I had a hard time getting started too. I advertised in April 2010 and had a really hard time even getting calls or any signs of interest. Then half way through August I had 3 families contact me within 48 hours and they all signed. You just never know how the timing works out.

I found my first clients through daycarebear.

I never had luck with kijiji ever. It was really weird inquiries through there and it made me wonder if it was all creepy people lurking on there.

And then after I got started I have gotten 3 families from recommendations and another 1 from word of mouth and also another 1 from daycarebear.

I have had 2 times where people have pulled their cars over on the street and asked me about spots while I was out walking and once just walking down the sidewalk and encountering a mom coming the opposite way. None of those ever worked out because I never had space available.

I would suggest daycarebear, kijiji if it works for you and you don't get strange inquiries, and then going to Ont Early Years in your area and chatting up moms at some of the groups and telling them you do daycare and are looking for families. Just slide it into the conversation casually and see if they know anyone and tell them to point people your way

I did flyers when I got started and hung a sign out my front door, but didn't find those to be very effective personally but each area is different.

Good luck. Hang in there. Build it and they will come.

I also find it helps if you take some pictures of your daycare space and put it on your ad. It draws more people in when they can see what a great space you have and you will get more clicks. It is like you are on ebay - do you click on the items with a picture or just a description?? People love pictures