Reserving a daycare spot - WWYD?

[Susie]

We've been focusing most of our baby-prep energy lately on daycare.  We're both full time practicing attorneys and there will be no SAH discussion, so it's a pretty big imperative to tie up.  We're looking for a ~March 2016 start date, when Hobbes is 16 weeks +/- a couple.  We have some flexibility on start date because Calvin is going to take paternity leave at the end of my maternity leave, and he will just take more or less depending on daycare start date.  He has way more than we plan for him to actually use.

So here's the quandary.

Our 1st choice daycare has told us that they are 99% sure that they will have an opening in the infant room sometime between Feb and Apr, and we are first on the list for it.  (The spot will be opening because a current child will be moving from infant to toddler room then.)  However, they won't take a deposit now.  They want to hear back after the baby is born (in 20-ish weeks).

Our next tier of preference is our 2nd & 3rd choice places (we haven't sorted out which is 2nd and which is 3rd).  One isn't sure they'll have a space for us until June, so let's discount that one for now.  The other (let's call it #3) is willing to take a deposit now for a March start date.

For obvious reasons, I would love to put a deposit down, HAVE A SPOT, and be able to make plans.  OTOH, we really prefer #1 for a number of reasons, not least of which is location.  Calvin and I carpool to work, and #1 is walking distance to both of our offices and the garage where I have (i.e.. we share) a parking permit.  They accommodate walking to daycare really well; we can even leave a stroller there all day.  There is so much flexibility built into that arrangement, and I think it'd mean we could continue to share my parking pass (otherwise we have to pay for parking for Calvin, an added expense).  

#3 is pretty inconvenient.  Do-able, but... inconvenient.  We live south of the city we work in; this daycare is north of that city.  I'm just not sure we'd be able to get our shit together every.single.day to carpool and make daycare pickup on time.  There is not-insignificant traffic going in that direction that we otherwise don't have to deal with.  Other than location, though, the two are very similar.

If we don't put down a deposit at #3 w/in the next 2 weeks, we will lose the spot.  Because they allow registration so early, someone else will register for the spot.

HAVING A SPOT is so appealing to the planner in me, and I'm worried about the possibility of not having a spot at any of our top 3.  Our choices #4-6 are a big jump down in preference (but not so much in cost!).  But first in line at #1 is pretty good, and so is 99%.  AND SO IS WALKING TO DAYCARE.  So WWYD?  Wait it out and trust?

[konapoppy]

We put the deposit in for #3, since our #1 and 2 are on wait lists. This was before even touring!

Will they refund the deposit if you can fill the spot? Our 3 will refund with 30 days notice. Our 1 would only refund if they could fill the spot (and this was with a later start date than we wanted; the deposit was an entire month's tuition).

Based on my actual actions, I would reserve 3 and hope that you get in to 1. At the end of the day, it is likely a drop in the bucket for child expenses, and the peace of mind is worth it.

[Koala]

We are going to be getting a nanny instead of daycare, so take my questions and advice with a grain of salt.

Would you lose the full deposit on #3 if the spot at #1 worked out? Would losing the deposit be worth it to you?
#1 sounds perfect. If for whatever reason this spot didn't open up as planned, when would the next spot open? Is it possible to start at #3 and then switch to #1 when they do have an opening?

Depending on the deposit amount, I would probably put down the deposit at #3 and then cancel if the spot at #1 opens up. I feel like in the long run, the amazing location is going to be more worth it to you, but I don't think I would give up the spot at #3 just yet.

[tiptoetulips]

I would say #1. I would ask what happens if the space becomes available in February and you're not ready.

[statgirl]

Reserving a spot isn't locking you in forever. If the deposit for #3 isn't outrageous, pay the money and assume you will lose it when #1 has a spot. If #1 ends up not having a spot, you still have childcare.

When ODS was in utero, our #1 said they would have a spot but no deposit until he was born. I called them every week and we got a spot. My back-up was a home daycare my friends used.

Having a Plan B isn't bad.

[Susie]

The deposit at #3 is non-refundable, full stop.

I'm sure transferring from #3 to #1 would probably be possible, I'd just really rather not set myself up to transfer. One of the daycares in our #4-6 tier is actually one of our favorites (#2-3 level) but the big ding against it is that they will not have an opening until Sept 2016, which means guaranteed having to transfer in.

As far as if the spot at #1 opens up on the early side... well, we can either eat the daycare fee for a week or two, or start out part time as solutions that would not result in losing the spot. I'm not sure how long they'd hold it. Even if Hobbes doesn't come until 42 weeks, she would be 9 weeks on 2/6. So a Feb start date still seems reasonable.

[minion]

I would go with number 1. Unless the deposit for #3 is refundable. But if you are not tight on cash and its not a lot, and the deposit isn't refundable, I see putting a deposit down for 3, and still waiting for #1. Just to keep options open.

[ebeth]

I'd plan on #1 and look into a nanny to bridge the gap between having a space and return to work if necessary.

