I took my first daycare visit today and didn't feel sad at all. The kids looked like they were having a good time! And everyone was so friendly and happy! They call their teachers "Miss Sarah" etc. which is adorable. And there were tons of books!
My first daycare visit convinced me that THOSE people were much more prepared to raise a curious, engaged, well-rounded child than I am! I was like, "Sign baby up!"
I only really got upset thinking about leaving a tiny baby there, which I will have to do. The toddlers and older kids were having a good time and I didn't have a problem with that.
Post by catsarecute on Feb 19, 2014 11:37:47 GMT -5
I toured a center a few weeks ago and also expected to feel sad upon leaving but I wanted to sign my kid up right then and there! It helps that it is a newer center so the classroom sizes are still small. The teachers didn't seem overwhelmed and the place wasn't a zoo. It was rather relaxing!
If it's sad I don't think anyone would put their kid there. heh. I'm doing my first tour today too. I hate having to choose someplace, but I certainly don't expect the center itself to depress me! lol
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuugh we just visited the one I thought we'd use, and it was nap time (ADORABLE!!!), but they don't have any spots available until NEXT SPRING! And here I felt ridiculous touring when I'm not even showing. This sucks.
Ugh that blows, FastHands. I think I'm gonna be looking for places in a few weeks (if it ever gets nice enough to drive again) cuz I'm so scared of not finding a place!
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuugh we just visited the one I thought we'd use, and it was nap time (ADORABLE!!!), but they don't have any spots available until NEXT SPRING! And here I felt ridiculous touring when I'm not even showing. This sucks.
Sorry for the threadjack.
Do NOT feel ridiculous!! A lot of places have waiting lists. You have to do it early if you want a spot!
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuugh we just visited the one I thought we'd use, and it was nap time (ADORABLE!!!), but they don't have any spots available until NEXT SPRING! And here I felt ridiculous touring when I'm not even showing. This sucks.
Sorry for the threadjack.
Do NOT feel ridiculous!! A lot of places have waiting lists. You have to do it early if you want a spot!
NOW you tell me. I knew I needed to start "early," but I'm not even 11 weeks yet! I am still not completely convinced this is actually happening! lol
Do NOT feel ridiculous!! A lot of places have waiting lists. You have to do it early if you want a spot!
NOW you tell me. I knew I needed to start "early," but I'm not even 11 weeks yet! I am still not completely convinced this is actually happening! lol
I think you're still ok. I thought I was going to be putting my son in daycare as a baby (but ended up staying home with him) but I went reallly early to one place, then dragged my feet and we had to go on waiting lists when we started visiting again. Much stress would have been alleviated had I gone earlier.
Perhaps if you're not in a big city it's not a big deal, but the better or more popular places will likely have waiting lists.
Eh, it isn't actually sad until the first time you are leaving your baby there. Especially if they are old enough to have separation anxiety, because that will tear your heart out. The tours are easy peasy.
Post by formerlyak on Feb 19, 2014 16:21:24 GMT -5
I was like that when I toured my ds' daycare. Then the week before I had to go back to work, I was a crying hysterical mess. My now ex-h had me call the director to ask her more questions and she totally calmed me down and was super friendly and it reminded me how happy I was when I visited. I don't think your instincts are off. You maybe just found a good match of a daycare center for you.
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuugh we just visited the one I thought we'd use, and it was nap time (ADORABLE!!!), but they don't have any spots available until NEXT SPRING! And here I felt ridiculous touring when I'm not even showing. This sucks.
Sorry for the threadjack.
Every place I've been to said to expect a wait list of ~1 year. At $75 per nonrefundable application fee, I might as well light Benjamins on fire.
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuugh we just visited the one I thought we'd use, and it was nap time (ADORABLE!!!), but they don't have any spots available until NEXT SPRING! And here I felt ridiculous touring when I'm not even showing. This sucks.
Sorry for the threadjack.
Every place I've been to said to expect a wait list of ~1 year. At $75 per nonrefundable application fee, I might as well light Benjamins on fire.
Post by hokiegirl82 on Feb 19, 2014 19:16:00 GMT -5
we started looking when I was about 17 weeks and put a deposit down on a place late January for late September. I thought it was early but the daycare director said it was great we were looking so early because they fill up so fast. I know I will be sad the first days he goes to daycare but I like knowing that he will be in a safe place while we are at work
ha, i think probably yours is fine but my maternal instinct is broken because it never occurred to me to ask for a tour of our top choice! it's run by my school district and i have several teacher friends with kids there who give it rave reviews. i read this thread and was like, huh, yeah, i guess we could ask to go for a tour if we wanted.
ha, i think probably yours is fine but my maternal instinct is broken because it never occurred to me to ask for a tour of our top choice! it's run by my school district and i have several teacher friends with kids there who give it rave reviews. i read this thread and was like, huh, yeah, i guess we could ask to go for a tour if we wanted.
