Infant childcare in 2021?

[Anonymous]

I'm still in the first trimester, but what are others planning/doing about infant childcare? I am wondering if/when to get on daycare lists near my downtown office, or when to start looking for home daycare in Arlington.

We have an older child but didn't do daycare in this area, plus all the uncertainty with covid, so many months out.

[Anonymous]

I would get on lists anyway, just to be have an option.

[Anonymous]

Get on the lists. You'll want it eventually it sounds like, and downtown DC is really hard to get off of a waiting list for an infant.

[Anonymous]

For home daycare in north Arlington join MONA. Members post openings and recommendations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For home daycare in north Arlington join MONA. Members post openings and recommendations

Thanks, this is what I am leaning toward, considering that we'll likely telework more than we did pre-Covid and would want the dropoff and pickup closer to home, not work.

[Anonymous]

Planning to send my newborn to a center close to our house in early 2021. Of course I may reconsider if the pandemic gets worse but that’s the plan for now.

[Anonymous]

In normal times I'd tell you get on the wait list anyway, but I think especially with the pandemic. Centers have reduced capacity to maintain distancing, etc. Some have folded entirely. I think wait lists are even worse than they were already. It's one reason we're still paying full price for our slot even though we haven't send DD back yet...

[Anonymous]

Yes to getting on lists because who knows where we’re going to be by then but currently our pediatrician is advising against infant daycare.

[Anonymous]

I would get on some lists but have a back up plan and then a back up plan for the back up plan. Times are so uncertain right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would get on some lists but have a back up plan and then a back up plan for the back up plan. Times are so uncertain right now.

+ 1. I’m doing this. I have plans A,B,C and D. If all fails I’ll quit and be home all year it sucks but what can we do?

[Anonymous]

I have a 2-month old. I was lucky enough to be able to arrange an extremely limited part time schedule (10 hrs a week) through January 2021. I’ll be taking care of my baby full time and then doing those hours, probably largely on the weekend when my husband can watch him. The moms in my moms group are split between nannies and trying to work full time while taking care of the infant. Most of us had planned to use daycare but ultimately decided we weren’t comfortable with it. I have a feeling things won’t be much different in 6 mos...