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star444
LIF Infant
Member since 3/15 353 total posts
Name:
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I can't find a daycare
... and it's driving me nuts.
I have toured several daycares - both school-type centers and in-home -- and am finding issues with every one. I wouldn't say they are "major issues," but definitely things that irk me. And considering the amount of money these places cost, and that I am trusting them with my LO, I feel like I should be 100% happy with them. I don't know if I am being unreasonable, overprotective, or if this is my way of prolonging the process because I am scared of something?
That being said, what were your "must-have's" for your day care? Did you compromise on anything?
Thanks for the help.
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Posted 6/29/16 1:44 PM  |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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I can't find a daycare
I'm not sure you will ever be 100% happy. Even if you find a place that is 100% perfect there will be some little thing along that way that will irk you.
All I wanted was a clean safe environment.
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| Posted 6/29/16 2:29 PM |
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SLPRunner
LIF Adult
Member since 12/13 1101 total posts
Name:
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I can't find a daycare
I think when you find a place you like you will know. I agree you won't find something that is a 100%. I figured out what I didn't like by touring different places. Once I put my son in daycare, there were still things I didn't love, but most important was that I felt like he was well taken care off and happy. For me most important was clean, good staff, and safe. I wasn't worried about curriculum, for example, because for under 2 I just wanted him to be kept safe and happy
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| Posted 6/29/16 2:56 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: I can't find a daycare
Posted by alli3131
I'm not sure you will ever be 100% happy. Even if you find a place that is 100% perfect there will be some little thing along that way that will irk you.
All I wanted was a clean safe environment.
Same.
I got lucky that the first place I checked out and the one that was less than 5 min from my house was great.
I don't have the patience to be looking at 400 different places, so thank God for that.
But the main thing was- when I dropped her there each morning (and she was a tiny newborn of 8 weeks old) I never once had to think twice about the kind of care she would be receiving that day.
The other stuff was just gravy and extras
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| Posted 6/29/16 2:59 PM |
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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7274 total posts
Name:
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Re: I can't find a daycare
Posted by alli3131
I'm not sure you will ever be 100% happy. Even if you find a place that is 100% perfect there will be some little thing along that way that will irk you.
All I wanted was a clean safe environment.
This. I picked the cleanest one I could find and my DD is still picking up every germ imaginable.
I also looked at a TON before I found one but I was getting discouraged as well. Hang in there, you'll find one!
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| Posted 6/29/16 3:00 PM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: I can't find a daycare
No childcare situation is 100% perfect. Find somewhere that your child will be safe and cared for; that fits your schedule - both daily with the hours and with the days they close for vacations; that has little-to-no state violations; and that you feel comfortable at. Realize that it's not permanent and you can always change your circumstances.
I had DS in an in-home daycare for a hot minute. I was never in love with the facility, but had few options where we lived at the time. Then I saw something that made my decision, and I pulled him out and got him a nanny. We had him with a nanny for about a year. Then we moved to LI and we put him in a center that we've been generally very happy at - again, no place is perfect. DD started there almost a year ago when she was 11 weeks old.
Do I love leaving my children there every day? No. I'd rather cuddle them and play with them!  But since I can't afford to be a SAHM (nor would I want to be), this is the best situation we could find and it works.
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| Posted 6/29/16 3:24 PM |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
Member since 2/09 20494 total posts
Name:
Me
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I can't find a daycare
No daycare will be perfect. I love the place we send DD. They're inexpensive, have had one single super minor violation (something trivial) in over 2 years, they love her, and she loves them. But there are things they do sometimes that annoy me, like close when it's a snow day even though it's an in home daycare. But it's worth it. I knew they would be a good fit the first time I saw it.
My requirements were:
No violations unless they were stupid and weren't safety issues.
Clean
Friendly
Good references
Lots of things for kids to do
Message edited 6/29/2016 5:59:41 PM.
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| Posted 6/29/16 5:56 PM |
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WannaBeAMom11
LIF Adult
Member since 1/11 7391 total posts
Name:
Name
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I can't find a daycare
What area are you looking at? If you post I'm sure people here could give you good suggestions
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| Posted 6/29/16 8:58 PM |
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IVFmiracle
Complete
Member since 12/12 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: I can't find a daycare
When looking for a daycare for DD1 we toured about 12 programs. We had 6 weeks to make a decision before she started. We were lucky to have so many options to choose from. I was very picky. I found I liked the day centers better than family day care options. I leaned toward programs that weren't overcrowded with toys. We ended up choosing a program that was clean, had a curriculum we liked and took an approach to discipline that was similar to ours.
For DD2 we started looking when I was 3 months pregnant. We called 10 programs but have only been able to tour 3 programs. The rest are completely booked. I was told I started looking too late!  
It's ok to be picky, but don't wait too long because spots fill up!
Message edited 6/29/2016 10:31:47 PM.
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| Posted 6/29/16 10:31 PM |
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