Is it really this hard to find childcare for an infant in Chicago?

[LaurenLC]

Okay, my husband and I don’t even know what the gender of our child is yet, and we are already finding that getting into a great childcare facility is going to be hard.

Our baby is due at the end of June, which means that (if I go back to work) we will be looking for childcare to start at the end of September/ beginning of October. Thinking that we were way ahead of the game, we started looking into facilities earlier this week. Boy were we wrong…

The vast majority of reputable places that we have looked at have wait lists as long as the eye can see and this scares me…. If it’s this hard to find a decent childcare provider, what is it going to be like to get into pre-school??

We’re also looking at in home care, which I would prefer, but I know that can get REALLY expensive.

Will someone PLEASE tell me that this will all work out?!?!?

I’m sorry, but I have to vent.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Call your local information and referral service (maybe through United Way). See if there is a Childcare/Daycare association in Chicago that might be able to help you find other reputable care providers. Ask around at church, work, etc. Also, you might check with your employer's EAP program to see if they have any recommendations.

I remember going through something similar when I had my son (yes, it was quite awhile ago), but it did all work out in the end!

Good luck to you.

K

 

[emma'smom]

Get on as many waiting lists as you can....just in case a spot opens up. Also, do you know other people in your social circle using these facilities (or even better---the childcare facility directors or folks who are on their Board--if they are non-profits)? If so, talk to these folks about the fact that you are looking for childcare for fall (keep it casually, friendly--"just seeking a little advice" conversation) and perhaps they might mention your name. Waiting lists can be very strict or a little flexible depending on the needs of a facility/school. If a spot opens up---and doesn't hurt to have you name be a familiar one.


P.S. Find out the call date for preschools now too! If you can start getting on waiting lists for applications, go for it! It can't hurt----most will make you wait until the enrollment year---but sometimes you can get on a list for your anticipated start-year.

 

[Christine]

Infant care is notoriously hard to find ANYWHERE. The ratio of infant-to-adult is very low so the available slots are much less so than for, say, the 2 year old level.

I would check into home daycare. In my area, home daycare is cheaper than a center. Not sure why it is reversed in Chicago. But there are issues with that in that most daycare providers can only take 2 infants at a time depending on how many adults are working there.

Good luck. I remember that stressful time!

 

[bicker]

Not sure if this is a related data-point: My SiL used to do home infant care in Gurnee, but stopped. It was either due to legal concerns or insurance concerns -- I don't recall.