https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 02:32:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1573769 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 19:44:13 +0000 Ms.Pumpkin 1573769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septca: I did consider it (my agency has a daycare center on-site). However I have a 2.5-3 hour daily commute by commuter train from Baltimore. That commute is really hard for me, I just don't know that it's a good idea to put my kid through that. The commute is one of the reasons I'm hoping to go PT, in fact. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1573685 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 19:08:37 +0000 septca 1573685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Pumpkin: I think you said you work in DC... I would also consider putting yourself on a WL or two near your office. Moms I know (myself included) go back and forth on whether it's better to have LO near you during the day or near home. You likely won't know what will be right for your family until LO is born, so it might be nice to have options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1573451 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:57:40 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1573451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely start now, especially if you're looking for part time! We started at the end of my first trimester and it was just about the right timing for our city. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1573442 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:55:19 +0000 littlek 1573442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Pumpkin: a lot of daycares do not like doing part time schedules. They prefer FT in the infant room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1573407 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:36:01 +0000 Ms.Pumpkin 1573407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, the need to search for care early just reinforced itself!</p> <p>We just got back from touring a daycare center attached to a local hospital (unfortunately, we qualify as "community", so hospital employees get preference). It was brand new, quiet &amp; calm, and we were able to look in on a teacher playing with an infant- it was a really nice center.</p> <p>The waiting list is currently at 25 people, and while the center director urged us to not get too discouraged at that number (things can apparently change quickly), I'm not going to hold my breath. They also don't allow a part-time schedule for infants, and if work agrees to my proposal, I'd ideally like to go PT at work. </p> <p>We'll get put on the wait list just for the heck of it, but will aggressively look at other options to be safe! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1573403 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:33:13 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1573403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would've done it as soon as I found out about the pregnancy, but I live in a large city and the waitlists here are insane! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1573311 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:03:46 +0000 Meridian 1573311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Holy crap, this sounds so crazy!!! I'm assuming many of you factored in an average 3 month maternity leave, so this is for daycare after 3 months, correct? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572846 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:56:51 +0000 PawPrints 1572846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MRSJX3: Haha ditto on the sudden anxiety at 4 weeks pregnant! I just sent this thread to DH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572842 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:53:12 +0000 PurplePeony 1572842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in a large west coast city and was late getting on lists at 15 weeks. We did get a spot at our first choice center, but I only found out while I was on maternity leave -- we were about to start the nanny search the following week when I got the call saying we were in. It was stressful. There was one center where the person on the phone actually laughed at me when I told her when we'd want to start, and essentially said it would be a waste of money to get on the waitlist there because there was no way we'd get in (needless to say, I didn't submit an application there). So my advice is, you'll never be sorry for starting too soon but you might be very sorry if you put it off! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572796 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:30:10 +0000 MRSJX3 1572796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Holy cow. I am 4 weeks pregnant, this is giving me anxiety!!! Someone please tell me I can wait a little while in the Chicago suburbs!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572748 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:16:06 +0000 LuLu Mom 1572748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Now! I seriously called the daycare I wanted the month I found out I was pregnant! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572713 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:05:57 +0000 MamaMoose 1572713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like seriously the second I got a positive pregnancy test. All the good centers around here have crazy long wait lists. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572676 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 12:56:06 +0000 Ajsmommy 1572676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in Frederick MD and we started looking when I was 3 months pregnant. There was no waiting list though b/c my employer has a program that you put in what you are looking for and they give you a list of referrals that have vacancies. It was amazingly helpful. We love our daycare!