https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:10:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2241269 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 20:00:26 +0000 sapphire 2241269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: I don't think you can really start looking too early in most places.</p> <p>We had two needs. Daycare starting at 8 weeks in the location where we currently live and daycare starting around 6 months in the location we are moving when LO is 5 months old. </p> <p>For our more immediate need, I started looking at the daycare associated with my employer. I waited too long for this. I got on the waiting list early 2nd trimester after I had announced my pregnancy and found that the waiting list was long. BUT they gave me hope that there would likely be a spot when we needed and kept stringing me along. So we found a back up spot a couple months before LO was born which is where she ended up (and it's been fabulous).</p> <p>For our need when she is 6 months old, we started about 9 months ahead of time and found that a couple places already had waiting lists but several places had openings or very short waiting lists. We ended up choosing one with a waiting list, but they called us about a month after she was born (so 5 months ahead of our need) and told us they had a spot. </p> <p>We started with my employer sponsored daycare and then my husband's work offers a discount at a number of area daycares so we started looking at those. We actually found our daycare first and then picked the exact neighborhood we would move too after that. She'll be about 2 miles from our house and it's on a convenient pathway for both myself and DH on our way to work. My work will only be about a 10 minute drive, DH"s is further. </p> <p>I think finding a daycare that you are happy with is more important than whether it is right by your house or right by work as long as it's still relatively convenient. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2241207 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:24:02 +0000 jape14 2241207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. When did you start looking for infant care?<br /> - We started calling places right at 12 weeks, and even then, the waiting lists were insane. We live in a downtown-ish neighborhood in our city and the 5-star centers fill up fast! </p> <p>2. How did you find infant care centers?<br /> - Our state has a website where you can search for them, so I used it to search for 5-star centers near our house. </p> <p>3. Was it more important to be close to work or close to home (especially if you and your partner work close to each other)?<br /> - Close to home. I have a 30-40 minute commute and DH and I were planning to split drop-off/pickup duties, so close to home made more sense.</p> <p>(We ended up doing a nanny share because we couldn't get into the center we wanted for the first year. We're planning on sending DS to that center starting at age 2.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2241136 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:57:30 +0000 MaryM 2241136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the help!</p> <p>I have a feeling places are going to have waiting lists because of living in a metro area. I feel like 15 weeks is early to start looking, but also worry about being too late because of the area I'm in. but it sounds like it's about standard, I guess?</p> <p>I cross checked a few websites with the county social services list, and have come up with a list of about 10 to check out. Holy overwhelming! </p> <p>Follow up question, When you visited/toured places, how long did it usually take? </p> <p>I'm running close on having enough PTO to cover FMLA leave so I'm trying not to take more time off. I do have half day fridays for a few more weeks, so wondering how many tours I can work into a 5 hour afternoon </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2241042 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 15:26:30 +0000 mauxie 2241042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. When did you start looking for infant care?<br /> I researched before getting pregnant and got on 3 wait lists as soon as I got my BFP (same with LO2). Wait lists here are 1+ years. We got our "acceptance" after 11 months. </p> <p>2. How did you find infant care centers?<br /> DH and I both work at places that have NAEYC affiliated child care centers. Our goal was to get in one of those, and our backup was an NAEYC one in our neighborhood. </p> <p>3. Was it more important to be close to work or close to home (especially if you and your partner work close to each other)?<br /> We wanted closer to work since we both commute. We figured it would mean less time away from us and the ability to visit during the day. Our center (at DH work) often has things going on for the parents to come and see (parent coffee dates, recitals, shows, conferences, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2241036 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 15:21:23 +0000 MaryM 2241036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crystal: Given where we work, I think it's the "emergency" thing that freaks me out the most. </p> <p>I'm pretty sure the centers where I live are much higher rated than the ones near where I work, but I work a lot in emergency preparedness so I'm a little worried about getting to my kid should something occur (especially given where we work!)