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one fifty · Aug 8th, 2009, 10:06 PM

what do people do? I know this sounds dumb but I would like some honest real life opinions.

I'm 8 weeks along and have visited a daycare very close to my house which has a good reputation. I know my due date and we added 6 weeks afterwards (because of minimum age requirements there) to give them a 'start date' because I have heard of long waitlists at daycare centers.

However I can get 3 months maternity leave and figure I probably would, so really the baby wouldn't need to go until 12 weeks after birth (instead of 6 weeks). We have no family nearby so it is very important to us to have a daycare plan set up, if anybody can come to help it would be icing on the cake but we can't count on that.

So what do people do? I don't want to lose a spot at the daycare if I have to call and give a later date instead, and they do not really advise anything just tell us "well just tell us the date the baby will start here".

Swanky Mama Of Three · Aug 8th, 2009, 10:15 PM

Have you asked them? I'm sure if your start date changes by one week it won't affect your opportunity.

HauteMama · Aug 8th, 2009, 10:22 PM

I imagine that some places would have the same policy they have for vacations regarding a later start date, and that is that you pay to hold the spot even if the child is not yet attending. In other words, what they want to know is the date you will begin PAYING and not necessarily the date the baby will begin attending. If you arrange a start date and begin paying them, they will not care if your baby begins attending a week later or a month later. Of course, no one wants to pay for a service they will not be using, so you will want to try to arrange a start date as close to the actual date as possible, but I am sure they will allow you to pay to hold the spot if you begin using them later than expected.

hamstahon · Aug 9th, 2009, 12:04 AM

Most places ask for a deposit to hold your child's spot if you choose them as a daycare provider. The deposit can vary; anything from a registration fee to the fee plus one week's tuition.

It's tough to gauge how long it'll be before the baby actually starts, especially with a newborn. Things change like starting earlier, later, and some parents opt not to go back to work. Most daycares will be flexible with the start date and will keep in touch with you until the baby actually starts.

My advice to you, aside from this, is that since you don't have family nearby to please make sure you at least have 2 or 3 emergency contacts set up, whether they're friends or neighbors. I don't know how far away you work or if you or your partner travel for your job, but it's always good to have these contacts just in case. I can't tell you how many times we've had a hard time reaching parents when they're children are sick or we have an emergency closing and they have no other contacts.

BTW, I'm a daycare director. Please feel free to PM me if you have any other questions!

Aug 8th, 2009, 10:06 PM	#1
one fifty OP Member Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 287	what to tell the daycare regarding dates? what do people do? I know this sounds dumb but I would like some honest real life opinions. I'm 8 weeks along and have visited a daycare very close to my house which has a good reputation. I know my due date and we added 6 weeks afterwards (because of minimum age requirements there) to give them a 'start date' because I have heard of long waitlists at daycare centers. However I can get 3 months maternity leave and figure I probably would, so really the baby wouldn't need to go until 12 weeks after birth (instead of 6 weeks). We have no family nearby so it is very important to us to have a daycare plan set up, if anybody can come to help it would be icing on the cake but we can't count on that. So what do people do? I don't want to lose a spot at the daycare if I have to call and give a later date instead, and they do not really advise anything just tell us "well just tell us the date the baby will start here".
one fifty OP Member Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 287

Aug 8th, 2009, 10:15 PM	#2
Swanky Mama Of Three Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas Area Posts: 42,788	Have you asked them? I'm sure if your start date changes by one week it won't affect your opportunity.
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Aug 8th, 2009, 10:22 PM	#3
HauteMama Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,845	I imagine that some places would have the same policy they have for vacations regarding a later start date, and that is that you pay to hold the spot even if the child is not yet attending. In other words, what they want to know is the date you will begin PAYING and not necessarily the date the baby will begin attending. If you arrange a start date and begin paying them, they will not care if your baby begins attending a week later or a month later. Of course, no one wants to pay for a service they will not be using, so you will want to try to arrange a start date as close to the actual date as possible, but I am sure they will allow you to pay to hold the spot if you begin using them later than expected.
HauteMama Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,845

Aug 9th, 2009, 12:04 AM	#4
hamstahon Looooves sales Joined: Jun 2007 Location: CT Posts: 772	Most places ask for a deposit to hold your child's spot if you choose them as a daycare provider. The deposit can vary; anything from a registration fee to the fee plus one week's tuition. It's tough to gauge how long it'll be before the baby actually starts, especially with a newborn. Things change like starting earlier, later, and some parents opt not to go back to work. Most daycares will be flexible with the start date and will keep in touch with you until the baby actually starts. My advice to you, aside from this, is that since you don't have family nearby to please make sure you at least have 2 or 3 emergency contacts set up, whether they're friends or neighbors. I don't know how far away you work or if you or your partner travel for your job, but it's always good to have these contacts just in case. I can't tell you how many times we've had a hard time reaching parents when they're children are sick or we have an emergency closing and they have no other contacts. BTW, I'm a daycare director. Please feel free to PM me if you have any other questions!
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