child care...when to start planning?

cabinchick · December 2014

This will be our first baby, and my new obsessive worry is childcare. When is an appropriate time to start planning/enrolling for daycares? And how exactly do you go about doing that - just call places and ask their hours and rates?

I'm so worried about actually having someone to watch the baby when I go back to work! I travel when not working from home, and DH works until 7 most nights. Also, regardless of where we move, there will be up to an hour commute at least half the time for DH. We don't have any family nearby, and no friends with children. Any advice is welcome! I feel like a crazy person wanting this all planned out already...

intensivepurposes · December 2014

I am in the exact same boat. In your position I'd look for daycares near DH's work, or near your home, since you travel a lot.

Here's what I'm doing: I made a list of how far outside of my commute I was willing to go then found daycares along that route. I haven't even THOUGHT about nannies yet, that is plan B for me. Now I'm filling out applications/interest cards even though it's absurdly early, you can't get on that waiting list too soon! In the meantime I have a spreadsheet of each day care, some notes on convenience, notes on philosophy, notes on anything else I can think of, address, rates, and whether or not I've applied yet. Some of them want serious money just for an application which makes me hateful.

This is not fun. I'm so crazyperson right there with you. Good luck!

cabinchick · December 2014

I'm thinking a nanny might be what we need...if we can find a way to afford it! Is there an online resource for that? I don't even know where to look.

We aren't even sure what we can afford, since we have yet to even buy a home...but I do know it will be more of a sporadic need. My schedule is not routine at all, but I won't need childcare when working from home (at least at first...before the kid is mobile). And DH actually has two practices, an hour apart. He is more or less set on which days at which one, but it does change. I am freaking out wondering how to make this work.

Thanks, girls!

squeegoi · December 2014

I have already started getting on wait lists.

I chose three different places, one of which the infant care waiting list is over a year long (yeah, math much? It'd be a matter of hoping others decide not to use that location, so I could be bumped up the list.)

catahoulatte · December 2014

Wait lists in my area can be a year long. Start asking friends and coworkers if they know of anyone. Do some research online, and start calling and asking about waitlists and price. Figure out who will be doing drop offs and pick ups so you know where you want your daycare, and discuss the pros and cons of an in-home vs. a center (or a nanny) with your SO. Once you've picked out a few that you think sound good, visit so you know if it's the place for you or not. Ask lots of questions and know your state's laws about how many infants can be together, qualifications for the staff, security of the day care, and continuing ed and first aid classes.

DocTaco · December 2014

It depends on where you live, but waitlists tend to be a year plus around me. I'd start planning some tours now. It's not just rates and hours, you're going to want to get the feel for your options.

inLOVEalready715 · December 2014

I think it's very normal to start planning this part so early. I'm going to start touring local day cares in the next month. Waits by me can be up to a year also. With your DH hours you really might so better with a nanny who will come to you, or even a live in if you have the space. I don't personally like the idea of a live in but if you travel and have tough hours it's a great option

slweaver0626 · December 2014

For daycare facilities waitlists are ridiculous. I'm not sure what part of the country you are in, but are there any in-home daycares? They are typically cheaper. The only catch there is that they take vacations and you would need a back up sitter. I interviewed a dozen in home daycare moms before I picked ours and I was 5 months pregnant. Infant spots go fast because states only allow providers to have 1 or 2 (depending on the facility).

cabinchick · December 2014

Thanks. I've done some searches for the local (at least to where I am now) centers and they all close between 3 and 6. I'm sure there are in home options, but I can't seem to find any information. No co-workers to ask, unfortunately...I am a regional rep for a company - my colleagues all live in different states. And we don't have any friends who have kids or grew up in the area. I guess I was hoping there was a general watchmybabyforme.com resource. We live in a very rural area, thus even more trouble narrowing down which exact cornfield filled corner we will move to. We are required to move from our current home because the landlord won't allow kids.

[Deleted User] · December 2014

Depends on the place and how things work in your area. Some places near us had openings right away. However, my DS has been on a waiting list for one center near us since I was pregnant with him. He's 17 months now. We had a nanny for the first three months. It was great having someone at the house. It was really challenging finding reliable people.

hjhmomma · December 2014

I would start looking now. The daycare / preschool my DD attends has a 6 month wait list, I already have baby on the list. Also, like a PP mentioned, with those hours you may have to look for a nanny / in home care as most centers close at 6:30. Another reason to start looking is simply to know what the rate will be. Daycare is expensive depending on where you live. For example, we pay $200 / week for DD and baby will be $225 / week. Luckily we will get a discount on DD once baby is enrolled.

