm scared it won't work out but I am having faith.

irisheyes317 · June 2014

No, and I'm getting stressed about it already! I'm on 4-5 waiting lists, but I'm still concerned we might not have a spot when we need it. I'm taking either 5 or 6 months off, so it won't be until March or April but our two favorite places have 2 year or more waiting lists. I'm waiting to get on the waiting list at two other places too. You have to take the tour to get on the waiting list, and the tour spots fill up quickly so we can't go until August. I feel like I'm on the waiting list to get on the waiting list!

LightBright515 · June 2014

I have two lined up. The one I'm interested in most told me to call back as I got closer to my due date (home daycare).

beachbumsc · June 2014

We are on two waiting lists now. I won't be going back to work until January, but if we don't get in by then I am fortunate enough to bring baby with me until we get a spot.

MrMrsandBaby · June 2014

I really feel for you who have to be on waiting lists. I don't think I would do well with that! We are taking this LO to the same in-home daycare that DD goes to. DH works 2nd shift to they will only be there from 2-5 every day...so it is part time rates, $200 a week for two kids.

BeckyH05 · June 2014

We are on a wait list at the daycare center at my job. The old director told me I should have a second option but I really want her on campus with me. DH is an administrator in a different department there so I'm hoping if it comes to it we can use his pull.

not sure how that will go though.

slsl509 · June 2014

JessAnnJ said:

The new LO will be at the same center as DD. DD was on the wait list for 18 months to get in but siblings get priority so the new LO will get in right away. We considered a nanny since we will be paying more than $2,000 per month for two, but I think DD will benefit more from the school setting and continuing to socialize. She has really learned so much. I also like the flexibility of the daycare hours and never having to scramble for a backup because the nanny is sick or on vacation.

Similar minus the 2K a month (!!!!). I sort of struggle with my DD being in a larger center but she has learned a ton and is smart as a whip (no bias at all). The flexibility is great and I never have to call into work for a daycare issue.

We only use daycare part time. We are extremely lucky to have my parents very close by to do some care. They watched DD until she was 6 months and will do the same with this LO. I get the best of all worlds with that and the relationship they have with DD is totally amazing.

kgrisham18 · June 2014

Hopefully we'll be set after next week. I've gone to one day care center and am checking out an in-home daycare next week. I'm hoping that works out because it's more convenient than my other options.

BreandMikewedding · June 2014

meagpt22 said:
We have started looking and doing tours. One in home day care and 3 centers so far. I like the idea of in home but feel that with 6 kids to one teacher with ages up to 6 yo.. It may be hard to pay full attention to an infant. So right now leaning towards a center where the room sizes are smaller and they have an infant room. The price overwhelms me..so scary to think how expensive it us.

Ratios for infant rooms are typically 4 or 5 infants per teacher at a center and I can tell you from experience it is much harder to keep up with that many infants than it is to watch 6 of various ages. I have known many infant teachers who were very good at it, but it is harder.

Leysin97 · June 2014

I got on the wait list in feb, since it is through my school district employees get priority. I got a spot but at a school far from work opposite direction of my house. It will add about 45 min to my already hour commute. On the waiting list for the school next to my work so fingers are crossed.

CynthiaVRey · June 2014

Since I'm self employed I'm hoping to only use daycare about 2 days a week fingers crossed and one day hopefully a family member . These waiting lists are a pain

femail · June 2014

We signed up for the YMCA daycare in February or March, but just changed to an in home daycare option. It's more than half the cost of the YMCA and we feel that our little girl will have much more fun and one on one attention at the in home option.

PC0909 · June 2014

I'm dreading it. MIL has been watching DS, but she needs to get a better paying job in the fall so DS will be home with me while I'm on leave, then both kids will be going to daycare. There's no way we can afford a center or a nanny, so we have been casually looking at home day cares. So far the cheaper places near my house charge about $1000 a month for infants which is not ideal with DH's student loans.

ss265 · June 2014

We just put down a deposit for DS2 a couple of weeks ago. He will be attending the same DC as DS1. We considered a nanny but with both DH and I working 40 hours a week, we would need her for around 50 hours a week which would have been cost prohibitive. Plus, I like that I don't have to worry about meals when they are in DC (our DC has a kitchen and all meals are provided) and I like the accountability of having multiple teachers around.

mcclan03 · June 2014

Kind of. We got on the list in April -- the daycare we want was already on a waitlist for 2015 at that point. So we've picked our first, second, and third location choices.

We still need to do the tour and all that to be sure this is the right place. Right now we're just going by word of mouth. I've heard from other moms that it's really important to meet the "teachers" who work in the infant room, more so than the daycare director or anyone else, so I want to do that soon.

We also may split childcare between daycare and nanny, since I may work from home a day or two per week when I first come back from leave (and get a nanny for those days). I've done nothing on that front. Definitely feel like I'm behind schedule there.

SusieBW · June 2014

DD is starting at the new daycare the week after 4th of July. The place she's been going for the past year only does toddlers and preschool, so we had to find a place that could also take infants. DD is starting now so that she will be settled in there before DS arrives. She'll go three days a week, with the other two days covered by DH's aunt and my mom. DS will start there on the same schedule in January when I come back to work. While I'm on maternity leave, I think DD will just be home with DS and I the other 2 days, but I still want her going to school 3 days/week even while I'm home. Both because I think it's good for her and so that I can have those days alone with the baby. The days that she is not at school, I'm also planning have my mom watch the baby for a little while so DD and I can have some alone time, too.

