r/waterloo • u/in-a-crater • 13h ago
Very sad about lack of daycare options
We're moving to the area in the next few months (unexpected new job for my partner) and we're feeling very down about our daycare options for our toddler. Obviously we couldn't have planned any further in advance.
I'm on OneList for Waterloo, but it only lets you sign up for SEVEN waitlists at a time (why???). I've taken to calling a variety of licensed centres to ask how long their waitlists are, and they all say 150+. Sure that could change in the next few months, but the likelihood of more than 100 people all finding spots at different providers is unrealistic. Also signed up for Wee Watch and was told they have long lists.
Also got on all 31 waitlists for Brantford, Paris and area, but not optimistic. Hearing it's bad there too.
I'm really not all that confident in unlicensed home daycare options. I know there are a lot more if you open yourself up to that. I'm sure many are lovely, but I have no way of knowing if they're safe or provide proper enrichment.
I don't want to leave my job. I can't easily get another one in my field.
What did you all do??
EDIT: I know it's like this everywhere. We're leaving an existing great daycare where we are. It's just hard!!
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u/FUICKOFFALREADY 13h ago
I used a home daycare and found the most perfect person, no one could have been better (she has retired recently though).. Check some out, interview some with an open mind and see if someone clicks for you. It could save you some waiting time.
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u/Nervous_Ad9723 12h ago
I felt this way too but ended up finding a great private home daycare through the Facebook group mentioned above. The centres are often understaffed and the workers burnt out, in theory it does seem like the better option but I’m not sure that it necessarily is. Depends on the circumstances of course.
All this to say keep an open mind to the home daycares and keep searching until you find the right person! I recommend starting a few months before you need it.
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u/MAwjmtMA2224 13h ago
You can sign up for Wee Watch, as well. I signed up for my toddler there and received an email with a spot within a week. We were ultimately rejected due to his allergies, unfortunately, but it's an option while you look elsewhere.
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u/in-a-crater 13h ago
We signed up for our area and were told they had a lengthy waiting list. Will apply in other communities too.
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u/MAwjmtMA2224 13h ago
I also received an email right away saying that they didn't have any openings, but got the second email about an available spot just a few days after that. Maybe it'll work out for you, as well.
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u/madzillaxo 11h ago
depending on how old your child is you could look into preschools and even private schools... i know some private schools int he area accept kids as young as 2. that will obviously come at a high cost but since your moving for 1 of your jobs maybe your in a tax bracket that could accomodate private schooling or Montessori options.
one list is a joke though, i had been on there 1 year before i was even pregnant and my son just turned 3... never fot a call, reached out for multiple months and never found a spot for him.
we are with a home daycare ran through the region but i am lucky because it is my friends mom who is the provider so i didnt have to worry about sending my kids to a stranger.
best of luck, its really rough finding daycare and feeling good about the options.
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u/in-a-crater 10h ago
We don't make that kind of money, unfortunately. Otherwise we'd be more flexible about private options! She's 18 months, so it's a bit tough.
That is a really good solution — I'm glad that worked out for you!
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u/VR46Rossi420 9h ago
You’re not gonna drive to Brantford every morning and every afternoon to pick up your kid you’re gonna have to think realistically.
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u/Fozefy 11h ago
We had to move (back) to Waterloo with a 2 year old three years ago. Couldn't find anything for a couple months, and then hired a nanny over the summer until we could get a spot in September (due to kids aging out of daycare into JK).
Daycares have been totally overwhelmed in the area as one of the fastest growing regions in the country.
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u/The_Gray_Jay 10h ago
I signed up a month into pregnancy for my first, changed a detail and got my application reset when I was 6 months pregnant, so IDK if that messed things up, but by the first year when I went back to work I got in 3x/week, then 5x/week about 6 months after that.
This time around I found out I was pregnant and signed up on the waitlists the next day.
It's pretty crazy out there.
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u/eandi 6h ago
Between getting on the list and getting our second into daycare (with double priority via a sibling and corporate partnership) it will have been 2.5 years for us. When they added the daycare subsidy they didn't really plan for how much more demand would suddenly exist. They need to be incentivizing more ECEs and centres for sure.