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572585 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 12:32:20 +0000 keiki_mama 1572585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Now! I started looking when I was 8 weeks just to price things out and see which centers have wait lists and what not. It's competitive in my town. We were on the waitlist for almost 2 years at our current daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572538 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 12:21:31 +0000 littlebug 1572538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started looking when I was 11 weeks pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572525 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 12:17:04 +0000 hotchildinthecity 1572525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in the early stages of adoption and i'm already making a list and looking at how much to budget. I'm in nyc and i know its going to be crazy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572489 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 12:02:56 +0000 septca 1572489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in DC. I put my name on the wait list for a center AT WHICH I HAVE PRIORITY as soon as I got my BFP. DD is 15 mo. We are currently number 56 on that same fing wait list. So, yeah, do it now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572472 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:55:58 +0000 Corduroy 1572472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found my first daycare earlier in 3rd trimester. At that point they had no waiting list and no infant room. I was surprised when I brought LO in for her first transition day. There had been some local infant explosion. There were six infants, all twelve infant spots were filled and there was a waiting list.</p> <p>We moved in November so I had to leave that daycare. We've had to do a TON of scrambling for daycare. LO will finally move to her 4th, and finally "permanent", spot in the middle of May. It's been so stressful. The earlier you find a spot the better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572428 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:42:45 +0000 Ms.Pumpkin 1572428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weagle: Haha, I actually work in DC, but live in Baltimore. There are many things that make me thankful for this fact (despite the long commute), and this is another thing that I can put on the list.</p> <p>@sotofamilia: Thanks! We may look into a possible nanny share situation if a center doesn't work out!</p> <p> @mrs. 64: Hope you get good news from at least one of those places!</p> <p>I think we'll probably be ok... I'm 14w now, so I'm hoping that by January something will open up! It is a crazy situation, but I'm keeping the faith that something appropriate will work out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572416 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:40:54 +0000 bushelandapeck 1572416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started looking around 16/17 weeks and there were very few spots available. We are also i the NEast. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572396 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:33:12 +0000 Weagle 1572396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the DC area, you need to be on some of the lists about 5 minutes after your BFP. Definitely on a wait list by the 2nd tri for some of the best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572385 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:28:13 +0000 mediagirl 1572385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started looking in the first trimester. I would start now, as crazy as it feels/sounds! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572371 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:21:04 +0000 Bookish 1572371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's crazy, isn't it? I started looking before 12 weeks pregnant, and there were already waiting lists for all of my top places. We didn't get in to our #1 spot until a month or so before the baby was born! </p> <p>My LO is 9 months old now, and I just got a call from our #3 place that she was *still* on their waitlist! Crazy!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572336 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:11:41 +0000 psw27 1572336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started emailing and contacting places at around 13 weeks and started taking tours at 17 weeks. I felt kind of silly worry about childcare in December but there were waitlists at all of the places I toured (3 so far, with 1 more scheduled). I think our odds are good for getting into 2 of the ones we toured, but 1 was basically hopeless according to the director. There were some women on one tour that were 6-7 months pregnant and they were basically told there would not be a slot available for them. The super expensive places don't seem to have a waitlist, but they are also $3k per month so... that isn't happening on our budget! I live in the NE as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572282 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:58:34 +0000 sotofamilia 1572282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's good you're starting now. Like others, I started really early, and we weren't even near the top of the waiting list at the center I wanted when it came time for me to go back to work.</p> <p>That said, don't freak out too much...my experience has been there's lot of different types of child care out there. You WILL find the one that's best for you and you will have childcare in place by the time you go back to work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572274 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:57:13 +0000 MrsKoala 1572274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started looking at daycare at 24 weeks but I don't live in a city. I'm in the suburbs. I think it's more important to start early when you are in an urban environment and there is a shortage of space. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572254 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:52:52 +0000 Adira 1572254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely start now! We started looking around 13 weeks or so and a lot of the good daycares in our area either had long waiting lists or wouldn't even let me get on the waiting list! And we don't even live in a large city!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572249 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:51:54 +0000 edelweiss 1572249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i started going on tours around the 12-week mark. i would have gone earlier but i worried about making commitments and the pregnancy not lasting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572240 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:50:14 +0000 littlek 1572240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I plan on getting on the waiting list at LOs daycare when I hit 12 weeks. We get priority since LO already attends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-early-to-look-for-daycare#post-1572232 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:49:21 +0000 yoursilverlining 1572232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in the northeast as well and definitely had daycare locked down by 20 weeks along. By "locked down" I mean I was on their wait-list, had paid the deposit and registration fee and completed all paperwork. Luckily, I was pretty high up on the wait-list and there happened to be a few infants who would be moving to the toddler room when we would be starting. </p>