https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 18 May 2026 10:35:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-to-search-for-child-care-amp-feeling-overwhelmed#post-1305841 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 12:48:05 +0000 blackbird 1305841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I narrowed it down by location, then called them up and got prices. Some were way more than we were going to spend, so that eliminated some pretty quickly. Some had no room, they got crossed off the list. We visited 4 places and had our number one choice (an in-home down the street) and a second choice as a back up (a center) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-to-search-for-child-care-amp-feeling-overwhelmed#post-1305829 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 12:28:33 +0000 Espion 1305829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No good advice, because I'm nearly <i>7 months</i> post-partum and we still haven't found childcare. (We're lucky that when we relocated, DH has held off in starting work to take care of E, but this is not sustainable.) He is number 50-something on the list for the "better" daycare in town. After that there are not that many options. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-to-search-for-child-care-amp-feeling-overwhelmed#post-1305768 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 11:31:41 +0000 indi 1305768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My search was a narrow down process: look up the licensed care providers by topic (no pets, fenced yard, etc), call to find out availability (5 in 40 had an opening), toured the 4 closest to our home on my lunch breaks, called social services to review any reports or violations on my favorite 2, took DH with me for longer tours and talks with the top 2, and then called their references (and others the references mentioned) and made our choice. </p> <p>It was stressful, but like @Mrs. Taco: said, I pretty well knew which one when I'd walked into it. I just wanted to do a little follow-up and also get DH's feel before we made the final choice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-to-search-for-child-care-amp-feeling-overwhelmed#post-1305764 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 11:28:48 +0000 Smurfette 1305764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started looking at places by my house that had a better name reputation. Then looked at places by work. Asked coworkers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-to-search-for-child-care-amp-feeling-overwhelmed#post-1305734 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 11:09:38 +0000 MamaMagpie 1305734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kentuckygirl: haha I'm 15 weeks POSTpartum! Can you say procrastinator? lol<br /> I'm returning to work next week and right now it's possible for my DH to stay home with him but I'm not 100% confident that it will stay that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-to-search-for-child-care-amp-feeling-overwhelmed#post-1305642 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 09:48:31 +0000 Mrs. Taco 1305642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started by looking in the radius around our house/work (any along the way). Then I checked the state website and crossed off any places with violations. Then I went on visits.</p> <p>I will say this...you will most likely know the moment you walk in a place. I visited more than 5 places that I could never see us using and was SO overwhelmed. When I finally went to the place we used (should have started there), I cried--damn hormones. </p> <p>Also, its a good idea to write a list of your nonnegotiable factors (ie. classroom size, feeding policies, hours of operations, distance from house) prior to your visits.</p> <p>GL, it can be SO overwhelming! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-to-search-for-child-care-amp-feeling-overwhelmed#post-1305635 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 09:36:07 +0000 avivoca 1305635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kentuckygirl: Are you looking in Louisville? Wall me if you are and I can tell you where we looked and why we chose our particular center. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-to-search-for-child-care-amp-feeling-overwhelmed#post-1305631 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 09:31:16 +0000 kentuckygirl 1305631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMagpie: Thanks! How far along are you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-to-search-for-child-care-amp-feeling-overwhelmed#post-1305480 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 05:18:02 +0000 MamaMagpie 1305480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bumping. I'm wondering the same things! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-to-search-for-child-care-amp-feeling-overwhelmed#post-1304785 Sat, 28 Dec 2013 16:22:25 +0000 kentuckygirl 1304785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I knew that my search for child care was going to challenging. I only have one recommendation to start from and I know that center would be great but is very expensive. I haven't lived in this area for long and only have a few co-workers with younger kids. I used my company's EAP to get a list of over 100 centers in the vicinity of where I am looking. I have visited the NAEYC site and my state's child care council site for the accredited centers in my area. </p> <p>How did you narrow down your list places to visit? Did you start with phone calls or just start making visits? Approximately how long did each visit last? I think I will need to spread out visits over the course of several weeks/months since I don't have many vacation days right now. I would appreciate any advice you have as I start this process! Thanks! </p>