https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 03:59:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2749150 Mon, 19 Jun 2017 11:02:32 +0000 kayla0416 2749150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With our first, I started calling around at 14 weeks. Got on a couple waitlists and found out at about 28 weeks that my top choice would have a spot for us. When I got pregnant this time, I told daycare the week after we found out. They said it for sure wouldn't be a problem to get new baby in. Children of employees and current families get priority over anyone new. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2749134 Mon, 19 Jun 2017 10:24:18 +0000 cascademom 2749134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Um, I started looking for my first's childcare situation (way back in 2012) when my baby was 6 weeks old. I managed to find an excellent in home daycare that we stayed with until he was 2.5 years old. After that, we went to a more preschool oriented daycare. We sent his little brother to the in home daycare until we moved to the burbs. </p> <p>I did daycare searching about a month before we moved and located one that would accept both kids at the same time which is a feat onto itself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2749089 Mon, 19 Jun 2017 09:22:07 +0000 snowjewelz 2749089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends where you are. </p> <p>There are a lot of kids, but also a lot of centers where I am. All the most "prestigious" ones are harder to get into, but they were also out of my price range anyway. </p> <p>But I guess there is no harm in doing research early! I had put down a deposit at a place close to my work, but then when I was actually close to going back to work, we worked out another arrangement with my mom so we ended up going to a center very close to our house. So situations can def change! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748945 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 17:46:32 +0000 dominobee 2748945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for your responses! I'm going to wait for my 6w3d u/s on 6/29 to start calling around because... well there might be two in there. HCG was 4297 at 4w4d and they saw one definite sac and then something smaller that *might* be a sac.</p> <p>In the meantime I'll definitely start looking around and compiling a list. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748886 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 12:04:05 +0000 Bibliolove 2748886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started looking at 14 weeks and wished I had started sooner. I did find a good spot though, and no wait list. No harm in looking earlier! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748841 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 08:22:38 +0000 StrawberryBee 2748841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same as @gilmoregirl: , I'm in PA and it's no big deal for most places. We're switching daycares because we moved up a new school district and so far everyone has immediate availability. A friend just moved as well and got into my current daycare immediately (toured on Wednesday and starting the following Monday). There was another daycare she was interested in but even though they could take her son now (I'm assuming due to it being summer), they wouldn't be able to take him September or October until their expansion was completed. So not saying that you'd definitely get in anywhere, but there are plenty of options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748795 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 21:29:52 +0000 lilyofthewest 2748795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in a major metro area with long waitlists. I started looking at about 10 weeks pregnant, got off 1 waitlist when LO was about 15 weeks old, and I still am not off of any of the other 5 waitlists I got on (LO turned 2yo in May). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748785 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 19:39:07 +0000 gilmoregirl 2748785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is definitely not a huge issue where I live in PA. There is one very popular center with a long wait list but there are lots of really great options that have little to no list. I looked when my son was 5 months and needed to enroll him at 9 months and that was early. </p> <p>I didn't have any personal recommendations to use so I just googled for centers in a particular area (my husband and I work in opposite directions and split drop off and pick up so we needed to balance the commutes). Then we visited a couple. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748742 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 16:39:10 +0000 bushelandapeck 2748742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started looking right around 16w with my first. It was tough finding someone but I eventually did. Then I got laid off while on maternity leave and stayed home until DS was 9 mos. I went back part time and couldn't find a daycare so we went with a nanny. It is more expensive but it has been a better fit for us, given that my hours are 7a-5p and I leave the house at 6:30am. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748727 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 15:44:30 +0000 skinnycow 2748727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dominobee: Ah that's terrible! Hopefully you'll be able to take some time off! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748726 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 15:30:11 +0000 Alba4 2748726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We looked when I was maybe @ 14 weeks? It felt weird, but we found a spot- no waiting list. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748709 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 14:13:18 +0000 peachykeen 2748709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With DD1 (2014) we started looking ~20 weeks and were lucky to get a spot at our top choice. This pregnancy I signed up DD2 right around 12 weeks and got one of the last 2 spots I think (to start exact same time of year, if that's relevant).</p> <p>I'm guessing it wouldn't hurt to call around to get an idea of availability sooner - you can always do tours a little later if demand isn't too high. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748700 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 13:51:49 +0000 wrkbrk 2748700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dominobee: Yes, we looked as soon as I found out. You have to here. And we had a friend run into people she knew at a daycare tour waaaaaay before she was ready to tell anyone so that fear is real! