When did you notify daycare about another pregnancy?

[u/JessicaM317]

I know this is a weird ask - but just curious when you told daycare about another pregnancy and requested a spot in the baby room?

I'm due with my second this December, I'm currently 9 weeks pregnant. I've had an ultrasound so I know the pregnancy is viable (so far) but I wasn't sure when it was appropriate to move forward with notifying daycare. We would have to put down a non-refundable deposit for the spot, so I'm a little gun-shy about telling them too early in the event of something happening between now and my next ultrasound at the end of this month, but also don't want to run into a situation of waiting too long and then we don't have daycare when we need it (which was the case for our first. She didn't start daycare until she was almost 6 months old).

So, just trying to gauge what others have done. When did you tell daycare?

[u/holitrop]

I called daycare as soon as I saw the two lines on the test. Then I called my husband 😅

[u/EagleEyezzzzz → u/holitrop]

This is hilarious

[u/funparent → u/holitrop]

With our 4th I also told the daycare before my husband 🤣

[u/angelicah89 → u/holitrop]

Reverse this, but this fast for me too. We don’t have to put a deposit down though. Otherwise I would have waited until about 10 weeks.

[u/MNHolls → u/holitrop]

Same!

[u/ImportantSun3608 → u/holitrop]

Hahaha basically same.

[u/MrsMitchBitch → u/holitrop]

Honestly? This feels like the right order.

[u/Ok_Criticism7095 → u/holitrop]

Same… literally like 14 dpo for me 🤣

To be fair, my daycare can take 3 infants per year—gotta get in EARLY

[u/nopethisissodumb]

I told the daycare the next morning after we found out I was pregnant. They knew before anyone else. Most of our friends did the same. Our daycare (as most others where I live) had a long waitlist so it was necessary to get on that list as early as possible.

[u/Calm_Inky → u/nopethisissodumb]

Unfortunately, this! Otherwise, I would have had to look for another daycare…

[u/blanketfetish → u/nopethisissodumb]

I forgot to tell daycare until I was 4mo along. Thankfully the director owed us and pushed us up the waiting list 😅

[u/Mysterious-Sell-1331]

I told daycare as soon as we found out we were pregnant with our second baby. The way I see it is, even if something happened with the pregnancy, daycare would know about it. They are very much part of our village ❤️. I’d much rather know that the baby’s spot is secured, but that’s just me!

[u/AggressiveReindeer79]

We asked what the wait list was every couple of months while we were trying, so we had a good idea when we'd need to notify them of a pregnancy. Can you ask that at least?

[u/JessicaM317 → u/AggressiveReindeer79]

I did ask yesterday and they told me that they're experiencing a "baby boom" and have seen an uptick in applications and enrollment. But that is all for this year. They didn't say anything about a wait-list for next year, which is when we'd need a spot. So I am not sure if there are any issues with a wait-list for when we'd need a spot at this point.

[u/Dandylion71888 → u/JessicaM317]

People are likely putting in applications for the same time you are. That’s what people do now. They find out they’re pregnant and look for daycares right away

[u/Intelligent-Trash944]

I told my husband, daycare, parents and friends in that order. Daycare knew 24 hours after we knew and got on their waitlist.

[u/neutralmom → u/Intelligent-Trash944]

Same! Daycare knew before any other family after my husband 😂

[u/SocialStigma29]

I rejoined the waitlist the day I tested positive, before my husband even knew I was pregnant. In my area it is typical to have a 18-24 month wait for daycare though.

[u/1118Grazia]

They are the first person I called. I didn’t want to risk loosing the spot. God forbid something happens I’m sure the daycare would accommodate

[u/zazrouge]

I think it depends on how long the waitlist is for the age you want to begin. If it’s 6-9 months, and you know you would be home for the first 6 months, you could afford to wait a little while for your own comfort. I would start by asking how long the waitlist is and what the normal wait time is.

[u/lemurattacks]

I notified ours at 17 weeks but I wasn’t concerned about not having a spot, they prioritized siblings and weren’t full.

[u/SunshineSeriesB]

How much is that deposit (especially in terms of weeks of care) and how is the daycare in terms of their personality? If you put down a non-refundable deposit, would they work with you in the off chance anything negative happened? For my current daycare, the deposit is usually rolled into the first week's rate and I'm sure that if something happened, they would credit to my current child's fees.

I'd let them know asap unless it would put you in an undue financial spot.

[u/JessicaM317 → u/SunshineSeriesB]

I'm unsure of the current deposit amount (when I was pregnant in 2023 it was $100, but I'm sure it's gone up). When I was pregnant with my daughter, they told me it was non-refundable, even in the event of pregnancy loss. But maybe since we're established with them now they would work something out? I'm sure it's not too expensive, and we can afford a couple hundred dollars for a deposit, but I'm also cheap and don't like the risk of throwing money away.

