Day Care - Where to start?

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Now that we know our residency location, I need to start looking into day care for D (sob...). I will need FT care plus probably some evening care for days that I travel. Where do I start to look? Do daycares have websites? How do you find safety ratings, etc.? What do I even look for in a day care? (I mean the obvious thing to do is to visit but what questions do I ask over the phone/email when I'm looking at places).

We will go down there at some point but I'd like to get the process started via the internet if possible. With my leg injury, we probably won't get down there until March and I need care starting in mid-June.

[scrub-jay]

See what government branch issues licenses for daycares and they'll have basic info on complaints, ratio requirements & stats. Many have websites, but you'll have to start making phone calls & visits to really get a feel. If your "mom gut" says: no way, LISTEN to it and run the other way, fast. We wanted a place that would do baby sign, cloth diapers, no walkers, dim (non overstimulating) lighting, fed on-demand & had a curriculum. Basically, figure out your parenting style and find a place that shares your values (no matter what they are). I made a cheat sheet of questions, I'll try to find it and send it to you if that would be helpful.

[moonlight]

We have a state agency that gives child care centers "stars." You want a 5 star center if you can get into one. Let me get the website from my working mom friends.

[MrsK]

Also, talk to the other residents and doctors in your DH's hospital. Find out where they send their kids and why.

[Deebs]

I don't know if they have a presence there, but when we were in Columbus, I sent my DD to Primrose. We loved the physical space, the curriculum, the family centeredness, and the safe feeling we got there. My mom has worked in early childhood Ed for years,and had really turned me against corporate daycare, but after just visiting that center, my mind was changed. I guess I think word of mouth is helpful, but for me, I really had to step into a center to know if it was right for us.

In Roch, we lucked out and our next door neighbor did in home daycare and was awesome. Here, I wish we just had some kind of drop in daycare.

I guess I'd start a search by trying to figure out where you'll live and what's close (or what's close to work, if that's your preference). Start looking on the web for info first.

[HouseofWool]

The best one we had didn't match all of our values, (it had a religious affiliation, which didn't thrill me) but the staff was fantastic. It was part of a nursing home and they integrated the kids with the "Grandmas and Grandpas" on a regular basis. Not having extended family nearby, that was a huge draw for me. It took us over 2 years on a wait list to get in the first time. When S was born, she quickly became the darling for the manager. I have a pic of Sophie sleeping on her desk after a bottle... It was so sweet, the staff bickered for the opportunity to hold and feed her.

[MrsK]

Bear in mind, some places may not let you put her on their wait list until you move there. Also, put her on wait lists for a couple places. Even if a place is not your first choice, you may need to enroll her there for a couple weeks until a spot opens at the place you really want to send her. I was so anxious about returning to work after K1 was born and a spot opened just days before my maternity leave ended. For K2, he was almost 6mo before a spot opened notwithstanding that he had a sib at the center and was on the list since I was 3mo pregnant.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Bear in mind, some places may not let you put her on their wait list until you move there. Also, put her on wait lists for a couple places. Even if a place is not your first choice, you may need to enroll her there for a couple weeks until a spot opens at the place you really want to send her. I was so anxious about returning to work after K1 was born and a spot opened just days before my maternity leave ended. For K2, he was almost 6mo before a spot opened notwithstanding that he had a sib at the center and was on the list since I was 3mo pregnant.

I bet that means sucking it up and paying lots in registration fees. Ugh how annoying!

[HouseofWool]

I don't remember having to pay registration fees to be on the wait list for a facility.

[MrsK]

We did not have to pay any fees to be waitlisted. Registration fees are paid upon enrollment.

[moonlight]

http://ncchildcaresearch.dhhs.state.nc.us/search.asp

We have a site from our county with more info about child care centers. I'm trying to find out if the county you will be in also has a website. I'll post when I get the info.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

http://ncchildcaresearch.dhhs.state.nc.us/search.asp

We have a site from our county with more info about child care centers. I'm trying to find out if the county you will be in also has a website. I'll post when I get the info.

Thanks! Assume you want a 5 star center only? Any idea what ft care for an infant will cost?

[moonlight]

No idea on costs. Let me again ask my local peeps. I'm asking them and they are providing me the info. Here's the other websites you'll need to read over.

http://www.orangesmartstart.org/

http://www.smartstart.org/

I think there is a active med spouse group in the triangle. I forgot the name... but it's that national med spouse christian organization. I know they have a website and a triangle chapter.

[SuzySunshine]

Its probably the Side by Side Chapter, http://www.cmda.org/WCM/CMDA/Ministr..._by_Side_.aspx if you want me to find out the contact information for the local chapter let me know and I'll get it for you.

I have no advice on the daycare, good luck!

[Vishenka69]

Find out if the hospital has daycare and a concierge/relocation office. Also, if you have any religious affiliation that might also be the route to go.