The problem is that it's a big daycare center and DH's aunt is a nurse, so her schedule rotates, meaning the kids' schedule at daycare will also rotate. At DD's current place, I can text the director on Sunday to let her know DD's schedule for the week and it's NBD, but at the new place, I'm always going to have to let them know a ways in advance (it's sort of amazing that they were even willing to work with us like this), and DH's aunt isn't always the most reliable in terms of telling me her schedule. But the price difference between 3 days/week and 5, especially when they're both in daycare, is HUGE, so we're going to have to make it work. 3 days/week with a pre-schooler and an infant is going to run us about $1400/month.

lrobi13 · June 2014

I got on a wait list in February and was given a spot for March 2015. They called last week and moved us up to December. Not sure if I will go back to work Dec. 1 but it is nice to have that option.

wildflower75 · June 2014

Reading this thread gives me slight anxiety so I kinda stopped towards the middle of the responses...
I have a 15 month old DD that will be in a 12 week program starting in October so that gets me through till January. And in January I will be taking DD and baby#2 to California to spend a month with my mother. But when we return in late February I need to find something for DD who will almost be two by then. This way she can be in a day care / preschool and baby #2 can be at home. My MIL comes over to watch DD now and will continue but I don't want her to be overwhelmed with 2 babies so I really have to get DD in a program for (the latest) when I go back to work in April.

cmcookaln · June 2014

I think I hit the jack pot. I made my first call yesterday about child care to an in home child care that was highly recommended. Basically, all of the other teachers at my school have either had or currently have their children stay with this lady. We talked on the phone for a long time yesterday and she has the same beliefs and views that I do about child rearing. Plus, she is about a mile from work. I will meet with her at the end of July and see the facilities, but I feel very confident that it will work out well.

PBJellyTime · June 2014

I had every intent on being a SAHM after LO was born, but my boss caught wind of it, and basically BEGGED me not to leave. So last Friday I visited a DC that was recommended to me. (We just moved to a new area) Nearly 1/2 of my paycheck will also go to DC if I chose to return to work...

I don't particularly enjoy my job...so right now, I am leaning towards not returning to work. I'm not going to miss out on my childs first year of life to put up with garbage and barely have anything to show for it...

Liss1481 · June 2014

Luckily DS1 is already in a center that we like, so got priority for registration and are all set for DS2 to start in December or January, depending on when I decide to go back to work (only 2 weeks paid leave

MuffinMom14 · June 2014

I just logged in JUST TO RANT ABOUT THIS.

I have a back-up plan. But I don't love it. So, I've been looking for in-home daycare people. One person was recommended, and I talked to her, and everything was fine.

Since then, she's been posting on Facebook and handing out flyers every day trying to fill vacancies. She will be full by the time this kid is born and needs daycare (January)! I understand she has to make a living, but at the same time, I keep being told to secure daycare NOW NOW NOW there are wait lists, and etc., but. Then this happens. I had someone. I was done looking, but I guess I just have to have a list of 5 or 10 and just hope they don't fill up?

I'm screwed either way.

russinangl · June 2014

We have found a daycare and put our deposit down to start end of February beginning of March. I am excited about the place I love it but at the same time I wish I could stay home.

staryb · June 2014

This is all kind of up in the air for us. I really want to quit my job when the baby arrives but we can't quite afford it, mainly because of DH's school loans. If I go back to work daycare would cost 2/3 of my paycheck and we would still be struggling anyway so I don't feel like I can justify it. Our closest family is 45 minutes to an hour ans a half away and then the same distance or longer to where we work so that's not a good option. I think I'm gonna be staying home and looking for a new job that is either close to family or has opposite hours from DH. I'm a little scared that we're so unprepared but I know we'll work it out. DH is feeling a lot of pressure though.

bumpuser10309732 · June 2014

This thread made me go oh shit I guess I need to get on that. The one I wanted is full until March 2015. Not good! I'm not really sure what we're going to do since we don't technically need a 40 hour a week day care. I guess I better start asking around town! *Cue anxiety*

femail · June 2014

SPurp13 said:

I just logged in JUST TO RANT ABOUT THIS.

I have a back-up plan. But I don't love it. So, I've been looking for in-home daycare people. One person was recommended, and I talked to her, and everything was fine.

Since then, she's been posting on Facebook and handing out flyers every day trying to fill vacancies. She will be full by the time this kid is born and needs daycare (January)! I understand she has to make a living, but at the same time, I keep being told to secure daycare NOW NOW NOW there are wait lists, and etc., but. Then this happens. I had someone. I was done looking, but I guess I just have to have a list of 5 or 10 and just hope they don't fill up?

I'm screwed either way.

We signed up shortly after we found out we were pregnant at the YMCA and still were put on a waiting list but told it shouldn't be an issue. We were told it would cost us $221 a week. I started thinking about in home care a couple weeks ago, and saw a friend on facebook post about wanting to start doing in home care again, so I jumped hoping to get a spot. Everything was finalized from what I could understand, then she quit replying to me. I gave up and posted a "anyone have any in home day care recommendations?" post on facebook and THATS when she decided to finally reply. She said she found another family, so we just got cast aside because we haven't had our kid yet. Luckily though, a friend recommended a girl who is about 3 miles away from us (wrong direction, but oh well) who wants only $110 a week. We went to meet her a couple weeks ago and both left like we hit the jackpot! She seems perfect...she has the same morals/expectations as we do, is very active with her kids and will provide food when our little girl is off breast milk! Oh, and she's willing to try cloth diapering! BIG WIN!

I'm keeping my name on the YMCA wait list JUST in case...but she said she will guarantee us our spot, and she seemed pretty legit on that promise.

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