</p> <p>It's a major worry, but I'm not sure if the the chances of that happening are worth it when it comes to ease of drop off/pick up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2241033 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 15:18:51 +0000 Crystal 2241033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Based off of friends/coworkers (and from what's people my mom babysits for say) I think it depends on how often you anticipate wanting to drop the baby off at daycare when you are off. if you anticipate doing it frequently for personal days/dr appts/errands/being home sick, I think close to home is a better option. If you want to be nearby the baby during an emergency (baby is sick/daycare closing/etc) close to work might be better. Good luck with whatever you decide! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240962 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:26:17 +0000 catlady 2240962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. When did you start looking for infant care?<br /> - Before we got pregnant. We live in a crazy area with long waiting lists and I wanted to be prepared.</p> <p>2. How did you find infant care centers?<br /> - Google searches, plus I made note of the ones we saw while walking/driving around in areas close to our home.</p> <p>3. Was it more important to be close to work or close to home (especially if you and your partner work close to each other)?<br /> - Probably not relevant to your situation but I have a walking commute and chose a daycare that was on the way. DH has a longer commute, so for him, this means closer to home than to work. For your case, you'd probably be best off choosing a place somewhere on your commute that you like the best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240961 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:24:43 +0000 simplyfelicity 2240961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS isn't in daycare yet</p> <p>1.. When did you start looking for infant care? When I was 20 weeks but, around here, that's really early. Most people don't look until their LO is born. </p> <p>2. How did you find infant care centers? It was recommended by a coworker. </p> <p>3. Was it more important to be close to work or close to home (especially if you and your partner work close to each other)? The place is about 3 minutes from home and 10ish minutes from work. Closer to work is more important to me but its close enough to not be a problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240955 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:17:24 +0000 avivoca 2240955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. When did you start looking for infant care? We started looking when I was 15 weeks pregnant. I wanted to have something in place by the time his travel schedule started in case baby was born early.</p> <p>2. How did you find infant care centers? Google. We wanted to either be near one of our jobs or in between</p> <p>3. Was it more important to be close to work or close to home (especially if you and your partner work close to each other)? It was important that we were close to home and my husband's job. The centers in my work neighborhood weren't highly rated, so we looked close to his work. They share the same parking lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240948 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:15:08 +0000 MaryM 2240948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raspberries: Good point about the friends! I hadn't even thought of that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240945 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:14:20 +0000 travellingbee 2240945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. With this pregnancy, I got on the list before I was actually pregnant because otherwise we would have lost the space. With DS, I knew where we wanted to go, but registration wasn't until February so I just waited until then (month before he was born)<br /> 2. Asked friends and neighbors.<br /> 3. Our first day care was close to work and it didn't work out for several reasons. The second one we decided that close to home was better and switched. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240938 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:09:57 +0000 raspberries 2240938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. We started looking at around 25 weeks (so looking in May to start daycare in November.) It was way too late - everywhere we looked had a wait list for full-time care, but we live right outside of Boston so I think our location had something to do with it.</p> <p>2. I basically Google-mapped our route to work, and searched for daycares along the way. Once I had a list of the ones who were convenient, I arranged tours, which really gave me a good idea of what we were looking for in a daycare (since I was initially clueless.)</p> <p>3. DH and I commute together, and it was more important for the daycare to be closer to home. (LO's pediatrician is closer to home if something was wrong; it'd be more convenient for other people to pick him up if DH or I get stuck at work; AND the friends he'll be making at daycare will be nearby for playdates on weekends.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240909 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 13:49:35 +0000 mediagirl 2240909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We both WOTH and she started in daycare at 15 weeks. </p> <p>1. When did you start looking for infant care? At 20 weeks.</p> <p>2. How did you find infant care centers? I asked friends, drove around, searched google for daycare, childcare and preschool. </p> <p>3. Was it more important to be close to work or close to home (especially if you and your partner work close to each other)? Close to work means you can't easily drop the baby off when you need to run some errands on an off day when you may want a little break. Closer to home means more time without the baby on a regular day. I chose the location we liked best which was neither close to home nor work. