Daycare is one of the most convenient and affordable childcare options for most working moms. They are cheaper and easily accessible than other in-home care arrangements such as a nanny. However, depending on location and other factors, daycare slots can be limited and hard to come by.
As such you need to decide early whether you want an infant daycare for your child and when to start looking for one. Most of the best quality daycare has a waiting and booking list for working moms looking to enroll. Unfortunately the waiting can be so long, sometimes extending to 12+months. The faster you can book a slot, the better for you.
It is therefore important to start looking as early as possible if you intend to have your baby under daycare. It is recommended that you start looking before you deliver. For harder to get slots, it is even advised to start even earlier such as when you are planning a pregnancy or the first few weeks of pregnancy.
The Best Time to Find Infant Daycare
1. Before Conceiving
You can start looking for daycare before you conceive. Some working moms have now learned the trick of booking daycare slots even before they have conceived. Yes, this is a thing. You may find that the nearest high-quality daycare of your choice has the longest waiting list.
Some daycares even have a waiting list as long as 1 year+. The infant rooms have the lengthiest waiting list than others because guidelines demand the strictest ratio limits. Therefore to get on their list and finally get a slot, you need to start daycare hunting as soon as possible.
The trick helps safely wait out the long the waiting time for your slot. It may come up even over 16 months later after booking so it is safer when you book while planning to get pregnant. The tip is especially helpful for moms coming in urban areas with high demand for daycare.
2. Immediately you get Pregnant
There are several reasons you need to start looking for daycare immediately you get pregnant:
- If With First Child
If just got pregnant and this is your first child, you must start looking for daycare now. It is important that you have a plan for your infant as early as possible because it is harder for first time moms to get a quality daycare. Once you realize you are pregnant with your first child, start hunting for a daycare immediately.
If not, it will be tool late for you to get a daycare slot ready in time. A daycare hunt can be the most stressful part of your entire pregnancy when this happens. This is true especially because this being your first child, you are doing a fresh hunt for your baby.
For this reason, you need to start conducting daycare research immediately you become aware of your pregnancy. The process can take a long time and you therefore need adequate time to find a preferred daycare, move up the waiting list and finally get a slot by the time you have delivered your baby.
Read: How to Retain Motivation for Work when Pregnant
- You Live in High Demand Area
Also if it is not your first child but it is generally hard to get an infant daycare in your area, start looking once you get pregnant. If you live in an area whereby getting a slot is hard, the safest way of getting an infant daycare for your child is to start looking for daycare as soon as you realize you are pregnant.
In some high demand areas the lists are shorter at about 3/4 months. If you live in such an area you could wait till your first trimester in your pregnancy. Other locations have waiting lists as long as 2 years. Therefore saving a slot early as soon you know you are pregnant is the safest bet.
Remember, not all babies start daycare at 12 weeks so you could be competing for spots with women who are further along in their pregnancy than you.
- You are Resuming Work after Delivery
Many working moms don’t have the luxury of a long paid maternity days. It affects how soon you start into an infant daycare research. Because of the limited time you have after delivery and needing daycare services as you get back to work you need to start looking into daycares as soon as you realize you are pregnant. If you wait it out till second or last trimester , it could be too late to get daycare in time before you resume work.
Read: How to Find Last Minute Nannies or Baby Sitters
5. 2-3rd Trimester
Most daycare will prioritize a spot for an existing family. If you want both your children to attend the same daycare, you can take advantage of this. Hence if this is your second or subsequent birth, the stress of looking for an infant daycare may be less compared to the first child.
If you still intend to use the same daycare for your second child, start booking for a slot during your second or third trimester in your pregnancy.
However you should be guided by your current daycare policy. In some daycare , you may be required to book early as new parents. In such a case then this should be as early as you realize you are pregnant. Since you may still have to wait like the rest of the parents.
Read: Questions to Ask During a Daycare Tour for Infants
6. After Birth
It is OK to start looking for infant daycare after birth if day cares are readily available where you live. If there is no competition for infant daycare services in your area, then you can start looking for a daycare after delivery while you are on your maternity leave.
This happens in rural or semi-urban areas away from the city. In such cases, you can simply call in today to save a slot for next week. Therefore it is safe to even wait till last trimester or delivery to book a slot.
Hence the specific day or time when you should start looking for daycare will vary depending on your daycare preferences. Remember you will still need to start the process of vetting the daycare before you start one. Therefore do not wait till the last week of maternity leave to start looking for an infant daycare or registering your baby into a nursery.
Read: How to Find Last Minute Nannies or Baby Sitters.
Secrets on How to Get Daycare Fast
1. Book with Multiple Infant Day-cares
There is an uncertainty of being on the waiting list for day-cares. You are never sure you will have a spot right by the time you need it. Saving a slot with multiple infant day-cares is hence the better option of securing a slot faster and easier.
If you can’t find a place you like that has an opening, book with multiple others. Booking with multiple day-cares will help you get daycare slots faster. While you may have a preference for a certain daycare, it is safe to have an alternative and book with them as well to ensure you don’t lose on both day-cares. It is hard to miss a slot from any of them by the time your maternity leave is up.
