HOLY MOTHER OF DAYCARE.

[FastHands]

Toured another facility today. It was awesome. Loved everything about it. The building is only a few years old, it's part of a national/well-respected chain that makes sure everything is teh same from facility to facility yadda yadda yadda.
Me: "and when do you have availability for infants?"
Director: "ummm right now, we are looking at the fall..."
Me: "-OH GOOD! We would need December at the earliest."
Director: "-Of 2015."

afsdiojrfaekj!! OMG I am so frustrated and disheartened.   We went to another one right after, that is much older, a little run down, they take more infants (same ratio, of course, just a little more chaos). Same stinking price as the one we love. They do have openings as early as this summer (and she made me feel like I was being insane for looking so early..), but UGH. So so frustrated. I mean, it's a totally fine option for the first 10-12 months until a spot opens up at the place we love, and I know my kid will be FINE there. I'm just a brat and I want everything I want, dammit. lol

[hokiegirl82]

Wow that's an insanely long waiting list!

[Odonata]

Oh man, I don't even want to think about looking for daycare. People keep asking me if I'll stay home and I don't think I can, or that I even want to. But what's with the waiting lists? Now I'm starting to get anxious I won't find one around me! I'll need to go back to work in January 2015.

Honestly, if the waiting lists are so damn long (as in years out), I think it's totally reasonable to start looking this early! If you gotta be back to work you have to put your kid someplace!

[blushing]

This is going to sound insensitive, and I apologize ahead of time. But, go ahead and put your kids name on the waiting list. If it is for infants then not all those kids are going to be conceived already and those parents might have problems TTTC. That could get your already conceived kid bumped up the list. Some others might move away for work/family, etc. Again your kid could be bumped up. And then there could be those that have found other childcare options and no longer want to move their child after they have bonded with their childcare worker.

[FastHands]

Feb 21, 2014 13:21:04 GMT -5 blushing said:

This is going to sound insensitive, and I apologize ahead of time. But, go ahead and put your kids name on the waiting list. If it is for infants then not all those kids are going to be conceived already and those parents might have problems TTTC. That could get your already conceived kid bumped up the list. Some others might move away for work/family, etc. Again your kid could be bumped up. And then there could be those that have found other childcare options and no longer want to move their child after they have bonded with their childcare worker.

Oh, we are definitely getting on the list. They are actually conscious of how ridiculous their list is, and they said they won't even charge us the registration fee until they have a firm date to tell us. I joked that with as long as it took us to get PG, we should've signed up a year and a half ago, and they said that they do not take registration without a due date. Sooo these are all babies that are conceived! oi. I'm sure others will find something else or move etc etc, though, so yeah, definitely getting on the list, especially since there's no cost yet.

[zarapipe]

Dude...those babies haven't even been conceived yet haha

[bowies]

Holy hell, that's insane. How do people even know? Are these the same people who purchase wedding dresses when they're single?

We're on a waiting list on out #1 place with assurance that we'll likely get in based on past history. We should still probably find a back-up option, but I've been putting it off.

[FastHands]

Feb 21, 2014 13:27:56 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Dude...those babies haven't even been conceived yet haha

I couldn't help myself. I said it out loud. I was like, "that's TWO GESTATIONS' WORTH OF WAITING LIST."

But they only take 8 infants, soooo I think it's more that it's people due between now and when I'm due, all waiting for those dang babies that are in there now to age out.

[smock]

Feb 21, 2014 13:28:55 GMT -5 bowies said:

We're on a waiting list on out #1 place with assurance that we'll likely get in based on past history. We should still probably find a back-up option, but I've been putting it off.

I'm in the same situation, except I know that my coworker who just had twins is on the list before me. It's sort of awkward to know exactly who will be taking up 2 of the 16 spots that will be available in August!

[SJ]

YES. I emailed my 2 best friends (both married, not yet TTC) this morning and told them to get on the list for the center we saw yesterday.

It was so, so nice and waiting list could be 18 months.

[kermit]

I know, it's so frustrating. Now I know why so many women in my area are SAHM's. They can't find daycare!

[rbp]

Jesus.

So far I'm on waiting lists at three places that I'm pretty sure won't have a spot when I need it in January. I don't know what to do from here.

