first daycare visit next week

[CloudBee]

On paper and hearing personal experiences from 2 friends, it sounds like it might be a perfect fit.

Let's hope we like it! If it's "decent" we'll put down a deposit and continue our search. They have a wait list through June 2013, and I need care starting in July or August of 2013.

Many centers around here have a 12 month wait list. Ahh!

The center is across the street from my husband's office, and around the corner from my own. Their hours are wonderful, as is their annual schedule.

Originally I thought we would go the nanny route... until I started hanging out here. I don't want to deal with nanny sick days, vacations, late arrivals due to traffic, etc.

Step by step. ;D

[carolinagirl831]

Good Luck! I hope you like it. That reminds me I really need to get on that!
I'm going the day care center route too, I just feel we need someone really reliable and with our jobs I don't know what I would do with nanny vacation days/ sick days, ect.

[Ashley&Scott]

I would encourage you to visit at least 2 centers, even if you feel like the first one is a great fit.

[CloudBee]

Sept 14, 2012 14:08:11 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

I would encourage you to visit at least 2 centers, even if you feel like the first one is a great fit.

Of course. My second line says "Let's hope we like it! If it's "decent" we'll put down a deposit and continue our search."

[countthestars]

Awesome, hope you like it!

Sept 14, 2012 14:18:24 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Sept 14, 2012 14:08:11 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

I would encourage you to visit at least 2 centers, even if you feel like the first one is a great fit.

Of course. My second line says "Let's hope we like it! If it's "decent" we'll put down a deposit and continue our search."

In her defense, you said "if it's decent we'll keep looking", which can be read as "if it's great, we won't."

[CloudBee]

Sept 14, 2012 14:31:30 GMT -5 countthestars said:

Awesome, hope you like it!

Sept 14, 2012 14:18:24 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Of course. My second line says "Let's hope we like it! If it's "decent" we'll put down a deposit and continue our search."

In her defense, you said "if it's decent we'll keep looking", which can be read as "if it's great, we won't."

No, I said if it's decent we'll put down a deposit. Meaning - we don't want to lose out on the spot if it's adequate, knowing that everyone around here has a roughly 12 month wait list right now, then carry on to see other centers to compare.

[CloudBee]

Sept 14, 2012 14:24:32 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Good luck! If you hate it, don't freak out.

Thanks! I haven't been in a DC since I was enrolled myself as a kiddo! I'm not sure how my husband will react.

[Deleted]

Hope it's great!

~signed the mom who's kid totally goes to the first and only daycare option we actually visited. I swear, I did call references.

[countthestars]

Sept 14, 2012 14:35:41 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Sept 14, 2012 14:31:30 GMT -5 countthestars said:

Awesome, hope you like it!



In her defense, you said "if it's decent we'll keep looking", which can be read as "if it's great, we won't."

No, I said if it's decent we'll put down a deposit. Meaning - we don't want to lose out on the spot if it's adequate, knowing that everyone around here has a roughly 12 month wait list right now, then carry on to see other centers to compare.

I'm sure that's what you meant, but I was just saying it can be read as.

You've been really defensive lately. Or maybe it's just me.

[Ashley&Scott]

Sept 14, 2012 14:18:24 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Sept 14, 2012 14:08:11 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

I would encourage you to visit at least 2 centers, even if you feel like the first one is a great fit.

Of course. My second line says "Let's hope we like it! If it's "decent" we'll put down a deposit and continue our search."

I meant visit more than one before putting down a deposit. Maybe things are different in your area...around here deposits are 1 weeks tuition (or more) & nonrefundable.

I understand that you want to get on a list asap, but depending on the required deposit you could be out a good chunk of money.

[h]

We put down deposits ($50-150 each) to get on the waitlist at four daycares. Just putting down a deposit one place would have make me nervous since there was no guarantee we would get in. As it was, we got into two out of the four centers by the time the baby was born, another the week before I went back to work, and never got into the last one.

[CloudBee]

Sept 14, 2012 14:49:01 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

I meant visit more than one before putting down a deposit. Maybe things are different in your area...around here deposits are 1 weeks tuition (or more) & nonrefundable.

I understand that you want to get on a list asap, but depending on the required deposit you could be out a good chunk of money.

Yeah, it's pricey, but I can't risk losing the spot if it ends up being the center we like most. I don't have the flexibility of visiting more than 1-2 centers next week. If we like the center and I don't hold my spot, and it ends up being our favorite, I may be without a spot my first week back at work.

I'm kicking myself for not going on a tour a few weeks ago.

[CloudBee]

Sept 14, 2012 14:51:54 GMT -5 h said:

We put down deposits ($50-150 each) to get on the waitlist at four daycares. Just putting down a deposit one place would have make me nervous since there was no guarantee we would get in. As it was, we got into two out of the four centers by the time the baby was born, another the week before I went back to work, and never got into the last one.

There's a wait list through the end of the month before we need care. I may need care as early as the first week in July, and they are full through the end of June. They have a spot open for the first full week in July. So my deposit wouldn't be for wait-listing at this center, it would be for an actual slot.

Anyway, hopefully this is the best fit. Regardless we're going to see a few others.

[Ashley&Scott]

Understandable. Would early morning or late evening tours be an option for you? Many centers are open 6-6 so maybe you could squeeze a few more into your schedule.

[CloudBee]

Sept 14, 2012 14:58:17 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Understandable. Would early morning or late evening tours be an option for you? Many centers are open 6-6 so many you could squeeze a few more into your schedule.

Early morning would. I will definitely have to ask. Thanks!

[lmb5109]

We visited 4 daycares so far.

1 local chain that has an hourly rate and has 4 infant rooms. I was iffy on this one but we ended up loving it. A mom came by to show the teachers the new baby while she was out on maternity leave and her older child ran to the teacher and hugged her so hard! Melted my heart!

1 church daycare, I thought I was going to love it before we went to see it. It was a shit hole.

1 daycare in a hospital. Really liked this one but it's pricey and they only have 1 infant room with 2 teachers, so 8 babies max. Small waiting list now, should have an opening when we need

1 national chain, horrible!