Also, I was a nanny for 3 years for a lovely family. The mom worked from home for the most part but had me there to care for the kiddos so she wasn't distracted. I used care.com as a nanny to find work. They offer background checks, etc. Hope this helps!

jlbaker08 · December 2014

This is my second and I've already told the daycare we use to make sure I'll have a spot in the fall. Warning, child care is WAY more expensive than you could ever imagine. I'll be paying $432/week for 2 kids and mine is actually reasonably priced compared to many in my area.

hjhmomma · December 2014

lynnyloo said:

PPs have given you good advice and suggestions.

I'm not sure where you are located, but in my state there is a childcare locate service which provides you with center or in-home day care information (Maryland Family Network - Locate). I have also looked at care.com and in desperation I have gone to google maps and searched in my area for child care and clicked on each red dot for the name and address. In my area it is near impossible to find a child care center with openings unless you're looking 6+ months in advance (more common a year+). You can also search for a nanny share as a way to spread the cost of an in-home nanny.

In addition to hours/rates you'll want to see if they overall are a good fit with your parenting type. Do they provide food during the day, provider to child ratio, ages of other children, do they have a set curriculum/daily plan, are they CPR certified, how clean does the place look, how do they interact with the children there, do they do outside activities, the list goes on and on.

Good luck with your search. We're still looking for day care for our daughter who is 14 months, luckily my ILs have been watching her since I went back to work. I'm hoping they will watch this next LO until he/she is 2 as well.

This! All of this!

lauralou2210 · December 2014

Local churches may be a good resource as well. Since you're in a rural area you may be able to call and ask a church secretary if any church members provide in-home childcare. This is how a coworker of mine got connected with a retired teacher who watches young children and it has been an awesome fit for her.

BadgerTwins+1 · December 2014

I called the in-home center we used (my DD's are now in school so we don't need daycare currently) and was placed on the wait list. She is *Hoping she has an opening come the fall of 2015 when I need her.. but we will see. its better to start too early then to wait. Good care is hard to come by and then there is the teacher to baby ratio that always kills your chances, if someone else gets in before you. My last pregnancy I waited too long and told our in-home care that I needed 2 spots.. I did this jsut HOURS after another mom told her she needed 1 spot. guess who had to look for care elsewhere because the ratio was filled.... this girl!

Mackalack · December 2014

Yes, when I was pregnant with DD I had her on the wait list for the childcare through my previous employer very soon after finding out, and the wait was still 6 months AFTER my due date. We don't know what we're doing with this one yet, but we should probably figure that out. DD's school is very expensive, and the break for 2 there is only 10% off the cheaper rate, so I don't know. That's going to be $2500 in childcare and we can't stomach that.

Chasity08 · December 2014

I have already started looking, and I'm struggling already. Infant wait lists around here are the norm, and I have been completely discouraged by the couple of centers that I called that they would have 2 openings at once. Ugh....I'm going to start looking in to licensed in homes as well in the hopes that it will open up more options for me.

JennyJensing · December 2014

I live in a rural area and so I didn't have to contend with waiting lists, but you may! I'd say you should start looking soon if you're in a heavily populated area. It doesn't hurt to start researching!

cabinchick · December 2014

Thanks, hopefully I'll be staying in a rural area. DH just told me today he's quitting and going to get a new job...we were supposed to buy a house next month and move ASAP but only like an hour away...now I'll just add this to my list of overwhelming unknowns and hope for the best. One day I'll be able to start preparing for a baby! Limbo stinks

CANTW82BMOM · December 2014

I WFH 2 days a week and DH is off 1 weekday, so in theory, we only need 2 days of care, at least in the beginning. I'm thinking about a part time nanny. Anyone have any experience with this?

wells2010 · December 2014

We have always done private nannies. We are nurse/firefighters so we typically only need help for 1-2 days a week (typically long days though).

A friend used to watch her for $100 a week until she moved. We found our next person on care.com who is really nice. We pay her $15/hr.

Probably eventually I will put DD in a preK program but still have a nanny to watch the little one and pick up/drop off when we are working.

I would say to start looking at care.com during the last month or so of pregnancy. That will give you plenty of time to find someone . You can look at centers earlier as some have wait lists. I wouldn't worry about all this now. Enjoy being pregnant!

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