Visiting and Waitlisting during pandemic

[Anonymous]

I'm just starting my second trimester. My husband and I are hoping to have enough combined leave to need to start daycare in January 2023. I know the DC wisdom used to be to get on a waitlist basically as soon as I peed on a stick, but I get the sense that things have changed with COVID. Is it time to start figuring out daycare or can we wait until we are closer to actually needing it? And how do visits work? Are daycares even doing tours? Virtual tours?

[Anonymous]

I’d start getting on lists now. We changed daycares in June 2020 and it was easy to get a spot then because many people were keeping their kids home. The place we got into typically has a mile-long waitlist but we waltzed right in. We had to change again in July 2021 and our sense was that availability has tightened up again.

[Anonymous]

A lot of websites are great sources of information and should help you find what you're looking for. Click on and watch their virtual tours. RSVP for webinars. Email or call the ones that interest you. Centers and pre-schools are all over the map with their visiting policies and now is a great time while you can to virtually explore as much as you can. Apply to those you like best to keep your options open.