I have had parents ask me to hold a spot for a month or two but never 10. Either way, I would treat it the same. I offer that they can pay my holiday rate (so $400 a month vs $600) to hold the spot until they need it. They have the option to send their child before than if they want and they just need to pay regular fee for those days. This way, my spot is filled but less a child for awhile and I'm still making money but not spending money on the child yet.

I have had one family consider it but than the dad decided he didn't want to pay for something they weren't using. Understandable, no skin off my back. I filled the spot and they found a different, cheaper daycare a week later. About a month later the mom told me that the other dcp fell through and she wanted my spot. I had to tell her my spot wasn't an option anymore and she was quite disappointed. (and annoyed with her husband I think lol)

It would all depend on your area too. I have had other families decline the offer to pay the holiday fee and take a chance on finding another dcp closer to their needed start date. Sometimes it works out for them and sometimes it doesn't. There are lots of hdc's in my city though.