https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 10:08:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2666472 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 11:00:55 +0000 Freckles 2666472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you really want #1, call every day. I'm serious. Every day. </p> <p>I had LO1 on the university daycare waiting list from when i was 4 months pregnant, thinking that was sufficient. The daycare sounds like yours and it was my dream centre. I only called a few months beforehand because i didn't think there would be an issue! She didn't get in and i had to scramble to find another daycare. Finally when she turned 3 she got into a preschool program so i took her off the list. LO2 was able to get in because i had him on the list when i was 1 month pregnant and i called every month until i got a spot. If you don't get in from the beginning (infant room), you basically don't get in at all. If you do, it's because of a rare spot opening up but typically they would rather move up a kid into that spot than give it to someone in from outside. There are kids who have to wait in a younger room until one opens up, so it's unfair to hold them back.</p> <p>I'm not trying to be negative but letting you know what my reality was. Did the director say that you were the next one on the list, and that you would definitely be getting your kid in? If she was vague and uncertain, i wouldn't go with that. What happens if the kid doesn't get potty trained until April? What about the other kids who will be moving up? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2666325 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 08:28:42 +0000 MrsB2012 2666325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depending on what notice you have to give to leave daycare 2, I'd put him in there until a spot opens up for #1. You don't know how long it will be and it would probably be much less stressful for you.<br /> Or ask yourself how long you can keep up with the current situation. If you're ok to stick it out for another 6 months, then leave it as is. But if you're getting close to your wits end, then put him in 2 until 1 opens. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2666314 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 07:29:59 +0000 MrsADS 2666314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cole that's a good point about the licensing. The fact that every single daycare we've toured in our area has the same rules makes me think it's some sort of county/state licensing issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2666224 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 21:04:56 +0000 Cole 2666224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I suspect the licensing at daycare 1 could be the issue, I think ratios etc change at 3 but only if they aren't dealing with diapers which is why so many preschools require potty training even if they start at 2.5. </p> <p>I think I'd call daycare 1 and push harder for an answer. If I was satisfied I'd stick with the crummy sitter situation. If it still seems shady I'd go with center 2 and reassess when a spot opens. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2666220 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 21:00:37 +0000 MrsADS 2666220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: @JenGirl: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @catomd00: @Adira: @My Only Sunshine: @kiddosc: @PawPrints: @Banana330: @erinbaderin: @mediagirl: </p> <p>Thanks all. I think the potty training policy is also weird BUT... literally every daycare in our town we have toured ALL have the same rule!! They have all mentioned it. I guess I thought it was just normal because it seems to be a "thing" here! Daycare #2 (which we toured today) has the same rule too, you have to be potty trained before you can leave the 2's room.</p> <p>I talked to the director of school #1 (our first choice) and apparently what happened that delayed us getting our spot is that 2 babies in the infant room needed to move into the 1's room, so they got in before my son. But we are next and they are just waiting for this 1 kid to get potty trained, I guess he's pretty close. She thinks it could be January, but told me February to have some wiggle room... although it's never a 100% guarantee, I guess.</p> <p>Daycare #1 is a university lab school. It's very small and intimate, has more staff than required by state ratios, PLUS has graduate students always there so the kids get tons of attention. Great outside play space for the 1 year olds. I really like their philosophy/curriculum. They have a nurse practitioner there for most days of the week. 1-way mirrors so you can check on your child. It's walking distance to my husband's office on campus. Tons of books and because they have so much staff, they read to each child in the 1's for at least 15 minutes a day, individually. </p> <p>Daycare #2 (toured today) was pretty good but just...a daycare, you know? No books for the 1's. All the 1's teachers had been there less than a year (most less than 6 months), a lot of college students. 2 classes of 18 kids each for the 1 year olds. Their outdoor "play area" is just a small area inside a courtyard with those interlocking tiles - basically they never see outside. Snacks are animal crackers and ritz crackers. The 2's watch a video after lunch and before pick up - ugh. But the facility is super clean, nice big room, very secure, I didn't see a single crying kid in all the rooms we toured (all the 1's rooms and the 2's), which is pretty amazing. </p> <p>I think I am going to just keep him at home till he can get into daycare #1. I really don't want to start him somewhere and then pull him out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2666160 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 19:31:25 +0000 ShootingStar 2666160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd be concerned about daycare 1 and the potty training. I would not like that in a school. And I think it's bad classroom management how it's working now. But if you're sure they're a better option I'd tell them you want a guaranteed spot for February or you're going with option 2. </p> <p>If they can't give that to you go with option 2. I switched daycares for DS at 15m and it was rough. I would absolutely not do it twice so close together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2666086 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 17:02:26 +0000 JenGirl 2666086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Daycare #2 sounds better than your current situation, so I'd put him in there until a spot opens at daycare #1. </p> <p>We had to do this and our son was in the first daycare about a month before we got him into our preferred daycare. It was fine. And it really made me appreciate my preferred daycare all the