[ringstrue]

No, that doesn't even make any sense unless they have a bunch of 6 weekers that JUST started and they are in the infant room until 18 months regardless of walking skills. 

I ditto just getting on every waiting list you like the price range of and the place itself.

[rbp]

Feb 21, 2014 14:22:16 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

No, that doesn't even make any sense unless they have a bunch of 6 weekers that JUST started and they are in the infant room until 18 months regardless of walking skills. 

I ditto just getting on every waiting list you like the price range of and the place itself.

This is a really expensive habit. I could have gotten my self a pair of designer maternity jeans with the money I dropped this week on THREE non-refundable application fees.

[robinsbff]

we've been on a list for about a year now, so obviously before this LO was conceived. we got on as soon as we started TTC. we hope to have a spot open for us this fall, but won't know until june. the other place we're on a list has a waiting time of 9-16 months. we only got on that one recently, so unless it's on the 9 month range that's going to be a problem. some places around here have lists that are 2 years plus. it's insane.

[Blue Moon]

Um, I haven't even considered looking at daycares for another few months. I'm in such denial about waiting lists. I need to get the ball rolling I guess.

[papie]

It is like that for most daycares here.    I got on the list in july when I found out I was pregnant, I really hope I can get a spot for september.  We will see. 

[heygrey]

i can understand signing up for daycare when you're expecting and have a reasonable timeline of when you'll be needing said care.

i cannot, however, wrap my mind around signing up for daycare when you're TTC. i'm not judging people who do, because i get that it's necessary, but how does that even work? you sign up for a year from now (assuming you conceive the first month, 9 months of pregnancy + 3 months of mat leave) and just call every month to bump back your reservation if you don't conceive?

it sounds like there are plenty of parents ready and able to shell out $$$ for good centers, why is no one seeing this and responding to the demand?

[rbp]

Feb 21, 2014 18:55:43 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

Feb 21, 2014 17:12:17 GMT -5 rbp said:

This is a really expensive habit. I could have gotten my self a pair of designer maternity jeans with the money I dropped this week on THREE non-refundable application fees.

There was one Montessori school we just had to walk away from. The non-refundable application fee was $300. I quickly realized that there was a price limit for hearing "Thanks,but no thanks", in the future. 

That's a really nice pair of jeans. 

[ngdgtco]

One problem for a FTM is that most places give priority to current families. One place I toured was opening a second infant room just to fill it with internal babies. So it sounds like we may never really even have a shot.

[rbp]

Feb 21, 2014 19:56:18 GMT -5 ngdgtco said:

One problem for a FTM is that most places give priority to current families. One place I toured was opening a second infant room just to fill it with internal babies. So it sounds like we may never really even have a shot.

I think this is the place I visited on Wednesday. 

H and I are thinking maybe we need to consider in-home daycares rather than continuing to throw Benjamins down the drain on centers that will never have an opening? How does one even find an in-home daycare?

[rbp]

Feb 21, 2014 20:15:04 GMT -5 luckydog said:

Feb 21, 2014 17:12:17 GMT -5 rbp said:

This is a really expensive habit. I could have gotten my self a pair of designer maternity jeans with the money I dropped this week on THREE non-refundable application fees.

No where I went had application fees. I mean, what is there for THEM to evaluate? It isn't like they need to read entrance essays or analyze test scores. Sure, they need to make sure your kid has all the immunizations etc they require. But application fees seem silly.

Am I an anomaly without application fees? I encountered deposits (refundable) for first month's dues to hold a spot, but that's it.

Because they can, I guess.

[heygrey]

Feb 21, 2014 19:57:59 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

Feb 21, 2014 19:13:51 GMT -5 heygrey said:

it sounds like there are plenty of parents ready and able to shell out $$$ for good centers, why is no one seeing this and responding to the demand?

In really simplistic terms because  not all centers are created equal, and infant programs are more expensive to run because because of the low ratios and licensing requirements. Here, infant care is really expensive to run, and many parents are attracted to are the bigger chains or University Centers that offer more perks. It's hard for others to compete with these types of arrangements, epecially when real-estate is expensive. Although smaller places do benefit from receiving people who are priced out, never pulled of a wait list, or who wanted non-center based care to begin with. Many smaller places start at 2 yrs because of different licensing requirements. It just wouldn't be profitable/ worth the risk for them to cater to infant parents. 

fair enough. 

i just have no concept of this, being in canada. good centers are pricey, but with a year mat leave option that most women take it totally changes the necessity to jump onto waiting lists. it also means a lot of centers don't have infant availability because they don't have to. if one of the parents don't stay home for a year, people usually use family, or an in home. 

