WWYD? Holding daycare spots.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

How far advance would you take a deposit to hold a daycare spot?? I take a two-week deposit which is applied to the last two weeks of care and usually do not take this and hold a spot no more than three months before they are to start.

But because of the new bill 10 rules and all the parents realizing that caregivers now have only two 1yr old spots and not five, I think they are panicking. I have had four emails this week with moms who all need care next June for their one-year-old.

I have a spot open and want to fill it but in my mind was thinking April or May, I would be interviewing. Should I be telling them to contact me again in April or May or should I go ahead with these interviews?

I think it's way too far ahead to take a deposit now for next June but the other side of me is thinking what if I wait to April and May and all those families have firmed up with another daycare because I wouldn't meet with them now and then I can't fill my spot what would you do?

Most of the moms have a child that will be one next June so they are 5mths now. But I had one mom contact me who is only four months pregnant but needs care next June and her baby will only be six weeks old. She is self-employed so has no Mat leave. Again it's fine with me I take newborns because I love that age and I have the spot but it just seems weird to interview with a pregnant mom.....lol

I would do it and take deposit and signed contract but require earlier start. If you explain you taking big risk trusting that she really going to return work and so you require mid-April/early May start, will that help?

Locally, Sept is a horrible time to fill places. Lot of carer here still trying to find replacement for child who aged out to school. Little reply to ads.

I knew one of mine was going school and I contracted for replacement last November! Mom was still pregnant. The agreement we had was once the current child left for school, she would pay for place. She could use it FT or PT. She could take few weeks for herself before end mat leave. She could go back work early. But if she wanted space for sure, she had contract for it and pay for it. They did pay deposit in Nov 2014 and sign contract. And they did come when child aged out.

I would do this way again if could. It much less stressful knowing place full.