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748677 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 10:45:30 +0000 Freckles 2748677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As soon as the pregnancy test turned positive I put DS' name down on the waitlist. Infant care is extremely hard to find- we were lucky to get a spot when he was 9 months old. </p> <p>I put DD's name down when I was 4 months pregnant and she didn't get into my first choice daycare. Highly sought after centres usually have longer wait lists. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748671 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 10:23:34 +0000 dominobee 2748671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skinnycow: I don't even have maternity leave, and my employer is too small to be required to offer unpaid FMLA leave (same with DH's employer). :bummed: Ironic since I work at a public radio station and we're always accused of being "too liberal." Liberal my ass! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748670 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 10:09:07 +0000 skinnycow 2748670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started looking when I was about 12 weeks along. It worked out fine for us but I had a longer than average maternity leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748644 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 06:06:48 +0000 Eko 2748644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It does depend where you are, but where I am I would start looking now. Most people here start around 12w. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748643 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 06:06:34 +0000 atoz 2748643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started researching options before LO was born, and called to get her on waitlists when she was 3 months (we wouldn't need it until she was 15 months because of my leave). In-home daycares seemed to have more openings; the daycare center she's going to had a one year wait list.</p> <p>I don't think it's ever to early to start looking, so don't feel silly...when you look, just ask about their waitlists &amp; availability and it will give you a better idea of how quickly you need to figure out your options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748607 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 22:53:15 +0000 mrsmacSLP 2748607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started looking when I was 8 weeks, got on a few waiting lists and I will be heading back to work in August. I live in a small town with two in home daycares and work in a small town with 4 total daycares. None have openings in August for an infant, infact none have an opening until January 2018! </p> <p>We found a friend of a coworker who can watch him for $60 a day and then when W turns one he'll be able to go to the daycare at the school I work at. It's been a rough find for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748601 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 22:33:48 +0000 MrsSRS 2748601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our school isn't enrolling and isn't even taking more people for the wait list until October. I'd start researching now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748600 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 22:33:13 +0000 gingerbebe 2748600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dominobee: I went on a waitlist for my second child when I was 12 weeks pregnant and he got in at 11 MONTHS OLD. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748586 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 21:32:23 +0000 Pollywog 2748586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 5 weeks I put myself on the wait list of all reputable centers within a mile of my downtown office. I miscarried and got pregnant 4 months later. We planned to go to the same center I loved (still on the wait list). At 7 months pregnant my office moved, so we went to the county website and called every home daycare within 2 miles to see who had vacancy. There was one person and she was blah. He'd be safe, but I wasn't happy. When he was 3 days old we got a calk from a daycare a block away and she was wonderful. It was such a good fit. And at 6 months I finally got a spot at the original center I loved. It was 18 months after going on the wait list. </p> <p>My advice is to figure out what you want (home, nanny share, center) and then start making calls to centers. Home daycares are normally less rigid and nanny shares are often arranged after birth </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748582 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 21:20:56 +0000 MrsSCB 2748582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I visited my first when I was 10 weeks pregnant. It really depends on where you live, but some have crazy waiting lists. One was 16 months, which is just ridiculous. I got on a few waiting lists. We registered for one daycare, but got into a different one I liked better right before my son was born. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748577 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 20:51:22 +0000 winter_wonder 2748577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dominobee: when I was 4 months pregnant. We got so lucky! A spot finally opened up when DD was 5 months old.</p> <p>See if you have a chilcare resource and referral in your area. I also recommend looking at the DHS list about complaints and violations against centers or providers. I'm not sure if all states have this, but mine does and it really helped me rule out people based on violations (e.g. I remember one violation being an open gun safe :shocked: ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748576 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 20:51:07 +0000 Coral 2748576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dominobee: So it really, really depends on our area. Around here, people start looking after the baby is born. I started calling around 28 weeks and the people said that that was abnormally early. :shocked:<br /> I would get some insights (maybe there is a mom's Facebook group for your area?) I think people often tell their daycare right after they get a BFP because they already have a child at that place and want to secure another spot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-start-looking-for-daycare-and-how#post-2748573 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 20:46:17 +0000 dominobee 2748573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When did you start looking for daycare and do you wish you had done it sooner?</p> <p>I'm a reporter and about a year or so ago I interviewed a early childhood educator and mother of two who said you should start looking for child care before you even get pregnant.</p> <p>I'm 4w4d so it seems craaaazy early to even be thinking about this yet, but I keep hearing her voice in the back of my mind.</p> <p>Also, how do you get daycare recommendations when you're trying to keep things hush hush during the first trimester?! I'd love to ask people I know with small children but there's no one I'm close enough with to want to tell them this early. </p>