https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:17:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150727 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 11:21:17 +0000 Rubies 1150727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There is a fee because in general, people tend to put their names on a whole bunch of wait lists, thus taking up a spot that might otherwise be available. Our daycare required a deposit to ensure that we were serious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150714 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 11:18:02 +0000 bhbee 1150714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to pay about $75 for the waiting lists I went on, I believe. I thought that was high, surprised to see it goes much higher! that wasn't a deposit in my case, you weren't getting it back. </p> <p>I did have to make a full month deposit to hold my spot, but not until a date was guaranteed. only about a month in advance in our case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150620 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:49:06 +0000 PurplePeony 1150620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Deposits are standard in my area but the amount varies widely. The rationale is that it keeps the lists from being clogged up by people who don't really intend to send their kid there even if a spot opens up. The daycare we're hoping to get into was $25, which we gladly paid. Others I contacted were $100, $250, and $400(!) and we didn't bother applying, less because of the cost than because they pretty much told me there was no chance of getting a spot by the time I need to go back to work. It just seemed silly to pay for something we almost certainly won't be able to use.</p> <p>ETA: I should clarify that these really are application fees, though most places call them deposits...they're non-refundable and most of them don't get applied to future tuition (only one center does this). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150613 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:47:52 +0000 Bluebonnet 1150613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had to pay application fees to get on the waitlist for daycares we were interested in (to secure our spot). We didn't pay a deposit until our chosen daycare let us know a spot opened up for us (and we had to pay the deposit to secure our spot). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150579 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:38:54 +0000 pelikila 1150579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We paid between $150 to $200 to be put on wait lists at the daycares we were interested in. It is part of why we started looking for daycares when I was only 5 months pregnant. By the time C came along and was 8 weeks old one of the two had a spot open for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150552 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:29:37 +0000 mrsmate 1150552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That sounds kind of high to me...for DD's daycare we only had to pay a $35 deposit, really more of an application fee. We didn't have to pay the real deposit (1/2 one month's tuition) until we got a start date. This is a daycare in downtown Boston, too, and daycare spots are expensive and sometimes hard to come by! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150540 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:27:19 +0000 heartonastring 1150540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, where I am you don't pay to be on the waiting list. Every single centre here has a massive waiting list, so you have to put your unborn child on 10+ lists to have any hope of getting in, so it wouldn't be feasible to require deposits! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150539 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:26:37 +0000 Mrsbells 1150539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we had to pay a deposit of $420 when we registed her. They hold this deposit until we leave and it will serve as the last two weeks tuition </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150518 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:18:09 +0000 littlek 1150518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: We had to pay a $150 deposit to get LO on the waiting list. It's common practice in our area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150510 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:16:12 +0000 MrsKoala 1150510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm on a wait list right now for our LO that isn't born yet but don't have to pay anything until we know our LO gets a spot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150504 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:14:57 +0000 MsLipGloss 1150504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't judge a daycare based on (perceived) popularity to the extent that it could be popular due to its affordability and/or other factors (not many centers in the area and/or the most affordable center in the area, extended hours, sibling discounts, etc.). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150503 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:14:55 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1150503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As long as you could get the money back if you took your name off the list I wouldn't worry about it too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150494 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:11:35 +0000 autumnlove 1150494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had to pay $200. We put it down in August 2012 for a slot in September 2013. We moved up the list and got the spot so they applied it towards the first month of tuition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/deposit-for-daycare-wait-list-spot#post-1150485 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:09:02 +0000 Corduroy 1150485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH are in contract on a home in a city 40 minutes from where we currently live. That means we're looking for a new daycare ASAP.</p> <p>I found one that sounds good but there's a wait list. To get on the wait list you need to pay a $250 deposit. I don't unstand paying that kind of money to get in on a random date (most likely in May). Their justification is that a spot will eventually open up - just with no guarantees on timing. That won't work for us but who would that work for? Is that standard in your area? </p> <p>I'm not opposed to application fees and fees to reserve a spot - I'm just confused by this one. The daycare didn't look that good but I guess they must be popular. </p>