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if you use an inhome daycare
I think I've covered by bases searching, but just in case....where'd you find them?
The one we were recommended by C's coworker (which is 2 blocks from us and well priced) is full...
I've called two we found flyers for locally - one only has room for one, and the other seems nice and experienced but she just quoted me $15/hr (we can get a nanny for that (i think anyway), or go to the nice shiny center).
I've been browsing craigslist, but nothing has come up. Ideas?
We're going to go see the cheap center which I'm wary about (but have a deposit in at) again in a couple of weeks and meet the infant lady (its really a small preschool approved to have 5 kids 2.5 and under...), and there's two centers I like (one of which is 1/4 mile away and has space) but they're more than we wanted to spend. I am so freaking stressed out about this.
Re: if you use an inhome daycare
The state has a list of centers. I've called all the ones in logical locations. I'm trying to explore all the options before committing.
The in home places (limit 5 kids) are licensed by county and the search engine for our county is awful and wonky and seems out of date.
I'm probably SOL and need to suck it up and go to the center I don't love or just eat ramen for a while (ok, being a little dramatic, but the nice places for 2 are really nearly my whole take home pay), but I'm trying to be sure I cover all my bases first. ugh.
I found mine on CL, then I checked through the state website to make sure she was registered/had a license and checked to see what her violations were, if she had any etc.
I actually found a couple of different in-home center's on CL that I checked out. But the one we went with was the first place we visited and I fell in love. The in-home prices I found were all similar but much cheaper than the center prices.
Does NJ have a county specific website where you can check out daycares to see if they passed inspection. Most of the ones listed for our county include address and phone numbers, so you could always try to cold call a couple of daycares to see if they have openings. Or see if you find an in-home center that you can switch too if you really aren't liking the cheaper center.
When I was doing my daycare search, I googled "Michigan Licensed Child Care" and was directed to a website that has a listing of all names of individuals/businesses that have daycare licenses. From there I was able to search by city to narrow down my results. It gave me the name, address and phone number of the license holder, as well as PDF's of both the licensing reports and any inspections they've had. If it's applicable, you're able to view any additional reports (there were a few with claims of neglect/abuse) and all the comments associated with that incident, including the resolution.
I knew the lady across the street from me had an in-home daycare, but reading her report just solidified my decision to send Brody to here. There were no violations in the 10 years she's been in operation.
I've seen my friends put something on Facebook looking for daycare recommendations...would that work for you guys? IMO, you really really have to go with your "momma intuition" on choosing a DCP. You've mentioned more than once that you're wary of this center, and the fact they charge so much less than other places (and have openings!) is kind of worrisome to me.
I KNOW. I've compromised with C (I put a (very small) deposit down there before seeing anyplace else) that we'll go see them again before deciding. Heidi, I am thinking we might go with them and move to the new center (they are licensed for 18 infants, so we should be ok) if need be.
None of my friends with kids live close by enough to be of help...
ugh. I know I keep whining about this, but its really freaking annoying.
CRAFTY ME
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