When to get on day care waiting lists?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| We are expecting our first child in Feb 2016. What are typical waiting list times for Alexandria/Arlington day care? |
Anonymous
|
Basically you should get on before you know you're pregnant 
|
Anonymous
LOL, this is kind of true. I got on the lists before I started the adoption homestudy, which was more than a year before placement. DS was 5 months when I needed care, and he still didn't get into all the places I signed up for. |
Anonymous
| Conception |
Anonymous
|
Congratulations! Get on the lists now.
|
Anonymous
| Agree, the sooner the better. If in-home is an option, it may not be quite so difficult to secure a spot. |
Anonymous
|
As soon as you see the positive mark on the pregnancy test!!!
Congrats! |
Anonymous
| Now |
Anonymous
| You are probably too late already to get in anywhere in time to go back to work. |
Anonymous
|
Our DS was born in Feb 2015. We got on the lists last August and are still waiting. We ended up using a home day care then got a spot at a place near my job in the District.
Get on every list you are considering now. You can find spots at home day cares while you're on maternity leave, but even that's dicey. Best of luck! |
Anonymous
|
Echoing the others: you're probably already too late.
In all seriousness, this is what freaks me out the most about having a kid. Not all the weird symptoms or the pains of labor or pressures of raising a kid right, but being able to find daycare in time – that we can afford – for me to go back to work once FMLA runs out. I went to see one last week that said they might have spots for infants in June '16. I have to go back to work in Feb. No option for a nanny, husband works at home and we don't have a dedicated office anymore. (And, see affordability.) |
Anonymous
| Any chance you're willing to share the place that might have spots next June? I'm also starting to freak out a bit - need a spot for early May... |
Anonymous
| Yea you may be late as the PP mention. But not really. There are plenty of places of care that you can find, it just may not be your first choice. Don't let the other people scare you - hope is not lost! But it doesn't hurt to check out the places you like and get on the wait list. |
Anonymous
| I'd get on the wait lists for the places that you want, AND line up a nanny, nanny share or in-home daycare for up to about 18 months (when the ratios shift and some kids get in). |
Anonymous
Crystal City Children's Center. It's expensive, but if I had power over the decision it would be my first choice. |