I only took a tour because they wouldn't let me on the wait list without it! LOL. I feel like demand is so high around here that if I pick 5-10 centers that come recommended by friends, then I'll just have to go with whichever one has an opening when we need it in 11 months!
ha, i think probably yours is fine but my maternal instinct is broken because it never occurred to me to ask for a tour of our top choice! it's run by my school district and i have several teacher friends with kids there who give it rave reviews. i read this thread and was like, huh, yeah, i guess we could ask to go for a tour if we wanted.
I only took a tour because they wouldn't let me on the wait list without it! LOL. I feel like demand is so high around here that if I pick 5-10 centers that come recommended by friends, then I'll just have to go with whichever one has an opening when we need it in 11 months!
yeah waiting lists are crazy in my area too. we've been on this one since last spring and since it's really only open to employees and not "open to the public" it's a much narrower waiting list, but still in very high demand. there are rumors of the district wanting to end the program though so we got on a list of a place right near DH's work but that waiting list is 9-16 months, so i guess we wait and see what happens! i did just ask DH if he wanted to tour either of the spots and he hadn't thought of it either, ha. the centers probably think we're sub-par parents already just sending in deposit checks without even asking about a tour!
Post by curbsideprophet on Feb 19, 2014 21:18:13 GMT -5
That is great! Much better than not finding a place you are comfortable with. I assume you are going to look at others. I would be surprised if you felt equal about all of them.
One place we went I could not my finger on what exactly the issue was, but I just remembering think I don't want to leave my child here. Others place I felt were okay but I were not necessarily my top choice. In the end we got a spot at our top choice and have been pretty happy with it. I loved DD infant teacher!
I only took a tour because they wouldn't let me on the wait list without it! LOL. I feel like demand is so high around here that if I pick 5-10 centers that come recommended by friends, then I'll just have to go with whichever one has an opening when we need it in 11 months!
yeah waiting lists are crazy in my area too. we've been on this one since last spring and since it's really only open to employees and not "open to the public" it's a much narrower waiting list, but still in very high demand. there are rumors of the district wanting to end the program though so we got on a list of a place right near DH's work but that waiting list is 9-16 months, so i guess we wait and see what happens! i did just ask DH if he wanted to tour either of the spots and he hadn't thought of it either, ha. the centers probably think we're sub-par parents already just sending in deposit checks without even asking about a tour!
yeah waiting lists are crazy in my area too. we've been on this one since last spring and since it's really only open to employees and not "open to the public" it's a much narrower waiting list, but still in very high demand. there are rumors of the district wanting to end the program though so we got on a list of a place right near DH's work but that waiting list is 9-16 months, so i guess we wait and see what happens! i did just ask DH if he wanted to tour either of the spots and he hadn't thought of it either, ha. the centers probably think we're sub-par parents already just sending in deposit checks without even asking about a tour!
You were on a waitlist months before conceiving??
yeah, that's about the only crazy thing we did before actually getting a BFP, but we knew the program was so highly recommended and it's co-op style so it's way cheaper than other options in the area, like 1/3 cheaper. it runs on a school year calendar to follow the employees schedules, so we knew we'd want to start in fall 2014 with either a spring, summer or fall baby. and you can defer admission to the following year so if we had major issues TTC we'd just be at the top of the list for fall 2015. some of the waiting lists around here are up to two years so you have to be on lists before actually pregnant to get a spot!
yeah, that's about the only crazy thing we did before actually getting a BFP, but we knew the program was so highly recommended and it's co-op style so it's way cheaper than other options in the area, like 1/3 cheaper. it runs on a school year calendar to follow the employees schedules, so we knew we'd want to start in fall 2014 with either a spring, summer or fall baby. and you can defer admission to the following year so if we had major issues TTC we'd just be at the top of the list for fall 2015. some of the waiting lists around here are up to two years so you have to be on lists before actually pregnant to get a spot!
It might have been a smart option for me too, but damn if I was going to drop $500 on daycare applications before getting knocked up.
Here's hoping someone will accept my dolla dolla billz in exchange for watching my child.
Do NOT feel ridiculous!! A lot of places have waiting lists. You have to do it early if you want a spot!
NOW you tell me. I knew I needed to start "early," but I'm not even 11 weeks yet! I am still not completely convinced this is actually happening! lol
Nothing to add here (though the thought of dropping off a teeny tiny baby did make me a little teary even though I liked all the places we visited), but just wanted to say I can't believe you're almost to the 12w mark!! Is time still crawling for you or starting to pick up?