Every year, there’s a flurry of parents posting on social media trying to gauge just one thing — how long are those daycare waitlists this year, and how the heck can they make it to the top of them by the time they need care? Some popular daycares have waitlists that stretch beyond a full year of anticipated waiting, which is a daunting length of time to a parent headed back to work, moving towns or having a new baby.
“It is very stressful for families seeking availability of high quality child care, as they often find themselves in the challenging position of waiting for a spot to open up,” says Gigi Schweikert, a parenting expert and CEO of Lightbridge Academy. “But be encouraged! Waitlists change frequently. Children get older, families move and parents find alternate solutions while waiting.”
It turns out, there might also be some secret etiquette that you can use to make your way to the top of those daycare waitlists a bit faster. Here’s what to know to make your time on a daycare waiting list go as smoothly as possible and secure a spot at your dream daycare.
Why do daycares have waitlists?
The child care industry is still recovering from the pandemic, in which nearly a third of daycare workers lost their jobs. If it seems like your local daycares are always hiring, it’s probably because they are — staffing is a problem, especially as many centers struggle with funding following the “childcare cliff,” or the expiration of pandemic-driven funding programs. These ongoing shortages impact parents’ abilities to fully engage in the workforce and lead to longer wait times for care.
“When it comes to enrollment, most child care centers operate on a first-come, first-served basis. This means the earlier you apply, the greater your child’s chance of being welcomed into one of the coveted openings.”
— Donna Whittaker, vice president of curriculum and education at Big Blue Marble Academy
This all translates to the average parent having to do some serious legwork to get started at a local daycare, including lots of researching, calling around, scheduling and budgeting, just to land on a waitlist. Waitlists can vary from a few weeks to over a year, depending on your location, how coveted that specific daycare is and other factors. So, it can help to start your search as soon as possible.
“When it comes to enrollment, most child care centers operate on a first-come, first-served basis,” says Donna Whittaker, the vice president of curriculum and education at Big Blue Marble Academy. “This means the earlier you apply, the greater your child’s chance of being welcomed into one of the coveted openings.”
How to move up the daycare waiting list faster
Daycare waitlists might not be as simple and straightforward as they sound, and knowing a few insider tips can help you potentially move to the top a bit quicker. Here’s what to consider.
1. Sign up for multiple waitlists
If you are banking on making it to the top of just one waitlist, you might be in trouble if it doesn’t work out. Instead, consider signing up for waitlists at your top three (or more) daycares. Even if you end up attending your second choice center, you can stay on the waitlist for your first choice and switch when you are able.
“As in many life situations, it is good to have a back up plan,” Whittaker says. “Administration at child care centers will not be offended if they call to inform you of an opening and you have already enrolled your child elsewhere. It happens all the time.”
This “plan B” strategy will also give you the option of transferring your child to the backup location if you are not completely satisfied with the care they are receiving at your first choice. Some centers do require a deposit to be on the waitlist, though, Schweikert warns, so don’t overextend your by budget signing up at too many places.
“Centers love when you follow their social media pages and post friendly comments. It’s important, though, to strike a balance between staying informed and respecting a center’s policies and staff’s time.”
— Gigi Schweikert, parenting expert and CEO of Lightbridge Academy
2. Keep in touch with daycare providers — frequently
One tried and true trick of daycare waitlists is to call and check in frequently to express your interest and to see how far you are from the top of the list. You might be surprised to learn that some daycares do keep track of this enthusiasm, noting those who check in with continued interest and prioritizing those people.
“This [checking in] lets the child care administration know that you’re still interested in a spot for your child and that your child is not attending somewhere else,” Whittaker says. “This should also reduce your stress level because you will know exactly where your child’s name is on the waitlist.”
Schweikert adds that it simply keeps you “top of mind” with the staff. “Also, centers love when you follow their social media pages and post friendly comments,” she adds. “It’s important, though, to strike a balance between staying informed and respecting a center’s policies and staff’s time.” Basically, be friendly and persistent but not annoying.
3. Get creative with your schedule to get an “in”
Sure, the daycare might not have an opening for all-day care , which you may need for work, but your “in” might be arranging a different care schedule that does fit for the time being, such as piecing together part-time care at two different locations.
“Be flexible,” Whittaker stresses. “For example, if you want a five-day schedule but they only have a two-day spot open, take it! As an enrolled family, you will often get priority status when the other days open up, and this will increase your chances of securing a five-day schedule sooner than later.”
4. Use daycare connections to your advantage
Don’t be afraid to be a “name dropper,” Whittaker says. “If you have a friend or relative whose child attends the child care center where you are waiting for an opening, use that to your advantage,” she explains. “Drop the friend’s or relative’s name, not in a high pressure or pushy way, but in a way that lets the provider know that you are aware of their curriculum, safety measures, teacher credentials and caring staff.”
This might help you move up the waitlist faster. In addition, if you are already enrolled in a center, you are likely to be able to get a sibling in quicker than you did when you were adding your first child. Every connection helps.
Lastly, when you express interest to the director, use your prior knowledge of the center to build your case for why you want to go there in a meaningful way. “Instead of saying, ‘You are so close to my house, I really need a spot,’ say something like, ‘I have heard such good things about your program. I would love for my child to be a part of what you’re doing,’” Whittaker says.
5. Watch for red flags that you’re wasting your time
Some centers can be vague about just how long you’ll be on the waitlist, because often they just don’t know. But, there are ways to protect yourself from getting your hopes up or sitting too long on a list that isn’t progressing.
Whittaker says you can do some sleuthing during your check-in calls or in-person visits. “When you make a waitlist check-in call… does the person you are talking to seem attentive to your needs and informed of the center’s practices?” she asks. She notes that if the center is unable to tell you where your child is on their waitlist, then they probably don’t have a true waitlist, and you should move on.
Lea Cline, director of admissions services at Stratford Schools, adds, “The biggest red flag would be that the provider tells you there is a full waitlist and the likelihood of getting in is slim,” she says. Put another way, if a daycare provider tells you there’s little chance of getting off the waitlist, you should believe them.
What are some alternatives to daycare waitlists?
The good news is there are other ways to deal with exceptionally long waits to get into daycare centers. With some centers taking over a year to accommodate new enrollments, it can be worth exploring other options in case you are in for too long of a wait. After all, work won’t often wait for daycare dilemmas. Here are some alternative child care options to consider instead:
- Hire a nanny.
- Consider in-home daycares.
- Join a nanny share.
- Start a child care co-op with other parents.
The bottom line on daycare waiting lists
You know your child best, and the right daycare is out there. While those daycare waitlists can feel stressful, know that with these tips and some meaningful research, you will find the right fit eventually. In the meantime, at least your name is creeping up those other waitlists you signed up for and inching you ever closer to the perfect match.
