Infant groupls in VA daycare centers (Arlington, McLean..)

[Anonymous]

Hello!

we are looking for a daycare for our baby, 7 months old, in Virginia (Arlignton, McLean,..). Fulltime.
We will move there soon but still don't know exactly where we will live so open for options, geo-speaking.

But I can't seam to find many daycare centers that have Infant groups.. Most are 2yo+ and even those often half-day.

What I am missing? Any advice on the search? Recommendations on trusted centers?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Finding an infant spot at Centers in Arlington is a bit difficult currently due to space reduction but there are many trusted In-home daycares that have openings in Arlington on MONA listserve. If you are interested.

[Anonymous]

You should look for a daycare center, they have infant rooms. I’m a bit further out then you mention (Reston), so can’t help with that, but there are many choices out here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finding an infant spot at Centers in Arlington is a bit difficult currently due to space reduction but there are many trusted In-home daycares that have openings in Arlington on MONA listserve. If you are interested.

OP here. I would have liked to join MONA listserve (and so pay 50$ fee) if we know for sure we are moving there.
But until I find that there are reasonable options for an infant group at daycare (with short waitlist, good quality level,.. ), we won't make a decision to settle on that side of the river.
(My husband really want to rent a house there, but I simply don't see daycare solution yet In DC meanwhile I found 3-4 with availability soon)

Is there anyone who can share the experience of finding an infant spot at a daycare?
Are are too little or a lot of options to choose from?
How long did it take to get a spot?

So far I found:
- Rosslyn Children's Center
- Arlington Children's Center - but do they have infant groups?
- First Steps Academy
- McLean Daycare - not much info on website, seams like InHome center
- Children’s International School - do they have infant groups?

And that is it so far..
Any take on those ones? Do you know of others?

Searching for a daycare has been quite difficult, information is scattered, the centers are not very responsive (I get it it's Covid times..) and even if there do sometimes the answer on a simple question "do yout think you might have a spot in Fall" is "Join a waitlist, pay a fee, and you will see". We will be bankrupt before we move to DC if I pat 50-150$ every time I ask a question

[Anonymous]

My kids attend FAZ in McLean. They are open and I am pretty sure enrolling babies. Our kids have been back for a few weeks but it's still very empty. I've had kids there for 4 years and we've been happy. My daughter started at 3 months and the infant/young toddler teachers were SO loving and sweet with the babies.

[Anonymous]

In Northern Virginia, what is called preschool is typically half day or part time, for ages 2+

You need to look up daycare centers like Bright Horizons or Kindercare. Besides those, you can look into in-home daycares and nanny shares.

[Anonymous]

Schools like CIS serve the 2.5 and up cohort. You need to look for daycare centers. Bright Horizons, Kindercare, etc

[Anonymous]

Also welcome to NoVa. Get on 1-2 lists. All centers have lists and it will only be worse once some places go out of business because they have been closed with no income since March.
No one can predict if they will have a spot for you in the fall. You can ask about how long the list is and how they offer spots off the list, but no one will tell you that you may get a spot because they don’t want to hear you scream and yell when it doesn’t happen.

You might want to plan on a nanny while you wait for a spot.

[Anonymous]

Check out The Merit School’s Arlington and Clarendon locations. They may have some spots.

[Anonymous]

FAZ in McLean is a center that takes infants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FAZ in McLean is a center that takes infants

+1 my DS started FAZ at 3 months
Love them and the caretakers, there’s teachers who’ve been with FAZ for over 15 years

They have Brightwheel system that sends you real-time updates of your child’s activities throughout the day

Although, I haven’t brought my son back I know they are taking proper precautions for safety and health

[Anonymous]

Little Beginnings

[Anonymous]

Get a nanny share instead. Join MONA.

[Anonymous]

Lewinsville in McLean takes infants. Also, we used an in-home daycare that has been in operation for 15+ years, they are super clean, professional and well-run, more like a center with the intimacy of a family run daycare. They have a website too, you can Google it- Little Tree Daycare. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

In Arlington most families use in-home daycares for infants--there are many more spots than those in centers. Funshine Preschool in S. Arlington does have an infant room and a toddler room.