The Truth About Daycare Waiting Lists

[Anonymous]

Hello Ladies,

I am a Mom to a 4-month old DD born at 28 weeks. After much research in my area, I placed my name on three daycare waiting lists 9 months in advance; one federal facility (I am a Fed), one church affiliated, and a neighborhood center. I thought I had a grasp of the DMV's daycare situation but I have learned a few things in the process:

-Keep a copy of all of your applications. I filled out an application and the facility cashed my check. The center sent a follow-up letter to see if waiting list applicants were still interested. When I called to inquire, I was told that my letter was returned because I wrote my address wrong. WTF?? This sounded really suspicious to me. I guess they couldn't call the number on the application.

-If a center cannot provide you with a wait-list number, but can request to hold/cash a check, don't bother with the place. Their process is not fair nor equitable. Move on!

-Some centers will tell you that they like all the kids in the infant room to be around the same age. So, not only do you have to worry about finding a place, you have to worry if your three/four/five/six month old fits into their infant room age range for that particular month.

-If you want to get into a certain center, make it your second job to call the facility at least once a month for months 1-5 of your pregnancy, bi-weekly for months 6-7 and weekly until you deliver. Try to penetrate their inner parent's circle. And yes, centers do discriminate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
-If you want to get into a certain center, make it your second job to call the facility at least once a month for months 1-5 of your pregnancy, bi-weekly for months 6-7 and weekly until you deliver. Try to penetrate their inner parent's circle. And yes, centers do discriminate.

This is what worked for us. Sad but true. We also stopped by a few months after the birth to "introduce" DC to the Center director. Got a call that we were off the wait list a few months after that.

[Anonymous]

This sounds dumb, but what do you say when you call? Do you just ask about your position on the waitlist? My midwestern sensibilities tell me its terribly rude to call so often and to trust that they will call us, but I keep hearing over and over again that this is how it works, so I guess I have to just do it! But really, what do you say?

[Anonymous]

I have the same question! Due next week, hoping to get off one of the lists by January. But not sure what to say when I call!

[Anonymous]

OP here. You should state that you are reiterating your interest in their program and having your child placed in their facility. Might sound a bit over the top but I am faced with having to find daycare 25 days before I return to work.

Also, only pay the waiting list fee for the place that you really want. You are just giving your money away to the rest.

[Anonymous]

This is a very helpful post to me. I have no clue how the process works and it's handy to have some lessons learned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, only pay the waiting list fee for the place that you really want. You are just giving your money away to the rest.

Are you seriously recommending to only place your name on your first choice list? That is a surefire way to end up with no childcare. It is unfair, but suck it up and pay the ridiculous fees. It is the only chance there is to getting in.

[Anonymous]

OP here. If you are able to constantly contact all three of your top waiting list choices in later stages of pregnancy and early motherhood, then go for it. Otherwise, I think it is a waste of money. Of course, not all daycares require a waiting list fee.

Personally, I would pay for the top one or two and then have one that is a freebie or relatively cheap, otherwise you are just giving away the $100/150 per list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. If you are able to constantly contact all three of your top waiting list choices in later stages of pregnancy and early motherhood, then go for it. Otherwise, I think it is a waste of money. Of course, not all daycares require a waiting list fee.

Personally, I would pay for the top one or two and then have one that is a freebie or relatively cheap, otherwise you are just giving away the $100/150 per list.

How is it giving away your money to get on multiple waiting lists? I'd love to save some money but it seems risky to put all of your eggs in one basket just because it is your favorite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. If you are able to constantly contact all three of your top waiting list choices in later stages of pregnancy and early motherhood, then go for it. Otherwise, I think it is a waste of money. Of course, not all daycares require a waiting list fee.

Personally, I would pay for the top one or two and then have one that is a freebie or relatively cheap, otherwise you are just giving away the $100/150 per list.

How is it giving away your money to get on multiple waiting lists? I'd love to save some money but it seems risky to put all of your eggs in one basket just because it is your favorite.