[u/SunshineSeriesB → u/JessicaM317]

Non-refundable doesn't mean non-transferrable though - I would for sure ask if you could apply to your current child's bill or if heaven forbid you lose this pregnancy, you could apply it to a future pregnancy's deposit.

[u/JessicaM317 → u/SunshineSeriesB]

Oh that's a good idea. I didn't think of that. Thank you!

[u/proteins911 → u/JessicaM317]

Our daycare only charges a deposit for new families. No sibling deposits.

[u/lost_nurse602]

I told them when I scheduled the egg retrieval to get on the waitlist lol and I still didn’t get a spot until middle son was 13 months old.

[u/Hot_Raisin7157]

I told the daycare when I started thinking about. They then said thank u for letting them be aware and to make sure to say something the minute two pink lines show.

[u/DinoSnuggler]

When I was pregnant with my second the order of notifications was husband, boss (due to the nature of my work), daycare, my parents. Within a couple days of peeing on the stick.

[u/Sad-Seaworthiness946]

The second I got a positive test. My daycare almost never have spots so I wanted to make sure.
They were kind enough to say that if anything bad happens to the pregnancy they’ll apply the deposit to my current child. So that made me feel better.

[u/Super_fluffy_bunnies]

12 weeks

[u/ExaminationTop3115]

I told daycare as soon as we had the pregnancy confirmed at the doctor's office and knew it was viable.

[u/Dommymommy61]

I called two daycares at six weeks and got on both waitlists. I did double drop offs for three months until I got off the waitlist at the daycare my son was already at.

[u/ZestyLlama8554]

The day I got a positive test. It was an 18 month wait-list for my first, and only 12 with my second.

[u/philliesgirl1234]

The day after my positive pregnancy test 😅 there are only 8 infant spots and the room was already booked up until the start date I needed so thank god I did!

The daycare director said she’d use our deposit for a future baby or towards our oldest’s tuition if something were to happen, which thankfully it did not.

[u/Gratchki]

Daycare was the first to know! Priorities!

[u/CuteSalad8000]

I told them on our way home from our dating scan at 7 weeks.

[u/Necessary_Floor_6162]

We told daycare after my 8 week ultrasound. I knew there was a risk but I also can’t risk not having a daycare spot 🤷🏻‍♀️ that said I would check and ask your daycare about their waitlist and whether siblings get priority. Ours will do that since it’s more financially logically for them to make sure families with multiples can all be together

[u/Okkkkthen1]

I informed our daycare at 9 weeks. I reached out to others at about 20 weeks, just in case there’s an issue with our start date at our current one.

[u/rileyknits]

I think we told them around 8-10 weeks, but they also didn’t have a long wait for our first, so I wasn’t too worried about getting on the list.

[u/Smithce6]

I think I told them at 8 weeks-ish. For some reason I was super relaxed and got on other waitlists later, since our daycare only has 4 full time infant spots. Found out the day we got home from the hospital that she got a spot! Best coming home gift ever lol

ETA - The year before they had a big uptick in babies and had to deny a lot of siblings, so it really just depends!

[u/MightSuperb7555]

Yep, daycare was the first outside of my husband and my mom! I actually had a late miscarriage with my previous pregnancy after getting that baby on their list. I had to tell them, but they were very kind about it, and now I get to kinda use that waitlist spot for this one (super helpful as my older kiddo is aging out before new baby is born)!

[u/EagleEyezzzzz]

It probably depends on how much space there is at your daycare, how difficult it is to get in, etc. We have a small daycare with 14 kids total, and usually there are only openings when someone moves away or a kiddo graduates to kindergarten - so I told them as soon as I knew.

Without knowing those details - I’d just tell them now. The risk of losing the deposit is probably less of a blow than the risk of not having a space at the daycare.

[u/SpicyMeatloaf_]

Congratulations!! We told our daycare around 20 weeks but since we already had a kid there we had first priority for enrollment before the center opened spots for the general public! We were able to put down our deposit just a month before her start date! Maybe that is something you could ask and see if they do?

[u/Ear1322]

I told them at 12 weeks. How early you tell them depends on how long the waitlist is. Ours gave priority to siblings but it was one thing off my plate to have that lined up early!

[u/VeryVino20]

We did IVF and I told my daycare several months before I implanted my planned dates 🤣😎

[u/Imaginary_Cellist493]

As soon as possible. Turns out 5 other moms at the daycare were also pregnant and due at the same time we were 😅

[u/Witty-Resolution-475]

They were the first to know after my husband lol

[u/anarttoeverything]

Honestly at least in my town, usually the daycare director knows before family knows! Not exaggerating.

