When to look into daycare facilities

I began looking when I was matched, though I probably would have done it sooner had I known the match was coming! I had to go back to work soon too, and my family stepped in to help out during the first few months. You may have some friends or family that would help with a newborn, as most daycares (at least where I'm from wont take an infant under 6 weeks). Also, you might be surprised by the cost of daycare vs in home help for a newborn. Newborns are relatively easy, and sometimes you may be able to get a price break. I was actually interviewing for in home care because the price wasn't terrible for at least the first few months, but then my family and friends stepped forward to help. My home study was done after the match and I had to explain my plans for child/newborn care when I went back to work. At any rate that's when I started looking and found family that was willing to help and a daycare for later. As far as waits, I have a friend in a large city and she her 3 month old had a 3 week wait list before being able to start...she enrolled at a very expensive option.

But to answer your question, look around now to get a feel for wait list, costs, and alternative options that you can pursue after matched.

Thanks so much for the information! I've looked around online a little at local daycares but hadn't really thought about in home care. I'll look into that as well to get a feel for it.

I have to say, I think in-home care is much better for an infant. All states have laws about the caregiver to child ratio. The ratio for caregivers to infants is much lower. Therefore, most day care providers (at least here) only take 1 or 2 infants at a time and the costs are higher than for toddlers. I've known people who have had success finding a mom who wants to stay at home, but still needs some extra money, to take care of their babies. Craigslist is a good spot for that. Of course, you must go to the home and make sure everything is acceptable. Good luck! :hippie:

You may want to check with some daycares to see if you can be on a wait list. I know my partner and I have a daycare in mind (partner is military) and when we talked to them and explained that we felt it was unfair that "traditional" motherhood would allow 9 months of prep time, but for us we probably won't have that. The daycare manager understood our position and wanted to help (FYI, the wait list is over 6 months). They told us that once our home study is approved they would allow us to be added to the wait list. If our name comes to the top of the list and we haven't been matched yet, then they would just skip up but keep us on top. Maybe some daycares out there will do the same if you just talk to the owner/manager. Hope this helps and best of luck!

This is a great question - one that I did not have time to really think about since things moved so quickly for us. I started looking for daycare options a couple of weeks after placement, and I wish that I had started at match or even before. Some of the better options near us have a year or longer wait list. The person at the front desk of one local facility basically told me that "good parents put their child on the wait list when they learn that they are pregnant, so of course we don't have any openings"....grrrrr! After I cried at one of the last local options and filled out wait-list paperwork, a spot miraculously opened the next day for the exact time frame that we needed. I really believe that they went the extra mile to make this happen after they heard our story. So, I agree with the previous post author - talk to your local options, someone will likely connect with your need and let you be on the wait list and stay at the top if needed. I hoped that I would find affordable in-home care that I could trust, but since I didn't, I was very happy to have this spot when I went back to work. We don't have any family nearby. Best wishes in your journey!