[jennistarr1]

I would just wait for #1.

[konapoppy]

Given that the deposit isn't refundable at all and Calvin's leave is flexible, I wouldn't feel as bad going with 1.

[humpforfree]

I would do #1. Should you not get in within a reasonable timeframe to this daycare, would a nanny be an option to fill the gap until they have a space for the baby in the daycare? I believe you can get a nanny on pretty short notice.

[Susie]

Jul 2, 2015 17:18:03 GMT -5 @starry said:

How much is the deposit?

Around $250; a week's tuition I think.

On the nanny idea, I have a friend who is a nanny for a set of twin toddlers, but she also has a baby for another friend for a short term deal this summer (possibly even a between-daycares thing).  So she would probably be able to help me out next spring if we found ourselves in a short term pinch.

[konapoppy]

Jul 2, 2015 21:38:00 GMT -5 Susie said:

Jul 2, 2015 17:18:03 GMT -5 @starry said:

How much is the deposit?

Around $250; a week's tuition I think.

Wait, $250?! I am going back to my original statement. Send in the deposit for 3. I was expecting closer to 2k (what our 1 required!).

[ebeth]

Jul 2, 2015 22:33:40 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

Jul 2, 2015 21:38:00 GMT -5 Susie said:

Around $250; a week's tuition I think.

Wait, $250?! I am going back to my original statement. Send in the deposit for 3. I was expecting closer to 2k (what our 1 required!).

$250? Just pay it. Unless you're really strapped for cash or something. I too just assumed the deposit was in the 1500-2000 range.

[dcn]

For $250 I'd pay the deposit for peace of mind, and plan on going with choice 1. If for some reason that falls through you'll have three ready to go.

[pooh8402]

For $250, I'd also just pay the deposit and hold the spot.

[preppy]

Pay the deposit if it's only $250. Our deposit was a months tuition at $2400.

[Koala]

Yes. I would definitely pay the deposit for peace of mind.

Also, a week of infant daycare is only $250? That's amazing!!

[midwest07]

I think we are on 6 lists now and have put down 3 deposits, in the range of $25 - 200.  It's worth it to me to be both on the list of the top choice(s) plus those where we know we can get a spot if needed.

That's annoying that your #1 won't take a deposit, but it sounds like you are on the list and very likely to get that spot.

I have found the lists/deposits to be a little loose. I will call for a tour and say, I want to go ahead and get on your list (because the tour might be a week or two away), and they say OK.  And then I get there, and it's "oh when is your baby due, let me check our wait list" when we already had that conversation.

Anyway, I am a planner like you and would just want to have as many options as possible.  Even if your #1 doesn't end up being available when you need it, hopefully you can do a deposit when the baby is born and then move there when a spot opens.

That is nice you may have up to 4 months before you have to start daycare.  We are having to look at a nanny option to bridge the gap between me going back to work and our #1 choice being open.  Or starting at a lower choice daycare knowing we will switch in a month or two.

[ninaxo]

I would also put in the deposit for option #3, and then cancel as soon as option #1 gave me a solid yes. If putting in a deposit that you may lose is not an option, I'd simply wait for option #1.

Your start time is flexible, there are other daycares that you prefer on your list but their start time is not ideal - plus you have a friend who could offer her nanny services worse case scenario, so if option #1 ends up not having an opening, something better could very well work out!

[jd15]

Jul 3, 2015 7:53:32 GMT -5 dcn said:

For $250 I'd pay the deposit for peace of mind, and plan on going with choice 1. If for some reason that falls through you'll have three ready to go.

this.

[mswax]

Jul 3, 2015 7:53:32 GMT -5 dcn said:

For $250 I'd pay the deposit for peace of mind, and plan on going with choice 1. If for some reason that falls through you'll have three ready to go.

This.  We actually did this for a great center, and ended up going with an in-home daycare that was about half the price.  I was ok with losing the deposit.  I cost less than the center in the long run.

ETA: Oops...somehow I thought I had clicked on the H&F board.  FYI, I am NOT pregnant!

[lindsaymg]

I would obviously go for #1, which doesn't seem to be a question in y'alls mind. If you have no family/backup plan I would probably eat a deposit for #3 just in case. It sucks, I know.

/Cosigned the mom that has to pay from August-November to have a spot when she gets off maternity leave in December.

[mrswineo]

I'm just chiming in what the others have said - put the deposit down on #3 but go with #1.

This makes me feel better as we got our #1 place reserved with only a $50 deposit and $186/week for FT infant care.

[sookie]

Jul 6, 2015 15:48:32 GMT -5 mrswineo said:

I'm just chiming in what the others have said - put the deposit down on #3 but go with #1.

This makes me feel better as we got our #1 place reserved with only a $50 deposit and $186/week for FT infant care.

This was us, except $145/week. I'm so glad I live in a LCOL - all these $2,000 deposit talks are killing me.

$145 is even high for our area, but it includes access 24/7 to webcams.