I will be going back to work on probably August 29th (beginning of school year) and was wondering when I should start searching for daycare for Brenna. I have a list of names of people in my neighborhood. Should I be starting now to get a feel for what is out there, costs, etc? Brenna will be just turning 1 when I go back-is she still considered an infant?

~Kerrie

Definitely start looking now. A lot of places have long waiting lists. As for whether she'd be considered an infant, she'll probably be right on the border. The criteria our daycare center uses is they need to be walking and eating table food to be in the toddler room.

Good luck!

Dennis

I would start looking now too. We started looking in August for March daycare.

I would start looking now. In some daycares 1 is considered infants; some consider them as toddlers.

Thanks! I called the other day and found 2 with openings. I have a few more to call. One woman was so enthusiastic about her job and loved the fact that I had a girl (she has 2 boys of her own). My only concern with her is that she has a boxer. Should I be too worried about that. I didn't ask where she kept it during the day though. I was also thinking that during the summer I would ask if I could leave Brenna there for an hour or so so she could get used to being there. Is that a good idea?

~Kerrie

I think it's very good to start gradually with daycare. We did that with both Joe and Frances, we built up to a full day over a week. As for the dog, ask her about it and tell her your concerns. If what she tells you isn't acceptable, then it's not the right place.

Good luck,

Dennis

sounds like you looked at home daycare? the dog should not be near the kids during the day. definately ask where she keeps it. my dcp has loads of animals but the dog is not allowed to be free roaming around the kids, it's gated off in another area.

considering brenna's age when you go back to work i would definately start her gradually :nod:

to answer your original question, if you're looking for a center start now, if home daycare then you'll need to look closer to your start date. generally home daycares do not know very far in advance when they'll have an opening.

this site will give you a list of licensed providers in mass, listed by town. it can be out of date. when we looked for daycare for tony in '02 many of the people i called on the list weren't doing it anymore. but it's a start. i found my dcp this way and she is fabulous.

http://www.qualitychildcare.org/childcare_finding.asp

KIm, that is exactly where I went to look for providers. My SIL is on there and told me to look on that site. Unfortunately she is expecting, otherwise Brenna would go to her :(

THat's good to know about the dog. I know where they live and have walked by before. I have seen the dog out in the yard, but I think she was just with her two kids when I walked by.

I have to go with home daycare because there aren't any centers near us or at least in the direction we head to work (the joy of living in a rural part of the state). There is one in town, but you have to be 2.9 years old so we have some time before she goes there.

I agree that building her up to FT during the summer would be good. It's going to be tough (especially on me!), but I think in the end she will be fine. She can only hang around with me for so long!

~Kerrie