Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone. I’m moving to DC at some point for work, but as a single mom there is no way I can do it until I secure childcare. My new employer is flexible in that I come when I come, so just trying to gauge how much notice I would have in order to finalize my move. Seems like there isn’t a set answer to this, so I’m in for a bit of a challenge. Appreciate the feedback.

Covid has upended a lot of waitlists. Just keep calling your preferred places. Some places may unexpectedly have spots available. If you can afford it you can pay to hold your spot till you move here.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone. I’m moving to DC at some point for work, but as a single mom there is no way I can do it until I secure childcare. My new employer is flexible in that I come when I come, so just trying to gauge how much notice I would have in order to finalize my move. Seems like there isn’t a set answer to this, so I’m in for a bit of a challenge. Appreciate the feedback.

You may want to look into a nanny-share.

OP here. Thanks everyone. I’m moving to DC at some point for work, but as a single mom there is no way I can do it until I secure childcare. My new employer is flexible in that I come when I come, so just trying to gauge how much notice I would have in order to finalize my move. Seems like there isn’t a set answer to this, so I’m in for a bit of a challenge. Appreciate the feedback.

Most people give around 2 months notice at daycare if they can, although they are only required to give 30 days. It then takes daycare a day to check their list. So, if you are the next person up, the answer could be as soon as 29 days from when they have a spot. I think the people who have a spot open next week are either going further down their list after others rejected the spot or, for example, someone said yes, deposit deadline came, changed mind

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone give me an idea of how much advance notice you get usually from a daycare when you are offered a spot off the waitlist until the time they want you to start care? For example, would they normally contact someone on the waitlist a month or two before the spot is officially open, so if you accept you have a month or two's notice until the child starts? Or would it be a shorter notice period, such as "we have a spot open next week, take it or leave it"? Thanks!

It depends on the situation. If the daycare is moving to a larger space, they may know about the new slots they'll have ahead of time, and be able to call people on the waitlist months in advance of opening. Same thing if a Pre-K class is scheduled to "graduate" in the August/September timeframe when they move to kindergarten, allowing other groups to change classrooms and opening up infant slots. But if someone just leaves all of a suddent, and the center waives their advance notice requirement, which is common nowadays with the COVID situation, they may find themselves with a spot they need to backfill ASAP. You don't need to start attending right away as long as you are willing to pay tuition to keep the spot reserved for you.

As an anecdote, the daycare my DC has been on a waitlist for for over a year said they had to cut spots from 70 in normal times to 35. So they actually have to tell some current families they can't return.

In this crazy time, there is no “normal “. What happened in previous times really has no bearing on what is happening now or will happen in the future. The rules for daycare are fluid and change rapidly. I think your best bet is to keep checking in at the center of your choice. Chances are the person who is inquiring at the right time will get the spot.

Can anyone give me an idea of how much advance notice you get usually from a daycare when you are offered a spot off the waitlist until the time they want you to start care? For example, would they normally contact someone on the waitlist a month or two before the spot is officially open, so if you accept you have a month or two's notice until the child starts? Or would it be a shorter notice period, such as "we have a spot open next week, take it or leave it"? Thanks!