Because it costs nothing for a reputable center to manage a wait list. Most aren't collecting money to guarantee you are interested, they are doing it as part of their profit margin. It takes maybe one person 5 minutes a week to manage a wait list. They need to be able to add (so they know if you are the 7th, 8th, or 9th person on the list) and write your name and information down. They also need to know how to sue a phone, because when there is a vacancy in one of the rooms, they have to be able to call the parent at the top of the list.

This does not cost a center $150 X however many people are on the "list."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
-If you want to get into a certain center, make it your second job to call the facility at least once a month for months 1-5 of your pregnancy, bi-weekly for months 6-7 and weekly until you deliver. Try to penetrate their inner parent's circle. And yes, centers do discriminate.

This is what worked for us. Sad but true. We also stopped by a few months after the birth to "introduce" DC to the Center director. Got a call that we were off the wait list a few months after that.

This worked for us a well. We were relocating to DC and called every day and when we came into town ( 3 or 4 times) we would stop by and talk to the director directly. We applied in February and was able to get a spot in August.

[Anonymous]

I handed over $100 to Huckleberry Cheesecake in my first trimester with my DD who is now nearly 2 years old....and I STILL never got a call. Whenever I inquired that first year, they say they have too many existing families with infants who have top priority. OK...then why take my money and cash my check...nonrefundable deposit! More like highway robbery! I agree...find out how many are on the lists first, and don't hand over a check until you know!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. If you are able to constantly contact all three of your top waiting list choices in later stages of pregnancy and early motherhood, then go for it. Otherwise, I think it is a waste of money. Of course, not all daycares require a waiting list fee.

Personally, I would pay for the top one or two and then have one that is a freebie or relatively cheap, otherwise you are just giving away the $100/150 per list.

How is it giving away your money to get on multiple waiting lists? I'd love to save some money but it seems risky to put all of your eggs in one basket just because it is your favorite.

Because it costs nothing for a reputable center to manage a wait list. Most aren't collecting money to guarantee you are interested, they are doing it as part of their profit margin. It takes maybe one person 5 minutes a week to manage a wait list. They need to be able to add (so they know if you are the 7th, 8th, or 9th person on the list) and write your name and information down. They also need to know how to sue a phone, because when there is a vacancy in one of the rooms, they have to be able to call the parent at the top of the list.

This does not cost a center $150 X however many people are on the "list."

You're not paying for their phone-use skills, you're paying for access to the list. Yes it is part of how they make money but that's capitalism, no? It's just the way things are done around here, and it's certainly not limited to "non-reputable" daycares. I don't see a way around it. It's way too scary for me to put all my eggs in one or two daycare baskets!

[Anonymous]

To the 20:13 poster. The point is, unless you have the time to vigorously follow-up with each waitlisted daycare, it is a waste of money to put your name on more than one or two lists.

[Anonymous]

Because it costs nothing for a reputable center to manage a wait list. Most aren't collecting money to guarantee you are interested, they are doing it as part of their profit margin. It takes maybe one person 5 minutes a week to manage a wait list. They need to be able to add (so they know if you are the 7th, 8th, or 9th person on the list) and write your name and information down. They also need to know how to sue a phone, because when there is a vacancy in one of the rooms, they have to be able to call the parent at the top of the list.

This does not cost a center $150 X however many people are on the "list."



You're not paying for their phone-use skills, you're paying for access to the list. Yes it is part of how they make money but that's capitalism, no? It's just the way things are done around here, and it's certainly not limited to "non-reputable" daycares. I don't see a way around it. It's way too scary for me to put all my eggs in one or two daycare baskets!

No, you are paying for the peace of mind of being on a list - if there is in fact even a list. Many centers won't even tell you what number you are on the list. Many centers know darn well that they won't have openings for years, due to siblings and rate of attrition, but don't tell you that up front. This is because they want your $$$. They wait until you flip out on them after being on the "list" for 15 months and not getting a call, then they say, "Oh, well, we haven't had an infant spot open up for a non-sibling family in 8 years!" Yet they took your money for an infant spot.