All the daycares for toddler I am looking at have waiting lists

[Anonymous]

I am a SAHM who wants to go back to work. My son is 1.5 years, and I have been staying at home this whole time. I am looking for daycares right now or preschools that accept 1.5 year olds and everywhere I have looked either doesn't accept toddlers until age 2 or has a lengthy waiting list. What do parents do in this situation? We have no local family or childcare help. I guess it means I need to put off looking for a job for a lot longer than I had planned until a spot opens up at a daycare?

[Anonymous]

Um, nanny.

[Anonymous]

Right but we could employ a nanny for a few months and then suddenly have to end the employment when a spot opens up at a daycare. That doesn't seem very fair to the nanny.

[Anonymous]

common knowledge, ALL daycares seem to have crazy wait lists. What area are you looking in?

[Anonymous]

Where are you looking?

[Anonymous]

Start looking at in-home daycares as well. Many may have openings starting in September as older kids move on to preschool.

And yes, it may be unfair to a nanny, but it may also be a business decision if you decide to move him to a preschool if he gets off a waitlist.

Sadly, this is childcare in the DC area.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Looking in Vienna, Reston, McLean or Burke.

In-home daycares don't appeal to me because of the lack of regulations issue. I'm fine with continuing to SAH until a spot opens up, but I was hoping to get started looking for a job sooner.

[Anonymous]

Lack of regulations at an in-home? If you go to a licensed in-home, they have regulations, are inspected, etc.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised all of the centers in Burke have long waiting lists. Can you expand your search to Burke and West Springfield (22152/22153?) I would think the waiting list for a 1.5 year old would be a few months, so not too long.

[Anonymous]

I work in a toddler classroom and the problem you seem to be having is a common one. Siblings get first choice on all waiting lists and then depending on the center, the people who work in certain companies if it's a company based center. Community is always last on the list so unless you come in as an infant parent or a significant amount of children leave and no siblings are ready then you will have problems getting in. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but a lot of centers won't tell you this especially if they have a registration fee to keep money coming in. Good luck in your search but if you are trying to return to work unfortunately a nanny is the way to go.

[Anonymous]

I heard Simon Center in Reston is expanding - perhaps look there for fall semester?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Start looking at in-home daycares as well. Many may have openings starting in September as older kids move on to preschool.

And yes, it may be unfair to a nanny, but it may also be a business decision if you decide to move him to a preschool if he gets off a waitlist.

Sadly, this is childcare in the DC area.

You do what you have to do. When you're ready to switch, offer the nanny a couple weeks pay and a glowing letter of recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard Simon Center in Reston is expanding - perhaps look there for fall semester?

Second this rec. we were very happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Looking in Vienna, Reston, McLean or Burke.

In-home daycares don't appeal to me because of the lack of regulations issue. I'm fine with continuing to SAH until a spot opens up, but I was hoping to get started looking for a job sooner.

Do your research OP. In home daycares are regulated in Fairfax County. You can even request the county and state inspection reports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Looking in Vienna, Reston, McLean or Burke.

In-home daycares don't appeal to me because of the lack of regulations issue. I'm fine with continuing to SAH until a spot opens up, but I was hoping to get started looking for a job sooner.

What career do you have that you can find a job the instant a daycare spot opens up?