Depends what you want, if you want a center, get on a waitlist now. I found a lovely in-home around the corner from my house when I was around 7 months pregnant, she couldn't 100% confirm a space until July (baby was born in May) because she wasn't sure which of her charges would be moving up into pre-school in the fall until then. DD was 3 months old when she began at the end of August, best decision ever made.

I lived the worst-case scenario of "what if I get on the list really early and miscarry" - eventually got a call offering me a spot for a baby that never was - and yet I still got on the lists again the minute after getting another positive HPT. That painful phone call was more than worth having a spot in our first choice daycare when we finally needed it.
Unless you know you're moving and have no idea where you'll be moving to, get on the lists as soon as possible.

Anonymous wrote:8 weeks for a center at an agency where one of us worked.

To clarify: I was 8 weeks pregnant and had just seen the heartbeat.

Anonymous wrote:If you want a center, sign up YESTERDAY. Go on all the lists you think would be feasible for commute.

For a family in-home childcare provider, you'll need to wait until a few months before you need care.

If there is an in-home that has good references or one that you have your eye on, call them asap. The spot might not be open but you will have an idea of when it will be and they might even have a wait list you can put your name on. Personally, we had one we really liked and she was going to have an opening before we needed it. We already signed a contract and will pay for a few weeks even though our baby won't be born yet. It's worth it to us because our spot is secure.

8 weeks for a center at an agency where one of us worked.

Last baby? Pre-conception. And this was in the Midwest.

Oct. 2015, found out I was pregnant & immediately put in an application at my preferred center
May 2016, baby was born
Jan. 2017, started at center—7 mos. old

The moment I had a positive pregnancy test. And the baby was accepted to zero daycares at 3 months when I was supposed to return to work.

12 weeks for a center in the reston area. signed up for two lists. were lucky and got off the list at our preferred one when dd was 3 months old. was called about the other one and they wouldn't have had a slot until dd was 5 months old. We see kids starting in the nursery at closer to 6 months all the time though because they were lower on the wait list and that's when there is a spot available.