https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 05 May 2026 09:57:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2432293 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 22:37:54 +0000 sapphire 2432293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the first place we lived, I was on be waiting list for my work daycare starting in September and did not have openings until the next October, but we found other care. There weren't many center based places that took infants. We found out about 6 weeks prior to Lo's birth that there was a cancelation at our back up place - thank goodness! I still don't know what we would have done otherwise. We then moved but we started looking for places 9 months ahead of times. We got a slot at our #2 but about four months later we got a call that we were off the waiting list for our #1 choice and it has worked out well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2432170 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 21:17:40 +0000 Alba4 2432170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow! Luckily we didn't have much trouble. We switched my DS's school a couple of months ago and they only had 2 specific days available. Luckily my mother was flexible and switched the days she watched him to accommodate this daycare. We just got the day we really wanted switched back this month.</p> <p>I mentioned that I was pregnant to the daycare just last week, so they can reserve a place for DS2. They said they give priority to current families anyway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2432167 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 21:15:48 +0000 runnerd 2432167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we moved, and put him in daycare at 5 months, there was opening within a month of us inquiring. Then we decided to explore other options and the 2 others within 5mi of our house both had openings for the end of our 2 week notice requirement, so no issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2432161 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 21:11:59 +0000 mrsjazz 2432161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! It is easier after they turn 1 in my area. We actually couldn't find daycare so we did a nanny share. I was anti-nanny at the time but I wasn't quitting so we went for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2432121 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 20:57:54 +0000 erinbaderin 2432121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, that's crazy! We started looking when my son was 6 months old, trying to find him a place for when I went back to work at 12 months. Our first choice place put him on a wait list, but our second choice had room, and at 9 months the first choice called and said he had a space. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2432118 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 20:55:42 +0000 simplyfelicity 2432118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, not really. I filled out the paperwork in November and put DS in daycare in January.</p> <p>Eta: I actually called when I was 20 weeks or something and she told me she has never had someone contact her so early and told me to call her when DS was 2 months old </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2432108 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 20:50:53 +0000 JenGirl 2432108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got on the waitlist at my work at 6 weeks. That was a year ago. And next week my son will start at another daycare because we're still on the damn list. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2432104 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 20:49:30 +0000 catomd00 2432104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep it's super competitive for infant spots. It's not unheard<br /> Of to be on wait lists before you're even pregnant! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2432095 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 20:46:59 +0000 mrsjd 2432095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mauxie: What did you do in the gap time before a spot became available?</p> <p>@Corduroy: Oh man! All that back and forth sounds tough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2431831 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 19:30:15 +0000 Corduroy 2431831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I looked when I was 5 months pregnant with LO1 and there were a ton of openings. Our top choice didn't even have any infants for the infant room at that time. By the time LO started they were at capacity and they had 12 infants. I think the economy had finally stabilized about a year and a half prior when everyone decided to get pregnant.</p> <p>We moved when LO1 was 8 months old. We couldn't find anything for one month. The spot that we found was only for two months before we had to leave for a baby that had signed up before we moved. Then we had another gap before we got another spot and eventually went back to the first one. Ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2431704 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 18:10:09 +0000 mauxie 2431704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It wasn't necessarily hard finding the daycare we wanted bc it was narrowed down by accreditation and location, so in the end there were only 2 we wanted to get into. But the difficulty came in waiting to be accepted and having a contingency plan in place... </p> <p>We got on both waitlists as soon as LO1s pregnancy was confirmed and luckily got in within 1-2 months of our requested start time (when LO was about 4 months old). </p> <p>It's been much easier now with LO2 and 3 since siblings take priority, but we still have to get on the waitlist while pregnant lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2431701 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 18:06:31 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2431701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've been a little lucky. We have so many DCP choices within a few minutes of our home. I toured one that I really like today that has three openings for when I return back to work. Right now DCP is a back up, but it's nice to know there's room. I'm 28 weeks preggers right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2431691 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 17:56:27 +0000 Grace 2431691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup. It's a two year wait list where I am, so everyone gets on the list as soon as they find out they are pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2431680 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 17:45:50 +0000 Mrs Spoon 2431680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. It is very competitive in in he two areas I have lived in since having LO. What we ended up doing was going the in home daycare route. You have to really search and asked referrals because a lot of the great in home daycare dont't advertise. But we have found amazing places that my daughter has thrived in. Good luck! It's so stressful when you're told the wait list is a year long when your baby isn't even born yet! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-it-difficult-to-find-a-daycare#post-2431648 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 17:36:29 +0000 mrsjd 2431648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live in an area where childcare is extremely expensive and competitive. I'm not quite 7 weeks and I'm already filling out applications and have been told by our first choice that it likely won't happen this year because their applications are already going through the approval process for this year. The places that take infants are very few. I would need to go by to work by 12 weeks at the latest.</p> <p>Has anyone else experienced this craziness? I feel almost like I'm jinxing this pregnancy by filling out applications or getting on waitlists (ultrasound is next week), but I'm also afraid to wait and not get into a good facility. </p>