Day care wait list

[ewall]

Were/are any of you wait-listed? I spoke with our top choice daycare (our church's) and there is a wait list of 15 for a 8 baby classroom. Is that bad? Like really bad? 

The only glimmer of hope is that as parishioners we get bumped to the top of the list. 

[zarapipe]

I wouldn't worry at all since you are number one. When will you be needing care? They should be able to tell by looking at bdays when a child in the infant room will be moving up to make room for your child.

[ewall]

Jul 28, 2014 10:34:02 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

I wouldn't worry at all since you are number one. When will you be needing care? They should be able to tell by looking at bdays when a child in the infant room will be moving up to make room for your child.

We are looking at April 2015. I think I just freaked because I wasn't expecting it. Every weekend I see the "now enrolling" message in the church bulletin and it's the most expensive place in town so I just assumed they would have spots available (I didn't figure anyone else would want to pay a premium for childcare, but that is dumb since I am more than willing to pay it myself.) We are going next Monday to tour and get more info. 

The other part of me is lazy and not wanting to search for alternatives so I'm really hoping we can make this work. 

[Deleted]

Don't a lot of people put themselves on several lists to make sure they get a spot? Some of those people may not have the church daycare as their #1 choice.

[ewall]

Jul 28, 2014 11:13:57 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

Don't a lot of people put themselves on several lists to make sure they get a spot? Some of those people may not have the church daycare as their #1 choice.

LOL, this was also my husband's rational answer when I emailed him about the wait list. Apparently I just need someone to talk me down today because I am not thinking straight! The irrational pregnant lady part of me is horrified that I might not have care for my baby.

Thanks  

[Brie]

Jul 28, 2014 11:26:03 GMT -5 @astrid said:

I'd plan for a backup.

Agreed.

[ewall]

Oh yes, I will have my name on every wait list in town now that I know how this works!

[FastHands]

We are on one wait list that we are 99.9999999% sure we will NOT have an open spot available on when I go back to work. I got on the list in mid-February, and they said they would not have a spot open until September *2015*. I think it's kind of silly for them to even keep taking people on their list at that point, because my kid will be a year old, and obviously he won't need the infant room anymore, and it's a bit easier to get into a 1yo room based on the teacher/child ratios. So it's frustrating. BUT we really love this day care, so we will wait it out to see when a spot comes open. For me, when you are comparing one center to another, there aren't many differences in the infant rooms, anyway (at least in my area). So we have a spot reserved at a place that is just across the street from the one we love, and the little guy will go there until a spot opens up for us at our #1 choice.

[Deleted]

Jul 28, 2014 11:23:46 GMT -5 ewall said:

Jul 28, 2014 11:13:57 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

Don't a lot of people put themselves on several lists to make sure they get a spot? Some of those people may not have the church daycare as their #1 choice.

LOL, this was also my husband's rational answer when I emailed him about the wait list. Apparently I just need someone to talk me down today because I am not thinking straight! The irrational pregnant lady part of me is horrified that I might not have care for my baby.

Thanks  

Oh man, I can relate:). Hang in there! You will definitely find daycare for your babies.

[gerberdaisy]

The daycare we are hoping for won't be available until the end of January 2015. I'm planning on going back to work mid November, so we plan on using family and a part time nanny for a few months until it opens up. They say there is a chance it could change of course, but we aren't counting on it.

[ngdgtco]

I am on three wait lists with little hope of getting a spot at any of them. I'm going to wait until I have the baby to start stressing about it, though, because I figure we can use a nanny or figure something else out for a little while until something opens up.

[MrsDarcy]

FWIW, I was on three waiting lists when I had my son three years ago. I ended up not going back to work, and got offered two of the spots, so that's two spots that others got. Like PPs have said, put yourself on as many as you can, though you'll go broke in the process, I know waiting list fees are not cheap around here.

And listen to this, I JUST got an email from one of the three I had us on at the beginning of 2011. They asked if we were still interested in STAYING ON THE LIST! I sent them a very angry, yet polite email that they never responded to. My son is over 3 years old! Seriously?! This place had 5 stars, but a two year waiting list (and a hefty wait list fee). They also encouraged people to call and bug them, and those people would be moved up the list. Um no, I'm not going to call and beg! Ugh, I really regret even putting myself on that list.

[MrsAggie]

You should be fine since you're at the top of the list.

I can't even think about child care as I work nights and H works 2pm-10pm. There are no daycare options at night. He HAS to find a new job and I'm almost halfway through this pregnancy. I'm going to go have a panic attack now.

[rbp]

We are on the wait list at every daycare I visited. Apparently they don't just give you spots around here. Sigh. They wouldn't even tell me what number we are in line. Oh, and I dropped about $500 in non-refundable wait list fees. 

So this is how I feel about daycare: 

[MrsDarcy]

Jul 28, 2014 12:42:16 GMT -5 rbp said:

We are on the wait list at every daycare I visited. Apparently they don't just give you spots around here. Sigh. They wouldn't even tell me what number we are in line. Oh, and I dropped about $500 in non-refundable wait list fees. 

So this is how I feel about daycare: 

It really is sickening how expensive the freaking wait list is. So ridiculous.

[MrsDarcy]

Jul 28, 2014 12:37:12 GMT -5 MrsAggie said:

You should be fine since you're at the top of the list.

I can't even think about child care as I work nights and H works 2pm-10pm. There are no daycare options at night. He HAS to find a new job and I'm almost halfway through this pregnancy. I'm going to go have a panic attack now.

I wonder if you could find an older woman or something that could sleep at your house and take care of the baby, just at night? It probably wouldn't be as expensive as during the day. Where would you find this magical older, retired grandma? Not sure, but that would be a pretty decent gig.

[MrsAggie]

We might be able to swing a nanny. I will have to do some research.

[perkyderky]

This thread has me freaking out now.  I'm due in September and haven't even LOOKED at day care options yet.    I think my "to do list" just changed a bit.