Finding in-home daycares (guidance needed)

[Anonymous]

Hi all - I am a FTM-to-be, looking into daycare options for baby. While I have contacted the bigger, chain centers near my home in Arlington (Bright Horizons, Merit School, Primrose, etc.), I am also interested in exploring in-home daycare options. However, I have no clue where to begin or the best resources to use to learn about them. (Care.com? Facebook groups? Other??)

Any guidance (and even recommendations) would be much appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Literally looking for the same. And I am in Arlington!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Literally looking for the same. And I am in Arlington!

Ha, op here -- glad to hear I am not alone in being completely clueless about this.

[Anonymous]

Communicate with as many people as you can about what you are looking for. Good home daycares that have been around awhile seldom advertise.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, I'm in the same situation but in Montgomery County. I've found the website CareLulu helpful for finding in-home daycares and information like location, cost, whether they take infants. But not all places have many reviews or photos so it can be hard to judge quality IMO.

I've also contacted a few places who I haven't heard back from, and I'm wondering if that's because I'm too early (due in June, will be needing care around Oct/Nov). I've heard that in-homes often only plan a few months out.

[Anonymous]

Hi I’m in Arlington and use a home daycare. I heard about it through word of mouth. She never has openings and never advertises. Do you have a neighborhood Facebook group? That’s where I would start. Prior to finding our current one, we toured 3 that were recommended through neighbors. Otherwise do you have friends with older kids? Those parents seemed to know about other daycares too as they had friends who used them or went to a birthday party with a kid who used one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, I'm in the same situation but in Montgomery County. I've found the website CareLulu helpful for finding in-home daycares and information like location, cost, whether they take infants. But not all places have many reviews or photos so it can be hard to judge quality IMO.

I've also contacted a few places who I haven't heard back from, and I'm wondering if that's because I'm too early (due in June, will be needing care around Oct/Nov). I've heard that in-homes often only plan a few months out.

Try Monday Morning Moms.

[Anonymous]

Hi there, there’s a really fantastic home daycare on the west side of Alexandria (near Skyline, Bailey’s crossroads) that has two openings. I actually found out about it on this forum 4 years ago with our older daughter and will be sending our newborn there in a few months. Copy / pasting a listing I just posted recommending the daycare with contact info here:

Two openings in a fantastic home daycare on the West side of Alexandria. Our daughter who is now 4 years old attended this daycare from 6 months old to almost 2 years old. We absolutely love Sara and her daycare. She is extremely loving and cares about each child and their development. She helped us starting solids, nap transitions, and everything else from baby to toddler-hood. When our daughter started preschool at 2 years old, her teachers were impressed by all she had learned at Sara’s daycare (huge vocabulary, numbers, days of the week).

Sara and the other caregiver she works with are both fully vaccinated. Rates are very affordable for the area.

Feel free to call or text Sara at [phone]. You can also email me with any further questions about my experience at this daycare. We will be sending our second daughter there in a few months. [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

You should ask for recommendations on a super local facebook or neighborhood moms group. Word of mouth is best because you want one close to home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, I'm in the same situation but in Montgomery County. I've found the website CareLulu helpful for finding in-home daycares and information like location, cost, whether they take infants. But not all places have many reviews or photos so it can be hard to judge quality IMO.

I've also contacted a few places who I haven't heard back from, and I'm wondering if that's because I'm too early (due in June, will be needing care around Oct/Nov). I've heard that in-homes often only plan a few months out.

Try Monday Morning Moms.

I actually filled out the online form for Monday Morning Moms about a week ago, and haven't heard back. I wonder if that's because I'm too early (looking for care ~10-11 months from now), or if I just need to be patient?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Communicate with as many people as you can about what you are looking for. Good home daycares that have been around awhile seldom advertise.

This. We ended up at an amazing at home daycare, there was next to nothing about it online, but a met a mom in my neighborhood who mentioned her daughter went there and loved it. Join any moms or parents groups in your area.

[Anonymous]

I found my amazing in-home because I once had a dog whose regular beat took us to literally every nook and cranny of my neighborhood. I spotted the sign on a house just a mile away from mine. The yard was filled with toys and play equipment and the kids always seemed happy and energetic. When I became pregnant 4 years later I immediately contacted the owner and she luckily had a spot available when we needed it.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, I'm in N Arlington and we just started daycare (at a center). We explored in home daycares too. Are you a member of Mothers of North Arlington? There are routinely posts about in-home daycare openings and recommendations. You can also ask the other MONA moms and get a lot of good feedback that way!

[Anonymous]

We are leaving our in home daycare our last day is 12/17 my daughter is 1. We love our in home daycare and so sad to leave her. She's located in Arlington

[Anonymous]

If you're in north Arlington, join MONA. If you're in south Arlington, join MOMS. Either way, get on the Listserv/FB group and ask for referrals. That's how I found mine. They are hard to find - and easiest to find a spot in the summer when older kids move to preschool.