Started looking into daycare

MaineIslandBride

So I've started looking at daycare and I'm already getting stressed about it. Apparently a lot of places don't take infants due to state guidelines being so strict.  Apparently it's just easier/cheaper for people not to take them at all, is what I have been told.

 The few I've called that DO take infants are booked up. Some of the full ones have told me to call back around October/November. I really didn't want to be worrying about daycare that late in my pregnancy as it's a pretty major thing to have settled. Some that are full have put me on a waiting list. One daycare I called said they had an opening coming up in August, but that it would probably be full by the time I need daycare around February.

I'm not sure what to do. Should I not be looking this soon? When I find one that has an opening should I offer to pay for the slot starting ASAP even though I won't have a baby actually attending until around February?

shuga_23

Finding daycare is a SOB.

Yes, you are right to look now and get on multiple lists. And chances are that if a vacancy opens up before your babe is ready...they will ask you to pay for those weeks. Standard procedure.

I never found a place that did not accept infants.

MaineIslandBride

shuga_23:

 

I never found a place that did not accept infants.

Lucky me I guess! LOL I've been looking in Newport/Pittsfield area and about half the ones I called don't take infants at all.

grahamsm3

I think that is is kind of crazy that so many places you have tried do not take infants. The infant regulations really are not that much more of a PITA than the regulations for older children IMO.

You should be looking this early, especially since the N/P area is so devoid of childcare. I thought of someone else to email for you, I'll let you know what she says.

MA&CB

I would get babe on any lists you can find now, but a lot of smaller places don't have a waiting list, and will just tell you to call back later like you've found.  In those cases, I would wait until October/November and call back.  A lot of things can happen in a daycare between now and February, so they really have no idea if they'll have openings this far in advance.  I ended up not going with a licensed daycare, but rather a SAHM with her own kids (and still have this arrangement); it was easier to arrange, cheaper, and I preferred the home environment and 1:1 care for when he was an infant.

mrscjwatts

I don't think it's too early to start looking, but it might be too early to freak out It was something that I wanted ironed out before I delivered, because I knew I HAD to go back to work, there was no choice in the matter.  I started looking the middle/end of January (was due the very begining of April) and making appointments to see places.  We got lucky and chose the second place we saw.  We told her that we would need her the middle to end of May but ended up actually sending Taylor the middle of June (10 weeks old).  It worked out perfect.....so in the end, what will be will be