WTF Daycares! A rant ...

[Anonymous]

After begging two daycares to let me give them a deposit to hold my spot, I now learn two weeks before we need care that they won't have a spot on the day we need, and can't tell us until the Friday before whether there's a spot for the new start date. What. the. heck.?? How do people manage this?? What do we do, cobble together care until the new date and pray??

[Anonymous]

Deposit usually doesn't guarantee a start date, did you get the "hold" in writing? If not, there's not much to go on.

Were you calling during your leave to see what the start date situation was?

I'm sorry, it sucks. Most people put down multiple deposits and are tons of lists depending on locations, call regularly during maternity leave to check on position, and then have a back up (family, nanny(share), etc) as a last resort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Deposit usually doesn't guarantee a start date, did you get the "hold" in writing? If not, there's not much to go on.

Were you calling during your leave to see what the start date situation was?

I'm sorry, it sucks. Most people put down multiple deposits and are tons of lists depending on locations, call regularly during maternity leave to check on position, and then have a back up (family, nanny(share), etc) as a last resort.

No, couldn't get it in writing, unsurprisingly. I was calling regularly, these two places were giving me "Yes we should have a spot for you. Yes, probably", up until last week. Suddenly it's changed. Just frustrated how out of control the daycare situation is in DC.

[Anonymous]

Well, honestly, I directed a center for 7 years in DC and I never did this. I knew when a child was moving to toddlers, leaving an infant space. Whether YOU would get it I couldn't always tell, because I might have 20 people who needed care - and of course, the first person I offered it to might take it, or I might go through 19 people until I found someone who still needed childcare when I could offer it (usually 1 month before the space opened was when I could make the offer, but sometimes I didn't have a month because older kids would leave with less notice....)

But really, not all directors are this unorganized! I knew the date each infant could move to toddlers, and the date each toddler could move to preschool - so that when a family gave notice their child was leaving school, I knew exactly what I could do and with whom. And if I didn't have a baby old enough to move to toddlers, then I knew I'd have to go to the toddler waitlist (which was much shorter) Then I could communicate to new families.

[Anonymous]

OP I have experienced that as well. Mostly with home daycares!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, honestly, I directed a center for 7 years in DC and I never did this. I knew when a child was moving to toddlers, leaving an infant space. Whether YOU would get it I couldn't always tell, because I might have 20 people who needed care - and of course, the first person I offered it to might take it, or I might go through 19 people until I found someone who still needed childcare when I could offer it (usually 1 month before the space opened was when I could make the offer, but sometimes I didn't have a month because older kids would leave with less notice....)

But really, not all directors are this unorganized! I knew the date each infant could move to toddlers, and the date each toddler could move to preschool - so that when a family gave notice their child was leaving school, I knew exactly what I could do and with whom. And if I didn't have a baby old enough to move to toddlers, then I knew I'd have to go to the toddler waitlist (which was much shorter) Then I could communicate to new families.

Hmm, good to know. Did your center move up based on age or developmental stages? She said something about having to test the babies to see if they were ready to move to the next room. Maybe they expected one to be ready but s/he's lagging behind in something? I just don't understand how they don't get that parents need to make firm plans more than three days ahead of time!

[Anonymous]

Are you confusing a deposit with the application fee? You don't usually beg them to take your deposit. If they have an opening, they hand you the paperwork and forms for the pediatrician, then ask for a check when you turn in the forms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, honestly, I directed a center for 7 years in DC and I never did this. I knew when a child was moving to toddlers, leaving an infant space. Whether YOU would get it I couldn't always tell, because I might have 20 people who needed care - and of course, the first person I offered it to might take it, or I might go through 19 people until I found someone who still needed childcare when I could offer it (usually 1 month before the space opened was when I could make the offer, but sometimes I didn't have a month because older kids would leave with less notice....)

But really, not all directors are this unorganized! I knew the date each infant could move to toddlers, and the date each toddler could move to preschool - so that when a family gave notice their child was leaving school, I knew exactly what I could do and with whom. And if I didn't have a baby old enough to move to toddlers, then I knew I'd have to go to the toddler waitlist (which was much shorter) Then I could communicate to new families.

There are disadvantages to this approach too. My child was diagnosed with a medical condition at 8 months that caused developmental delays, and required interventions that could easily be provided in the infant room, but not in the toddler room. Even though he was 5 months away from a transition, the center had already given away his space, and we were forced out.

[Anonymous]

It could also be a situation like a hotel room. Maybe parents of one child have given notice to leave then changed their date. Of course they already have the relationship with the center so the center is more likely to accommodate them rather than force them to leave.

The testing thing sounds a little ridiculous to me, and I am a director. Actually a LOT ridiculous. We mainly move up based on age but developmental stage may come into play at times, or a child may need a longer transitional period. We know well ahead of time when that will happen though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, honestly, I directed a center for 7 years in DC and I never did this. I knew when a child was moving to toddlers, leaving an infant space. Whether YOU would get it I couldn't always tell, because I might have 20 people who needed care - and of course, the first person I offered it to might take it, or I might go through 19 people until I found someone who still needed childcare when I could offer it (usually 1 month before the space opened was when I could make the offer, but sometimes I didn't have a month because older kids would leave with less notice....)