more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2666085 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 17:01:00 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2666085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Start him in #2 and make daycare #1 aware of the type of notice you must give daycare #2 when you leave. You may be able to get daycare 1 to hold a spot for you without having to pay two daycare's tuition for a 7-30 days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2666071 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 16:48:08 +0000 catomd00 2666071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd go with #2 and maybe move to your first choice if you end up not loving this one. Personally, I wouldn't like the daycare simply because of that ridiculous potty training rule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2665988 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:28:33 +0000 Adira 2665988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Put him in daycare #2 and reevaluate when the spot opens up in #1. You never know. You might actually love #2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2665984 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:23:40 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2665984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: This is such a weird policy! A lot of three year olds aren't potty trained yet. </p> <p>I would try to get more info from your top choice. Are you the first on the wait list? So if one kid gets potty trained, you're in? Then I'd wait it out. Are you depending on like seven little three year olds to get potty trained in the next two months? Then I'd go with the other place for now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2665932 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:49:10 +0000 kiddosc 2665932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You have to be potty trained before 3?!? I mean, it seems pretty obvious that a lot of the kids aren't ready since they have such a back up. Maybe you can have a conversation with daycare #1 about changing their policy? </p> <p>Otherwise, I would enroll in #2. If you're not happy when a spot opens at #1, then you can move. What is it about #1 that you love so much more than #2? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2665930 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:46:51 +0000 PawPrints 2665930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I would hold out and wait for the better daycare at this point. Those kids have to move up at some point. Have you let the daycare know you're frustrated by this? I think it would really be in their interest to get the kids moved up (and the parents to potty train their 3-year-olds) since surely they're losing money by keeping those slots empty in the older classrooms. </p> <p>At 16 months I would not have wanted to switch daycares twice in a short period of time. We switched at 14 months and DD adjusted pretty quickly but it was still a bit of trauma - she was old enough to realize that we were abandoning her in an unfamiliar place with total strangers, but not old enough to understand our explanation of what was happening. Personally I wouldn't want to do that twice in just 1-2 month period. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2665914 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:38:42 +0000 Banana330 2665914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: ask daycare 2 what their departure policy is.. some have a two week notice period others can have months. That might play a role in what you decide. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2665901 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:29:56 +0000 mediagirl 2665901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Put him in #2 and if #1 opens up, move him. He WILL adjust. It may take time but it will be okay. It sounds like you need to get out of your current situation no matter what so go for what will work for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2665899 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:28:31 +0000 erinbaderin 2665899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Put him in daycare #2 until a spot opens up if you still don't love it then. I don't really see a downside, your current situation doesn't sound like it's really working for anybody. </p> <p>Although I don't like their system of graduating. It's unpredictable and I don't like the idea of parents having to potty train kids who maybe aren't ready because daycare says so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-dilemma#post-2665891 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:24:37 +0000 MrsADS 2665891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is almost 16 months. We've been on the waiting list for a great daycare forever. It's very small and it's hard to get in. They don't have a spot in the 1 year old room because of a "backup" in the 2 year old room - you can't move to the 3 year old room until you are potty trained. Apparently there are a bunch of newly turned 3 year old who can't move up to the 3 year old room because of the potty training. Which means that the 1 year old room is full of newly turned 2 year olds who can't move up. Which means no spot for my kid in the 1 year old room (if that makes sense).</p> <p>Anyway, first they told us they thought he could start in August (around his 1 year old birthday). Then they pushed it to November. Now the director is saying "maybe early February, the parents say they are going to work on potty training over Christmas break." </p> <p>My husband and I are both frustrated and sort of feel like they are just kicking us down the road, but I guess there's nothing we can do about it.</p> <p>We toured another daycare in town that has an immediate opening starting after New Years. Our childcare situation now is not good, we have 2 part time sitters who are not always available and then he and I take turns "working from home" (i.e., not really working that much then staying up late at night to work). It's not an ideal situation. </p> <p>I don't *love* daycare #2 (with the immediate opening). It's just okay. If I knew for sure he could get into daycare #1, our first choice, at the beginning of February, I would keep him home with the babysitters and bad work situation until then and just suck it up.</p> <p>But based on daycare #1's past behavior, I'm afraid February is going to roll around and they're going to tell us sorry, it's going to be another month or two, and then we are stuck.</p> <p>I am trying to decide if I should just enroll him in daycare #2, and depending on how it goes, either leave him there, or pull him out and put him in daycare #1 if/when a spot becomes available. </p> <p>WWYD? I really prefer daycare #1 to daycare #2... although I guess you never really know until your kid starts going there. </p>