When to start looking into daycares?

aggie94 · #1 10-22-2009, 11:53 AM

I'm halfway through the pregnancy and wondering when we should start looking into daycare options. I know in the past there have been long wait lists for some of the really good, centrally located daycares around here, but not sure if that is still the case in the current economy.

And can anyone point me to any good resources in terms of what I should be looking for, asking, etc.? I do have a preliminary list of places I am interested in checking out, that came from referrals from friends.

wallycat · #2 10-22-2009, 11:59 AM

WOW....first I'm reading you are expecting!! Congratulations!!
No input on daycare, but I hope you have an amazing pregnancy and a great baby!!!

sassafras · #3 10-22-2009, 12:26 PM

I'm 19 weeks pregnant with our first child and have secured daycare already. Well, we've secured a spot on the waiting list! I was amazed at how many people were already on it.

I asked questions about caregiver to child ratios (in Michigan it should not exceed 4 to 1). I also wanted to make sure that a crib was allocated for my baby only (as opposed to another baby using it at a different time).

Really, my best indicator came from visiting the facility and observing the order and cleanliness, etc.

Good luck!

Beth · #4 10-22-2009, 12:49 PM

The economy could cut both ways. Some parents may be staying home or working out less expensive options, but others may be returning to the workplace.

I don't remember when we got things lined up, but we started looking when it seemed quite early to me. I wound up on bed rest after pre-term labor, so the rest got pushed off and I was starting to get a bit anxious about getting him in to a place I would be happy with. It all worked out fine and he was close enough that I went over at lunch time most days. If something like that is going to be important to you or if there are other considerations that will narrow your options, I would start looking sooner rather than later. If that little voice inside is starting to ask questions, it's worth checking out. It's the only way you are really going to know what the situation is in your area.

buffygirl · #5 10-22-2009, 01:08 PM

About halfway through is a good time. Each state has its own governing agencies over day cares and such. Look into what the "gold standard" is for your state and make sure at a minimum the daycares you choose have that certification.

Ask moms at your work or in your neighborhood also. Word of mouth reference is always good.

Congrats!!!

Kim

LA98 · #6 10-22-2009, 02:52 PM

Sooner is better than later, as everyone has said, especially if there are waiting lists. This was some years ago, but I remember finding lists of things to ask at a daycare on Babycenter. Parents or Parenting magazine websites will probably have similar lists. NAEYC certification is nice because they have to go through a stringent process to get it and maintain it. But I think you will find you'll have a gut reaction upon walking into a center, bad or good. When you find one you like, I'd advise going back for several visits at different times of day. It will help you gauge what's going on, if they're doing things they said they'll be doing, such as taking the children outside or reading books, etc. Ask about table foods (it'll be time for that before you know it!), if they provide lunch and snacks. And be sure to ask the director what their illness policy is and how strictly they enforce it.

DanaSD · #7 10-22-2009, 03:33 PM

In general from what I've heard Phoenix doesn't have long wait lists compared to some other parts of the country. And many of the waitlists are for age 3 and up. Some infant programs have wait lists mostly because they just take so few babies. And I think with the economy there are more openings at some of the higher priced schools - both the school where my son went to and his new school have infant openings and this hasn't always been the case.

I also know of more people who have started inhome daycares to supplement their family's income so there are more of these types of options.

But it doesn't hurt to start looking now and get one more thing off your list.

aggie94 · #8 10-22-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallycat

WOW....first I'm reading you are expecting!! Congratulations!!

Thanks, Ana!

Thanks for all the feedback. I did find an extensive "interview questionnaire" form on Babycenter's website, so I printed that off and will take a closer look at it, but it appears to be a good guideline. I also went to Arizona's licensing agency website, where you can look at each licensed center's annual inspection reports and see if they had citations as well as any enforcement actions, so that was good to know. I will keep asking around for other referrals so that we have a list of places to start visiting soon. Sounds like we're not in a huge hurry, but might as well not put off the inevitable, esp. since things will get hectic around the holidays.

Thanks again!

aprilbride · #9 10-22-2009, 04:24 PM

In terms of recommendations...I don't know where in the Phoenix area you live, but wanted to highly recommend Bright Horizons Child Development Centers, I think there's one in Chandler and one in Tempe. My DS, who's 4 1/2, has been going to the center here in Vegas since he was three months old, as has my daughter (20 months) old, and we could not be happier with the care/education they are receiving at the center here. I know a lot of being happy with a daycare setting depends on the staff, but in addition they have a great learning philosophy that I'm sure is the same across all centers.

The center was recommended to me by a co-worker who's two kids went there from infancy through their private Kindergarten program. Their infant program especially appealed to us after having DS at another center for a few weeks where he was continually deposited in a swing and what seemed left there except for feedings. It was so refreshing to see that at BH, they don't have swings or bouncers in their infant rooms as the teachers are focused on holding/rocking/interacting with the babies...

