Discussions

My husband and I are expecting our first baby in June 2016 so we would require a daycare spot in June 2017 for a 12 month old. Is it too early to start looking? Would most home daycares know this far in advance if they will have a vacancy? Any advice, or specific daycares to try, would be greatly appreciated!  
 
P.s. We do not require subsidy, are open to both private and licensed daycares, and would prefer drop-off/pick-up hours of 7am-5pm.  
 
Thanks in advance!

looking now

With not needing subsidy and being open to private and licensed, you will be fine  
 
Most daycares, private or licensed, won't know this far in advance if a spot will be available. Life changes and things come up too often to be able to guarantee a spot this early, IMO. I would suggest giving yourself around 6 months before going back to work to start looking. If a spot opens before you need it, you will (most likely) be required to pay for it to hold it and you wouldn't want to pay for months upon months I'd assume? This also gives you time to view as many daycares as you can/want to compare and get a feeling for the providers and routines.  
 
There are LOTS of private daycares right now and I imagine this trend will stay true for awhile. Your options should be good!  
 
Good luck and congrats on upcoming baby!! Oh and also, June is a good time to find a spot as many daycares have kids going off to school in the Fall and are looking to fill spot then.

she got on a waiting list and a spot was available when she was 2, infant spots are limited! get on the daycare list of daycare you want now!

I go back to work June of this year and have had my name on the online registry since I found out I was pregnant. I've now called around to the daycares on the registry without any luck. It's very stressful so I would suggest at least doing that much. I am hoping something will come available within the next few months. I keep hearing that there are tons of daycares but there must just not be a ton of spots. Good luck!  

I have known 3-4 private home daycare providers who just recently had spots open for a few months, even infant spots. These are great providers with awesome daycares but they're was just not enough kids to go around. There are definitely spots out there if you're open to private, which the OP said she was. That's why I suggested not to panic yet.  
 
Check ebrandon and the daycare fb page, "Brandon MB & area Childcare". There are also a handful of providers with their own daycare fb pages too. Place your own want ads on both of the above too!

Things will definitely change and you might not be able to reserve a spot this early. But start looking, find who you like and location is important to some as well. I started looking before he was born and got lucky. But I also found that lots of places don't want to take a child under 2 years. So that eliminated a lot of places. It can be very stressful and it's not something you want to rush, so I suggest to start looking now.  

Don't stress. If you are open to all daycares and don't need subsidy you will be fine. Give yourself 3-6 months before going back to work to start looking.  
 
I am a private daycare and parents are only required to give 1 months notice. Some daycares only ask for 2 weeks. Unless you know someone is going to school or leaving on mat leave most people don't tell the provider they plan on leaving until they are required to.  
 
I had a spot open for 3 months just recently. There is an over abundance of home daycares lately. If you find one you like and their spot is opening before you need it you might be required to pay to hold it.  
 
Don't worry. The shortage is subsidized spots and the centers have the long wait lists. Lots of home daycare will have spots when you need it.