When to start touring daycares?

[Anonymous]

I just found out I'm pregnant and I feel silly looking into daycares already esp in 1st trimester but I also don't want to be naive about wait list issues. Did you all tour in first trimester or wait until second trimester?

TIA

[Anonymous]

It wouldn't hurt to start your research now and tour. I waited for my first until I was 6 months and that was too late. We had to enroll our infant in part time (that's all that was available - 3 days a week) and were on the waitlist for a period of time for full day care. I had to make other arrangements for the other two days, it was incredibly stressful. With my second, I told our daycare center soon after we told our family so did not have to be on a waitlist and were able to have our second enrolled in full time when I want back to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just found out I'm pregnant and I feel silly looking into daycares already esp in 1st trimester but I also don't want to be naive about wait list issues. Did you all tour in first trimester or wait until second trimester?

TIA

As soon as you find out you a pregnant - some wait lists are really long.

[Anonymous]

Yesterday. Get on all of the wait lists then narrow it down.

[Anonymous]

Now. Get on wait lists for daycares downtown now. If you miscarry, just stay on the list and when you get pregnant again after the miscarriage, update the daycare about your situation and new due date. It sounds callous, but I have been there before and they are generally kind about it and try to be as supportive as possible.

[Anonymous]

Bright Horizons will let you get on up to 3 sites with one fee. I would do that and then wait to tour until you get a call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yesterday. Get on all of the wait lists then narrow it down.

This, unless you plan to take an unusually long maternity leave.

I don't live in the DC area, but I put my last child on a waitlist at my older children's daycare before he was even conceived. And yet I still just barely got a spot for him to start at the end of my four month leave.

[Anonymous]

how about for inhome daycares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:how about for inhome daycares?

Those are walk ins. It depends on where you're looking TBH. Some places have a much longer waitlist than others. Call around and get prices at least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now. Get on wait lists for daycares downtown now. If you miscarry, just stay on the list and when you get pregnant again after the miscarriage, update the daycare about your situation and new due date. It sounds callous, but I have been there before and they are generally kind about it and try to be as supportive as possible.

I'm fully convinced this is the only reason we got a spot at the center we wanted (or any center, for that matter).

OP, you don't need to tour right away but get on waitlists now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now. Get on wait lists for daycares downtown now. If you miscarry, just stay on the list and when you get pregnant again after the miscarriage, update the daycare about your situation and new due date. It sounds callous, but I have been there before and they are generally kind about it and try to be as supportive as possible.

This times 100 here in the DC area.

[Anonymous]

You need to do it now. And expect to pay a fee for each one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how about for inhome daycares?

Those are walk ins. It depends on where you're looking TBH. Some places have a much longer waitlist than others. Call around and get prices at least.

Nice try. Those also have long wait list too.

[Anonymous]

Just get on a bunch of waitlists and tour once you get in. Don’t waste time. I’ve got a kid who’s 2 and I’m still on the waitlist for some places.

[Anonymous]

Yes depending on where you are looking. My experience was 2nd trimester was too late for Silver Spring but perfect/early for Rockville (e.g. places like Bright Horizons, Goddard and Children in the Shoe) . Late last fall the Goddard School in Silver Spring was taking enrollments for January 2020 - so more than a year out. And yes the in-homes absolutely have waitlists.