Daycare advice

Well I went to 4 centres in Kaiapoi when I wanted to put Spencer in and he started the next week on the days that I wanted. I would ring around Rangiora centres and ask if they have waiting lists. I think it might just be Auckland that has the huge waiting list problem. Not sure about Christchurch itself though if you are looking at using a centre in town.
Spencer's centre charges $19 per half session (4 hours) or $29 for a short day (8.30-4.30), its cheaper again if in full time. The ABC centre I looked at charged $27 for half session (3.5 hours) or $35 (I think) for a short day and $39 for a full day (7.30-5.30) so quite a difference in price.
At his centre I have to provide food and nappies, but they provide everything else.

It pays to go and have a look around some even if you aren't planning on using them just yet to get a feel of what will suit you, they all seem to have different ways and practices and its good to find out what sits well with you. The centre we picked isn't the newest or best equipped but I liked their approach to the childrens learning and the teachers seemed to genuinely love the children and enjoy being with them which I think is vitally important. The more expensive centre seemed commercial and almost clinical in its approach (it looked a bit hospital like inside as well, not very homely).

Well I'm in Auckland where the big waiting lists are, and how bad is this: I put Alex down on two waiting lists when I was five months pregnant with him... and when I called those places a couple of weeks ago to see whether he's at the front of the list yet, they said that they don't have any room for another year.

GAH!!!

Luckily then I found a brand new place which had only just opened and still had once space left.

But yeah, up here waiting lists of 12 months plus are not uncommon. Often it's because kids who are already at the centre have siblings come along and those siblings get priority over kids on the waiting lists.

ETA: And we pay $75 per day for two days a week *faints*

Edited by Mikaela

OMG I better get cracking and get on some watiting lists. I am in Auckland eekkk 1 year waiting lists man thats bad.

I recommend to just turn up (avoid lunchtimes though as they are busy and wouldn't appreciate it).

We turned up unannounced and it is amazing what you will see. You will also get a feel for the place on what it is really like.

Also check to see if they will have the free 20 hrs when your bubs turns 3yrs. The ABC near my house doesn't so we have enrolled DS into one further away otherwise when he turns 3 we probably wouldn't get him in anywhere else.

BTW - Cuppatea - I'm moving down to where you are coz it is so cheap!! Have you got a spare room LOL!

I would ring around and ask what their waiting lists are like, and ask when a good time would be to go in for a look around. Some places don't mind if you just turn up anytime but other places I went to were happy enough to have me look around, but sometimes didn't have an extra person available to give me a tour or answer my questions, so I came back another time.

We booked in for about 5 different daycares months ago, and have just managed to get into one (the one I wanted) for only one day a week. A full day is $36 and I think the weekly rate is cheaper per hour. That includes food and everything except for milk and nappies. The lady at the daycare centre told me to keep calling back because the ones that are the most interested tend to get the places sooner, at their centre.

Definitely go have a look around though, then you will get to see what the staff are like and how happy the children are, etc. as well as being able to ask questions that pop into your head when you see how things are run.

I have gotten one response and they charge $60 a day, man its expensive in Auck. Hopefully I will get working for families, that will help.

Also, they take preference for babies already enrolled. So like Jack is only in one afternoon a week but will get the other spots I want over and above children who aren't enrolled in any times at the moment.

My friend said one place she looked at has a four year waiting list in Christchurch, so its definitely not easy. I will be enrolling our next one when I am pregnant to start the same days as Jack when s/he is about 3 months old.

lol on the waiting list topic my BFF rang me today she has just moved to mt isa in aussie and she cant start her job untill her girls get into a daycare over there and theres a 12mth wait!!!!

was just talking to my SSIL she manages a daycare here, she said if she was looking she would go around lunch time, just turn up and take notice of the babies in the highchairs, then leave and go back for a second look in just over an hours time once lunch is finished.

I personally have just turned up and would always do that as you get a real sense of the place. If they are busy and can't deal with you then they will ask you to go back at another time...this is also a good way of seeing how they deal with problems, interruptions etc and gives you an idea of what sort of place it is.

I only went once to all the places I visited and put DS name on the lists of the places I liked. If he gets close to the top then they do the longer visits. I personally wouldn't want to spend a huge amount of time there if we aren't intending of using it.