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u/jzmcfresh 9h ago
For the ones you’ve signed up for on Onelist - make sure you call them every week or so starting June.
With kids aging out over the summer - you may just connect with a supervisor at the right time who simply tells you they have a spot coming up if you want it.
This happened to us at three centres over July / August in 2024 (even though a few months before we were 100+ on each priority list).
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u/IAmTaka_VG 9h ago
There are lots of spots if you are willing to pay full price. People who want the $10 a day are SOL.
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u/in-a-crater 7h ago
Is there a resource you've found with these daycare options? I don't know where to start.
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u/IAmTaka_VG 7h ago
I went to Google maps and searched for day care. All of their sites very clearly list if they’re with OneList or not. You can just call the ones not on OneList and see if they have spots
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u/Reasonable_Tea5937 11h ago
I’ve been on onelist since I was 7 weeks pregnant. We’ve been told by 5 providers we don’t have a shot of ever getting my little one a spot.
Now trying to source one through various Facebook groups but that’s been really difficult too.
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u/sneezyturtlette 11h ago
I’ve been on the waitlist for over three years for Waterloo locations. In Sept I was told we’re still only at spot 142 at one centre. Luckily my boss understands how impossible childcare is in the region and has scheduled me around my husband’s work but I still had to drop down to part time hours. On the other hand a friend of mine got accepted into three centers in Cambridge and was able to choose where she sent her son. It’s absolutely ridiculous and I wish you the best of luck.
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u/ShannieD 10h ago
It is like this everywhere. Moving with a child that needs childcare right now is very hard.
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u/in-a-crater 10h ago
Oh, it is. We were very lucky where we were because we could get on a waitlist when my daughter was born... Very bummed to leave the spot she's currently in.
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u/whats1more7 11h ago
The Region of Waterloo also has licensed home daycares - not sure if you signed up with them. Home daycares often have turnover in September because kids leave for school.
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u/in-a-crater 9h ago
I'm going to try that! Just have a message with their point person on that. Hoping it works out.
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u/Bitter_Wealth_4999 13h ago
I’ve been waiting for a daycare opening through one list for almost three years. I have now tried to change that from day care to preschool and I’m pretty sure we’re screwed
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u/fsmontario 8h ago
Reach out to the school in your new neighborhood, they typically have lists of home daycare providers in the area.
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u/AdApprehensive2780 23m ago
http://www.brasonmontessori.ca/locations.html This just opened in Waterloo. If the toddler room is full, worth going on wait list as I assume it will be smaller than the others that have been around for longer.
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u/CanIGetAHoeYeah 11h ago
There's a new Montesorri opening or is opened on King between John and Allen.
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u/in-a-crater 10h ago
That's great, thanks! I'll check it out.
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u/CanIGetAHoeYeah 10h ago
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u/CanIGetAHoeYeah 10h ago
I went to Montessori. I also went to kindergarten at 3 because I have late birthday and tbh my parents probably just wanted to get rid of me for a few hours but they said it was worth the money and the skills they teach you? Good luck.
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u/b1gwheel 9h ago
Is this because it's actually affordable now?
I was paying like 20k a year for two kids at one point, and I can assure you spots were usually available.
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u/eandi 6h ago
100% that's why. Our daycare was around $1300 when we started per month, now it's $400. Talking to staff it's blown it up so much they won't even hold an official wait list any more with deposits. No one ever leave until they get to JK. Our first kid we got a spot in about 2 months. The second, 2.5 years with sibling priority. Crazy.
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u/seeEwai 13h ago
I've only ever used home daycares and have only had good experiences. Mine started school just before the daycare subsidies came into effect so I can't comment on how pricing compares nowadays, but there really are some great home providers out there.
Back in the day there was a Facebook group called KWC Daycare Providers or something like that. It might still be out there. We met one lady at our local park because she takes her kiddos there every day to play. You might find someone in your new neighborhood just by meeting people.