Every year, parents post on social media in a frenzy trying to gauge just one thing — how long are those daycare waitlists this year, and how do they get to the top of them by the time they need care? Some popular daycares have waitlists that exceed a full year of expected wait time, which is a daunting amount of time for a parent returning to work, moving towns or having a new baby.
“It’s very stressful for families looking to find high-quality child care, because they often find themselves in the difficult position of waiting for a place to open up,” says Gigi Schweikert, an expert in child care. parent and CEO of Lightbridge Academy. “But take heart! Waitlists change frequently. Children are getting older, families are moving and parents are finding alternative solutions while they wait.”
Turns out, there might even be some secret etiquette you can use to get to the top of those daycare waitlists faster. Here’s what to know to make your time on the lists as smooth as possible and land a spot at your dream daycare.
Why do daycares have waitlists?
The child care industry is still recovering from the pandemic, with nearly a third of daycare workers out of a job. If 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 the pandemic- driven funding programs. These persistent shortages affect 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 that the sooner you apply, the better your child’s chance of being accepted into one of the coveted openings.”
— Donna Whittaker, vice president of curriculum and education at Big Blue Marble Academy
All of this translates to the average parent having to do some serious work to get started at a local daycare, including a lot of research, calling around, scheduling and budgeting, just to end up on a waitlist. Waitlists can vary from a few weeks to more than a year, depending on your location, how popular that particular daycare is and other factors. So, it will 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,” said Donna Whittaker, the vice president of curriculum and education at Big Blue Marble Academy. “That means the sooner you apply, the better your child’s chance of being accepted into one of the coveted openings.”
How to increase the daycare waitlist faster
Daycare waitlists may not be as simple and straightforward as they sound, and knowing a few insider tips can help you potentially move to the top a little faster. Here’s what to consider.
1. Sign up for multiple waitlists
If you’re just planning on getting to the top of a waitlist, you could 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 get into your second choice center, you can stay on the waitlist for your first choice and transfer when you can.
“Like many situations in life, it’s good to have a back up plan,” Whittaker said. “The supervision of childcare centers will not hurt 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” approach will also give you the option to move your child to a backup location if you are not completely satisfied with the care they are receiving in your first choice. Some centers require a deposit to be on the waitlist, however, Schweikert cautions, so don’t stretch your budget by signing up at too many places.
“Centers love it when you follow their social media pages and post friendly comments. However, it’s important to strike a balance between staying informed and respecting staff policies and hours. a center.”
— Gigi Schweikert, parenting expert and CEO of Lightbridge Academy
2. Stay in touch with day care providers — often
A 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 at the top of the list. You may be surprised to learn that some daycares track this enthusiasm, paying attention to those who check in with continued interest and prioritizing those people.
“This [checking in] letting the child care administration know that you are still interested in a place for your child and that your child is not going elsewhere,” Whittaker said. “It should also reduce your stress level because you’ll know exactly where your child’s name is on the waitlist.”
Schweikert adds that it keeps you “top of mind” with the staff. “Also, centers like it when you follow their social media pages and post friendly comments,” he added. “However, it’s important to strike a balance between staying informed and respecting a center’s policies and staff hours.” Basically, be friendly and patient but not annoying.
3. Get creative with your schedule to get “in”
Sure, the daycare may not have openings for full-day care, which you may need for work, but your “in” may arrange a different care schedule that doing fits right now, like combining part-time care in two different locations.
“Be flexible,” says Whittaker. “For example, if you want a five-day schedule but they only have two-day spots open, take it! As an enrolled family, you’ll often get priority status when other days open up, and this will increase your chances of getting a five-day schedule sooner rather than later.
4. Use daycare connections to your advantage
Don’t be afraid to be a “name dropper,” says Whittaker. “If you have a friend or relative whose child attends the child care center where you’re 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 coercive way, but in a way that lets the provider know you know their curriculum, safety measures, teacher credentials and caring staff .”
This may help you move up the waitlist faster. In addition, if you are already enrolled in a center, you will likely get a sibling much faster than you did when you added your first child. Every connection helps.
Finally, 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’re too close to my house, I need a place,’ say something like, ‘I’ve heard great things about your program. I want my son to be a part of what you’re doing,’” Whittaker said.
5. Watch for red flags that you’re wasting your time
Some centers can be vague about how long you will have to wait, because they often don’t know. But, there are ways to protect yourself from waiting or sitting too long on a list that isn’t moving forward.
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 talk to seem attentive to your needs and knowledgeable about the center’s practices?” he asked. He said that if the center can’t tell you where your child is on their waitlist, they probably don’t have a real waitlist, and you should move on.
Lea Cline, director of admissions services at Stratford Schools, added, “The biggest red flag is the provider telling you there’s a full waitlist and the odds of getting in are slim,” she said. Put another way, if a day care provider tells you that the chances of getting off the waiting list are slim, you should believe them.
What are some alternatives to daycare waitlists?
The good news is that there are other ways to deal with the long waits to get into daycare centers. With some centers taking more than a year to accept new enrolments, it may be worth exploring other options if you are on a very long wait. After all, work does not often wait for problems in daycare. Here are some alternative childcare options to consider instead:
The bottom line
You know your child best, and the right daycare is out there. While daycare waitlists can feel stressful, know that with these tips and some sensible research, you’ll find the right fit eventually. In the meantime, at least your name is creeping up on other waitlists you’ve signed up for and getting you closer to the perfect match.