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240894 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 13:43:20 +0000 snowjewelz 2240894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't end up sending DD but we did pretty much all the prep work! </p> <p>1. When did you start looking for infant care?<br /> -- I was due in December and visited them in August</p> <p>2. How did you find infant care centers?<br /> -- I had lived in our town for a year but didn't really know anyone either. I just started googling. I also joined a local moms group where there are real moms that can give feedback! </p> <p>3. Was it more important to be close to work or close to home (especially if you and your partner work close to each other)?<br /> -- Well, my thought before was that if she was going to go 2-3 times a week, for a full day, then it'd be close to my work so I can do drop off/pick up (DH's schedule changes but mine is rigid so less fluctuations). It'd be 20 min from home so in the even that I'm somehow not at work, it's not a crazy distance to go. BUT, now DD is 7.5 mo and I want to now find a place that can do part-day as well, and if that's the case then I'd have her as close to our home as possible and I would not be doing PU. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240875 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 13:35:07 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2240875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started early - when I was about 20 weeks pregnant. I wanted to have time to check into each facility and visit a few times before we made our decision. </p> <p>As for how we found centers, we did have some people to ask, but we also went online and checked out places in our area near our home. It was important to us to have the center near our home because if you take a day off, but still would like to send your child to day care for whatever reason, I would have to commute over an hour and a half to be near work, and DH would commute 20 minutes. We've sent LO to day care to keep routine if we have a day off for doctor appointments for me (pregnant with #2), home projects, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240874 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 13:35:04 +0000 Adira 2240874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. Started looking right around 14-15 weeks.</p> <p>2. Mostly did Google searches to determine what was around, but our state also has a list of all daycare centers and their violations, so we went through that to weed out some.</p> <p>3. We work in opposite directions and would be sharing drop-off/pick-up duties, so close to our house was a must. Even if we weren't doing that though, I think we'd choose closer to our home if possible. Limiting the time your child has to sit in the car is a good thing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240873 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 13:35:03 +0000 yoursilverlining 2240873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. We started looking, and got on waitlists when I was around 20 weeks pregnant. Several places already had waitlists long enough that there was no way LO would have gotten in when we needed care (when she was 13 weeks old). </p> <p>2. I started with the state licensing boards, and good old Google. I wanted a place that was NAEYC accredited, so I also started with their lists of schools. I was not interested in in-home places, or unlicensed care. A couple of co-workers at my previous job and I briefly talked about going in on a nanny-share, but I wasn’t that keen on that either. The licensing boards were able to give me a list of daycares within X miles from my home or office, and also supply information like complaints, etc. </p> <p>3. When LO was born, both Dh and I each lived a 10-minute drive from home to work, so it didn’t really matter. That said, we ended up with a place that was another 10-15 minutes out of the way of either of our commutes. I now work on the same campus as the daycare center, so it’s awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240872 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 13:35:01 +0000 LuLu Mom 2240872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. We found out we were pregnant with DD1 on a Saturday, I called the in home I knew I wanted for daycare on Monday. She was the second person to know I was pregnant we wanted to reserve a spot immediately.</p> <p>2. I had started to research daycare before I was pregnant (when we were trying.) I had met our lady at a social gathering, my Goddaughter went to her and I loved their interaction. So I knew I wanted my child to go to her too. </p> <p>3. We got lucky and ours lives 2 minutes from my work so we decided to go with her. If I didn't know this lady I would have found one closer to home I think so drop off/pick up would be more convenient for both of us. Right now it's kind of out of the way for DH to have to do it if I have an appointment/sick/ect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infant-care-poll#post-2240859 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 13:27:09 +0000 MaryM 2240859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've read some various threads, but wanted to put all my questions in one place. </p> <p>If you and your partner are both WOHP and don't have family to help with childcare (especially if you plan to need it at the 12 week going back to work stage)...</p> <p>1. When did you start looking for infant care?</p> <p>2. How did you find infant care centers? We just moved to our new neighborhood, and so far are the youngest couple, so I'm not sure we can even ask around (there are teenagers nearby, but I don't think the families lived there when they were babies)</p> <p>3. Was it more important to be close to work or close to home (especially if you and your partner work close to each other)? We both commute about an hour, so the distance is significant time-wise if not especially mile wise. </p>