Easy Tips on Making Multiple Daycare Bookings
A. Create a List of Potential Day-cares: Start by researching day-cares in your area. Make a list of facilities that meet your criteria, such as location, hours, and type of care offered.
B. Schedule Tours: Reach out to each daycare on your list individually to schedule tours. Be clear about your interest in their services and ask about availability for upcoming slots.
C. Keep a Calendar: Use a calendar or app to track your tour dates and times, as well as any follow-up actions needed. This will help you stay organized and ensure you don’t miss slot opportunities when they come up.
D. Take Notes: During each tour, take detailed notes about your impressions, the environment, and the staff. This will help you compare your options later when you are booking for a slot.
E. Follow Up: After visiting a daycare, follow up with any additional questions you may have. This shows your interest and helps clarify any uncertainties and keep them considering you.
F. Evaluate and Decide: Once you have gathered all the information, review your notes and assess which the number daycare aligns best with your needs. Make a decision based on your priorities and comfort level.
2. Conduct a Infant Daycare Tour Early
Visiting a variety of infant daycares can raise your chances of getting a daycare slot faster. Start daycare tours as soon as you can to get an idea of what you are comfortable with for your child. Have a list of daycare interview questions to ask them during these tours.
Also, create a daycare checklist of things you consider important for you and the characteristics of a good daycare. Visit a variety of places, big infant daycare centers, smaller infant daycare centers, in-home infant daycare, etc. Do a random drop-in rather than an expected visit to the daycare.
You may find that the most popular infant daycare regarded as high prestigious and highly competitive is not your greatest fit. Instead, the one matching your needs can the least favorite in the area for others and hence easier and faster to get into.
3. Consider In-home Care Option as an Alternative
It is easier and faster to get a slot for your infant in an in-home care center. Consider that in-home day-cares can’t hold spaces for long because they are so small. You are hence more likely to find something closer to your due date/when you need care.
Look at the different types of childcare available here.
As such in-home care centers are worth looking into when you are yet to be called for a slot you had booked earlier in a formal daycare center. There are hardly any waiting slots here.
Read: How to do an Effective Nanny Sharing
4. Put on a Deposit to Secure A Slot
It will be easier and faster to get a daycare slot if you put down a deposit. Depending on where you live, the deposit may range from the normal monthly rate or higher. Putting a deposit down some hope and helps to secure a spot after you book.
5. Select Day-cares on Quality and Compliance not Demand
Eliminate and settle on day-cares that meet your needs, even if they are not popular. Some unpopular day-cares are still good and have open slots ready for taking. Don’t settle for any daycare just because they have the space and the price. Be sure of what you want before enrolling on the waiting list of the infant daycare.
The process will help eliminate day-cares that have serious issues and pick those that are serious in offering quality daycare services. Some of the things to look out for when conducting a daycare research is a conducive environment for caring for infants/babies, variety of age appropriate activities, and effective management among others.
Depending on where you live, the local authorities can help to direct you into places that are not in violations of any kind. In most areas, day-cares are monitored for violations and need licensing.
Researching Local Daycare Availability
A. Online Directories and Resource Websites
- Child Care Aware: This national resource provides information on local childcare options, including a searchable database of licensed providers based on your zip code.
- Care.com: This platform allows you to search for various childcare options, including daycare centers and in-home care. You can filter results by location, age, and specific needs.
- Yelp and Google Reviews: These platforms offer reviews and ratings for daycare centers from other parents. Reading experiences can help you gauge the quality of care provided.
B. Local Government Resources
- State Child Care Licensing Agencies: Most states have a licensing body that oversees daycare facilities. You can visit their websites to find licensed daycare providers and check compliance records.
- Local Health Departments: Many health departments offer resources and guidance on childcare facilities, including safety inspections and quality ratings.
C. Community Forums and Social Media Groups
- Facebook Groups: Joining local parenting groups can provide firsthand recommendations and reviews of nearby day-cares from other parents in your community.
- Nextdoor: This neighborhood-based social network allows you to connect with other parents nearby, ask for recommendations, and learn about local daycare availability.
D. Word of Mouth
- Talk to Other Parents: Don’t underestimate the value of personal recommendations. Speak to friends, family, or coworkers who have experience with local day-cares to gain insights and suggestions.
- Visit Local Playgroups: Attending playgroups or parent meet-ups can help you connect with other parents who can share their experiences and recommendations for daycare options.
E. Local Childcare Resource and Referral Agencies
- Many communities have agencies dedicated to helping families find childcare. These organizations can provide information on available daycare options, financial assistance programs, and tips for choosing the right facility.
When to Enroll Baby get into Daycare
Babies can go into daycare as young as you need them to. Most day-cares have well equipped and facilitate infants rooms that cater for babies who are under 3 months.
However different day-cares has a different policy on what age they can take in depending on their resources for caring for these children. Some day-cares can only take in kids 6 months and older while others take in as young infants as 6 weeks.
If you are going back to work early or just need daycare for your infant as young as few weeks old, you can find a good daycare with an infant class that is willing to take you in.
Nonetheless kids can join daycare even when older. You should not feel the need to take your kid to daycare if you do not have the necessity. You can continue caring for your child at home until you need them to start learn other things, meet and interact with other kids preferably from the age of 3 years old.