[robinsbff]

Feb 21, 2014 19:13:51 GMT -5 heygrey said:

i can understand signing up for daycare when you're expecting and have a reasonable timeline of when you'll be needing said care.

i cannot, however, wrap my mind around signing up for daycare when you're TTC. i'm not judging people who do, because i get that it's necessary, but how does that even work? you sign up for a year from now (assuming you conceive the first month, 9 months of pregnancy + 3 months of mat leave) and just call every month to bump back your reservation if you don't conceive?

it sounds like there are plenty of parents ready and able to shell out $$$ for good centers, why is no one seeing this and responding to the demand?

Well in my case the center runs on a school year calendar with new groups starting in September every year. We knew fall of 2014 would be our starting date if we had a spring, summer or fall 2014 baby. With combining my maternity leave and summer break we'd be able to start in fall of 2014. So we put our name on last spring when we started TTC. Hopefully we get a spot.

Plus it's co-op style and means it's nearly 1/3 cheaper than other places nearby. Half as much as some places I've heard people quote prices on in the area. That's a huge chunk of change each month. So it's worth taking a chance on.

There's no "bumping back a reservation". You take the spot when it opens and then pay to hold your spot until you use it. That's if you even get a spot before you need it. As I said some places here have waiting lists of two years. If you get on that list only when you get pregnant you've still got at least a year to figure out some other care before you get your preferred location.

[rbp]

Feb 21, 2014 20:23:45 GMT -5 robinsbff said:

Feb 21, 2014 19:13:51 GMT -5 heygrey said:

i can understand signing up for daycare when you're expecting and have a reasonable timeline of when you'll be needing said care.

i cannot, however, wrap my mind around signing up for daycare when you're TTC. i'm not judging people who do, because i get that it's necessary, but how does that even work? you sign up for a year from now (assuming you conceive the first month, 9 months of pregnancy + 3 months of mat leave) and just call every month to bump back your reservation if you don't conceive?

it sounds like there are plenty of parents ready and able to shell out $$$ for good centers, why is no one seeing this and responding to the demand?

Well in my case the center runs on a school year calendar with new groups starting in September every year. We knew fall of 2014 would be our starting date if we had a spring, summer or fall 2014 baby. With combining my maternity leave and summer break we'd be able to start in fall of 2014. So we put our name on last spring when we started TTC. Hopefully we get a spot.

Plus it's co-op style and means it's nearly 1/3 cheaper than other places nearby. Half as much as some places I've heard people quote prices on in the area. That's a huge chunk of change each month. So it's worth taking a chance on.

There's no "bumping back a reservation". You take the spot when it opens and then pay to hold your spot until you use it. That's if you even get a spot before you need it. As I said some places here have waiting lists of two years. If you get on that list only when you get pregnant you've still got at least a year to figure out some other care before you get your preferred location.

At one of the centers we're on the waitlist for, if you decline a space, you have to pay to get back on the waitlist.  :?

[FastHands]

Feb 21, 2014 20:03:02 GMT -5 rbp said:

Feb 21, 2014 19:56:18 GMT -5 ngdgtco said:

One problem for a FTM is that most places give priority to current families. One place I toured was opening a second infant room just to fill it with internal babies. So it sounds like we may never really even have a shot.

I think this is the place I visited on Wednesday. 

H and I are thinking maybe we need to consider in-home daycares rather than continuing to throw Benjamins down the drain on centers that will never have an opening? How does one even find an in-home daycare?

Not sure how your state/county works, but most of the time, you can search for actively licensed centers and display them on a map. For me, though, I can't make myself comfortable with an in-home without a LOT of recommendations from people whose opinions I really trust. So far I've only found one such option, and this particular one comes with a lot of drawbacks vs a center. It's frustrating for sure.

[thatgirl2478]

Sounds like the waiting list for the on campus daycare my old company offered...