Where Are All The Kiddos...

[ihop]

So I opened about a month ago, with 3 kids. Infant spaces went like hotcakes and I have 1 toddler. I have 4 infant on my wait list but in 12 interviews have only had 1 over 24months. There are a lot of daycares in my area.

I am registered and have a great set up. Very competitive rates. Open 12hrs per day. I'm not seeing the problem. Is it me? Will it get better?

I'm freaking out since I can have 10,and need 5 to make bills comfortably.

I am considering lowering rates, although I'm not sure it will help.
I have put up fliers, care.com, business cards, craigslist, that's all I could think of.

I guess I'm just wondering what you all have done, and is this normal?

[NoellesMama]

Congratulations on opening your daycare and I hope you can fill all of your spots soon!

The providers in my area fill a lot of their spots by posting a few ads on craigslist, Facebook, and we encourage current families to refer us to others they may know who are in need of care.

Good luck!

[blandino]

In the past year, I have filled 5 infant spots, have 6 infants on waitlist, and have turned away at least 10 families with infants who needed care.

I have had three interviews with families with children over 2.

I just never get calls for anyone over 2. I don't know if the majority of people just go ahead and find a formal preschool when looking for care for a child that age. We offer a full preschool program too, so I know that isn't coming into play.

At this point all but 2 of my 2&up crowd started here as infants, and then once they turn 2 - it opens up a spot for a new infant. Obviously this isn't easy when you are first starting off, but...

[ihop]

Thanks guys. I will just keep advertising and praying. My oldest infant wont age out for another 19months. I too offer a preschool curriculum but it doesn't seem to matter.

[Josiegirl]

I was so excited to get a call for a child over 2, but the family only wanted 2 days a week. I took her anyways and she's a real sweetheart. But like others said, infant spots are usually filled quite fast. It's incredibly difficult to find children over 2. Seems like they're already established in a daycare or center.

I doubt it's you. You sound like you're doing everything right. I've been doing this for 30+ years and except for the 1st year, this year is the only other year where my enrollment has been down too low. I've got 4 full-time and really do need one more but so far that hasn't happened.
People have more choices now than they did many years ago, plus trying to save money so families look to their own family to help out with childcare. I don't know about your area but we have a lot of centers here and family daycare homes. Competition is tough.

[kathiemarie]

I think the 2+ crowd will go straight to a "pre-school" setting if they never have been in care before. I think parents like being able to say they send their kids to school not daycare. (even if you provide a preschool program they think of it as a home daycare.)

[Familycare71]

I think the 2+ crowd will go straight to a "pre-school" setting if they never have been in care before. I think parents like being able to say they send their kids to school not daycare. (even if you provide a preschool program they think of it as a home daycare.)

This is what finding too! I'm eventually going to end up being a school age and infant program! I can only have two under two so ... That's a lot of SA!

[Moppetland]

I'm coming back into a family childcare after being closed for 1 year. A lot has really changed. There are a lot of centers in my area too, and they have preK beginning at 3 years old and now they're having them all day on a sliding scale. My park district is even offering before and after school care for $60 per month. It is hard on family providers right now. I only get calls for under 2 years old also. With a limitation on how many I can have under two, I will always be stuck with 3 infants/toddlers until they turn 2 or older. But then when they do, they will be pulled out to go to a "real school". Yes, a parent told me that one time when she pulled her 3 year old daughter out the last time I was opened. I cared for her daughter since she was 11 months old.

I use to become highly upset when people call me a "babysitter". Now I don't care anymore because regardless of all the professional training required from us through DCFS and regardless of all the scrutiny we get from DCFS, we are still just "babysitters" because no one wants to put their babies in a center. YET.

[Sunchimes]

I tried for over 13 months to get a 2 1/2 or 3 year old. When I got a call for a 10 month old a couple of weeks ago, I opened my mouth to say I was looking for an older child. Somehow, in that millisecond before my voice started talking, I decided that I was being stupid and agreed to the interview.

He's been here a week and is adorable and so, so easy. Probably the best baby I've ever had. But, I still have a high chair and a bouncy seat taking up space, and I still have 2 little ones to lift into and out of pnp and bouncy seats and high chairs. (One isn't so little, he weighs 30 pounds but has delays, so still needs lifting.) Still have bottles to clean, and I will still have diapers for a long, long time. I wanted a playmate for the 3 yo dcg. She gets lonely and wants me to play with her constantly. I don't mind that, but sometimes I get tired of sitting in a little chair with my knees around my ears drinking invisible tea. It would be such a luxury to sit in a real chair and watch 2 preschoolers play. I guess by the time they are 2 1/2, most families are satisfied with their providers and not willing to change.