Anyway, I know this didn't really answer your question about waitlists, but if you're looking for a possible recommendation and the area of the centers work for you, this might be worth checking out!

Spotted Pony · #10 10-22-2009, 04:24 PM

Our first babysitter was not licensed. She was wonderful and I am so grateful to her for taking care of my kids when they were little babies. When she retired, I thought it was best to find a licensed provider. We did not have a good experience with her at all.

I would depend mostly on references from friends and co-workers. I learned that licensed does not equal good!

Now DD is in 1st grade and DS, 4, is at a church daycare part time. The church is called New Hope; he calls it No Hope.

I am writing down all the funny things he says!

aggie94 · #11 10-22-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aprilbride

In terms of recommendations...I don't know where in the Phoenix area you live, but wanted to highly recommend Bright Horizons Child Development Centers, I think there's one in Chandler and one in Tempe.

I actually looked into Bright Horizons when I was researching online, and unfortunately for me, the nearest center is about 30 minutes from our offices, maybe more in rush-hour traffic.

NewMrsG · #12 10-23-2009, 09:37 AM

Eva:

I'd start on this now, to the extent that you can. Geography plays a major role in this, as some areas fill up fast and others don't. Our area tends to fill up, so we reserved a spot before the end of my first trimester. We were lucky and had several friends who already had their kids at this daycare, so it was an easy decision for us. I do think that word of mouth and personal references can be a great source of information, but I know that's hard to do if you don't have parents who live near you in your circle of friends.

If you've already hooked up with a pediatrician (and I'm guessing you haven't as it's not something to worry about until the end), they can sometimes provide referrals. You could also try places that offer parenting classes or parent groups (Mommies and More is a big one around here) - they may also have recommendations.

I do think that visiting is a really good idea and think that you'll get a good or bad vibe pretty quickly. I like LA98's suggestion of visiting at different times of the day, and you could also ask to talk to one or more of the parents if that would help.

amcleod · #13 10-23-2009, 01:57 PM

I do not mean to scare you...it all depends on where you live, as others said....but in washington DC, you have to get on a wait list the second you find out you're pregnant or you'll never get a spot by the time your maternity leave is over.

We were on five lists I think, we luckily got into our top choice (they literally called me a month before i was supposed to go back to work, saying a spot was available in three weeks). I never heard back from two of the places, and two others called me after I returned back to work saying they might have a spot in a few months!

Anyway, doing it sooner rather than later will never hurt but waiting might...

Good luck!

aggie94 · #14 10-23-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amcleod

I do not mean to scare you...it all depends on where you live, as others said....but in washington DC, you have to get on a wait list the second you find out you're pregnant or you'll never get a spot by the time your maternity leave is over.

That is insane!

I don't think that's the case here, but you're right that getting a jump start can't hurt. And worst case scenario, if we were to find ourselves having to go back to work without a spot ready, we can always fly out one of the grandmas to nanny. Given how over-the-moon excited they are, I'm sure either (or both) would jump at that chance. But for us, that is most definitely a WORST case scenario.

Gracie · #15 10-23-2009, 02:54 PM

Eva, I'm long out of the daycare search, but even back when DD was born it was one of those get-daycare-right-after-your-positive-pregnancy-test scenarios.

But what I really wanted to say was Congratulations! and I hope everything goes perfectly! I don't think I've officially congratulated you yet.

Loren

Beth H · #16 10-23-2009, 03:00 PM

Where I live, a lot of women actually get on wait lists while they are trying to conceive. The lists at some of the top places are 3 - 4 years long! I was unbelievably lucky to get Will into my top choice - still not sure exactly how it happened. When I did tours of places (and I did wait until after my first trimester to get on lists), it was sort of a gut feeling as to atmosphere, etc. And of course cleanliness was important. I would ask questions like how often babies get to go outside (something our daycare does every day in temperate weather - many centers around here do not take babies out). It also was a plus to me that food is provided (lunch) after the infant period - that's a big time savings in the morning. Most of the church-based centers here do not - so you would be packing a lunch every day.

Good luck to you and congratulations!

jellyben · #17 10-23-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amcleod

I do not mean to scare you...it all depends on where you live, as others said....but in washington DC, you have to get on a wait list the second you find out you're pregnant or you'll never get a spot by the time your maternity leave is over.

We were on five lists I think, we luckily got into our top choice (they literally called me a month before i was supposed to go back to work, saying a spot was available in three weeks). I never heard back from two of the places, and two others called me after I returned back to work saying they might have a spot in a few months!

Anyway, doing it sooner rather than later will never hurt but waiting might...

Good luck!

Funny, when we found out we were having my youngest 2 years ago DH put us the waiting list right away at his work daycare in DC. We ended up not needing it since I am still staying home, but they did finally call last June when DS was 10 months old!

Eva, good luck.

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