But really, not all directors are this unorganized! I knew the date each infant could move to toddlers, and the date each toddler could move to preschool - so that when a family gave notice their child was leaving school, I knew exactly what I could do and with whom. And if I didn't have a baby old enough to move to toddlers, then I knew I'd have to go to the toddler waitlist (which was much shorter) Then I could communicate to new families.

Hmm, good to know. Did your center move up based on age or developmental stages? She said something about having to test the babies to see if they were ready to move to the next room. Maybe they expected one to be ready but s/he's lagging behind in something? I just don't understand how they don't get that parents need to make firm plans more than three days ahead of time!

Daycare parent, here. The only "test" our center does is that they must be standing/furniture walkers before moving into the toddler room, must be eating solid foods, and off bottles/using sippy cups. So generally this is around 1 year, but could be a little earlier or later depending on the child. But, these are all things they should know well before 3 days in advance of being able to tell you.

[Anonymous]

OP - yes, this is very hard to navigate because there are so many different ways of doing this!

Our daycare center moves kids once a year with school year changes (mostly for convenience to them - so when they lose kids to the school systems, everybody else transitions at the same time). That worked well for us based on when I had my babies (coming off leave around the start of the new school year), but can be hard for others.

However, one daycare we interviewed at told us we had to start paying at 6 weeks if we were accepted to hold our spot, even though I was planning on taking 4 months of maternity leave.

Someone told me that there is a program run through BYU where - because they are on a quarterly system - they have nannies during off terms but they are generally only available for 10-12 weeks at a time. Maybe that type of short term nanny would work for you until daycare got sorted out if you have room to house someone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you confusing a deposit with the application fee? You don't usually beg them to take your deposit. If they have an opening, they hand you the paperwork and forms for the pediatrician, then ask for a check when you turn in the forms.

In my experience, you pay a deposit when there's actually a spot available. If you gave them money but they didn't have an actual spot available, there's not much they can do. I mean, I guess you could pay them to give you the next available spot, but if you're at the top of the waitlist, you'll get it anyway, and if you're not, then you're paying them to jump the list. But that still doesn't mean they have a spot available on the day you want it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, honestly, I directed a center for 7 years in DC and I never did this. I knew when a child was moving to toddlers, leaving an infant space. Whether YOU would get it I couldn't always tell, because I might have 20 people who needed care - and of course, the first person I offered it to might take it, or I might go through 19 people until I found someone who still needed childcare when I could offer it (usually 1 month before the space opened was when I could make the offer, but sometimes I didn't have a month because older kids would leave with less notice....)

But really, not all directors are this unorganized! I knew the date each infant could move to toddlers, and the date each toddler could move to preschool - so that when a family gave notice their child was leaving school, I knew exactly what I could do and with whom. And if I didn't have a baby old enough to move to toddlers, then I knew I'd have to go to the toddler waitlist (which was much shorter) Then I could communicate to new families.

Hmm, good to know. Did your center move up based on age or developmental stages? She said something about having to test the babies to see if they were ready to move to the next room. Maybe they expected one to be ready but s/he's lagging behind in something? I just don't understand how they don't get that parents need to make firm plans more than three days ahead of time!

Daycare parent, here. The only "test" our center does is that they must be standing/furniture walkers before moving into the toddler room, must be eating solid foods, and off bottles/using sippy cups. So generally this is around 1 year, but could be a little earlier or later depending on the child. But, these are all things they should know well before 3 days in advance of being able to tell you.

Our center moves up based on age and development. Infants must be at least standing and cruising, eating solids, and off bottles before they are moved to the toddler room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, honestly, I directed a center for 7 years in DC and I never did this. I knew when a child was moving to toddlers, leaving an infant space. Whether YOU would get it I couldn't always tell, because I might have 20 people who needed care - and of course, the first person I offered it to might take it, or I might go through 19 people until I found someone who still needed childcare when I could offer it (usually 1 month before the space opened was when I could make the offer, but sometimes I didn't have a month because older kids would leave with less notice....)

But really, not all directors are this unorganized! I knew the date each infant could move to toddlers, and the date each toddler could move to preschool - so that when a family gave notice their child was leaving school, I knew exactly what I could do and with whom. And if I didn't have a baby old enough to move to toddlers, then I knew I'd have to go to the toddler waitlist (which was much shorter) Then I could communicate to new families.

Hmm, good to know. Did your center move up based on age or developmental stages? She said something about having to test the babies to see if they were ready to move to the next room. Maybe they expected one to be ready but s/he's lagging behind in something? I just don't understand how they don't get that parents need to make firm plans more than three days ahead of time!

Daycare parent, here. The only "test" our center does is that they must be standing/furniture walkers before moving into the toddler room, must be eating solid foods, and off bottles/using sippy cups. So generally this is around 1 year, but could be a little earlier or later depending on the child. But, these are all things they should know well before 3 days in advance of being able to tell you.

Our center moves up based on age and development. Infants must be at least standing and cruising, eating solids, and off bottles before they are moved to the toddler room.

OP here - I think age and development is a great approach. I'd rather them move kids when they're ready, not just when convenient. I just don't understand why they can't give me more than three days warning. We're looking into other options now ... Maybe the last minute daycare scramble is just a right of passage?

[Anonymous]

FTM here. I agree. It's like the wild wild west out there. I can't believe I'm supposed to apply to 5 daycares at $250 a pop. It seems like a scam that all daycares came up with.