Can someone explain daycare waitlists to me please?

[Anonymous]

I was a SAHM with my first two but now, with my third, will need daycare starting when LO is about 4.5 and I head back to work. (Currently 28 weeks pregnant.) Our family is on the waitlist of a few daycares. What is the protocol around communication, communication frequency etc when it comes to checking in, or is this a “don’t call us, we’ll call you” kind of situation? TIA.

[Anonymous]

Call them. I called them when the baby was born and asked when they thought they’d have a spot available, then again a month before I needed childcare (even though they originally didn’t expect to have spots then). And then six months later because there was a pandemic that ruined everyone’s child care plans and that last time they had spots immediately. They never called me and were unbothered that I called.

[Anonymous]

One of the daycares we signed up for specifically told us to call every month and they would mark us down as having expressed our interest each time.

Absent a specific policy like that I think PP's approach is reasonable

[Anonymous]

I called one place for 3 years. Finally got in but it was a tedious.

[Anonymous]

Bug them. It’s a magical system.
I got on wait lists at 8 weeks pregnant with DD2. Called every few month and when the baby was born every month. Got in at 9 months old.

[Anonymous]

I remember one place told us they had a 2 year waitlist for the infant room and I was like how is that even possible and they just shrugged (so I would definitely check in periodically).

[Anonymous]

It helps both parents and providers.
I would tell the parents and be honest the months they gotta wait for a spot at least.

It's longer for infants because family childcares can have only have 4 infants. Centers can have 6 or more I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember one place told us they had a 2 year waitlist for the infant room and I was like how is that even possible and they just shrugged (so I would definitely check in periodically).

I put my kid on some waiting lists and decided to stay home.

I got a call from one place when my kid was 7. I said "don't you only take kids under 4? How can we be at the top of the waiting list now?" They said that often times by the time they call families have younger siblings.

[Anonymous]

I would probably make alternative plans at this point and then keep calling every center monthly for an update on your position on their waitlist. We got on a couple lists before we were even pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Call. Ask if a spot will open / is opening up earlier. We took one 6 weeks before we needed it and just paid in full.

[Anonymous]

I called and called. And then one day, I walked by the daycare and the kids were outside and I spoke with one of the daycare teachers, who put in a good word for me with the daycare director. They offered me a spot even though I was told through official channels previously they were full.

[Anonymous]

Persistence in calling pays off -

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember one place told us they had a 2 year waitlist for the infant room and I was like how is that even possible and they just shrugged (so I would definitely check in periodically).

I put my kid on some waiting lists and decided to stay home.

I got a call from one place when my kid was 7. I said "don't you only take kids under 4? How can we be at the top of the waiting list now?" They said that often times by the time they call families have younger siblings.

[Anonymous]

I just want to say that out in Rockville, around 2019 we signed up for 4 waitlists in centers and were offered infant spots at 3 out of 4 of them. The 4th one offered spots only to siblings that year. I started looking in my 2nd trimester. I think these crazy waitlists are less common in the 'burbs and among less well known centers. Those that get hyped up a lot on DCUM are going to have very long waitlists.