[u/NikJunior]

I didn’t tell them until I was pretty far along but that’s just because I was busy lol. But ours has a specific enrollment period so I told them right before enrollment for next year started 

Editing to add that I’d think you could mention it to them and that they’d have an exception to refund you if there were complications. Or at least roll your deposit into your other kid’s tuition 

[u/amomymous23]

About 7 weeks, and even then I only did it because I knew my daughter would run around telling people she had a baby in her belly. They knew we were trying!

[u/Tamryn]

I think my daycare provider was the first person I told! Gotta save that spot!

[u/AbbreviationsLazy369]

Given the wait time at my daycare we told them as soon as we found out and I got my hormone Rx , even with my history of early losses. My husband said he’d be the one to tell them if we didn’t need the slot. But it all worked out luckily

[u/earfullofcorn]

I think 1 week after my positive test?

[u/That_Girl31]

We told daycare immediately. It was an inhome center but she still knew before anyone else.

[u/MamaK35]

Immediately. Before my first prenatal appointment. Secured my spot immediately.

Edited to add: my older kid also attended and they gave priority to siblings.

[u/hapa79]

As everyone else is saying, I pretty much told them immediately. Of the eight babies in my second kid's infant room, seven of them were there because of sibling preference. Don't delay!

[u/BlueberryWaffles99]

Almost immediately. But, I will note that I had a missed miscarriage my second pregnancy and it was really hard to have to inform them that we lost the baby. Luckily, I was really close with one of the front desk ladies (we went to school together) so I was able to text her and she handled it all for me instead of me or my husband having to tell them in person.

With our third pregnancy, I waited till after the first ultrasound just to be safe (10 weeks).

[u/Lalala724]

ASAP because I wasn’t sending my kids to 2 different daycares and needed to get on the waitlist. Thankfully we’re at a small daycare and because we have a child there already we were bumped to the top of the infant list.

[u/msjammies73]

Same day I got my positive pregnancy test. Waitlists where I live are LONG.

[u/gratefulcountdown]

Our daycare knew before my midwife’s office. Not joking.

[u/fuzzypinatajalapeno]

At around 16 weeks.

[u/banjo-kid]

I told them before I told my mom. One of the first people I’ve told 2/3 times.

I told my daycare in Feb 2025, piss was barely dry on the test. I was ok letting them know if I ended up miscarrying but not ok not having a spot when I needed one. Baby was born Oct 2025 and a spot opened in January.

[u/Froggy101_Scranton]

Another vote for emailing daycare the day we got the positive pee test 😂

[u/doctormalbec]

Right away, once pregnancy confirmed by a few pregnancy tests (not even OB blood test yet). Still was only able to get a slot that was 2 weeks after I’m supposed to come back from maternity leave. Was willing to risk having to tell them I lost my pregnancy than delay any potential start date for day care

[u/Prestigious-Salt-566]

I’m going to get on the waitlist the month or two before we start trying 🫠

[u/jenjabear]

At my first appointment I saw the heartbeat I got onto the waitlist

[u/nodicegrandma]

At 12 weeks with my second. I contacted the daycare when my oldest was born and was lucky free spots were coming up in the fall due to kids going to pre k

[u/bosef123]

Congratulations! We told ours after our first appointment with our doctor. We ended up losing the baby but daycare was great about it and very kind, they ended up using the deposit towards our other child’s monthly fee.

[u/Such-Comfortable3]

Around 8-9 weeks because I’d been so sick with morning sickness.

The teacher mentioned that my son (then ~ 21 months) had been looking the family photos on the wall and crying which was unusual for him — this kid would literally run from us into the classroom. Apparently he woke up from his nap, went over to the family photos, said “mommy, mommy!” and started crying. I’d been completely incapacitated by all-day morning sickness for about two weeks, and he’d really started to miss me. I couldn’t read to him because my throat would get dry and I’d throw up, and I certainly couldn’t move around to play with him. I was able to do daycare drop off after I got Zofran.

[u/loquaciouspenguin]

I told my husband first, then daycare immediately after, then once we hit 3 months we told our parents.

[u/nicechicken]

Call right now!! We called daycare before the doctor.

[u/Alacri-Tea]

Immediately, like the week I found out haha.

[u/Quinalla]

Pretty much immediately, daycare lists are LONG

[u/charcharbinxxxx]

It really depends on your area. I asked periodically is there was space or a waitlist in the infant room and registered like 2 or 3 months ahead of time

[u/abcdef902]

As soon as I found out that another mom at the school was due two weeks after me 😂 I was terrified they wouldn’t have enough spots and that family would take a slot we needed!

I think I was about 3 months along when I emailed them. But we were at a center that didn’t have super long wait lists for infant care.

[u/ucantspellamerica]

You should’ve told them as soon as the sperm met the egg honestly.

[u/Pad_Squad_Prof]

Funny story but a friend encouraged me to go to the daycare she had used for her kid even though I was only 7 weeks pregnant. We ended up on the wait list that early! We didn’t even share the news with many of our family and friends until we were about 14 weeks!

[u/grimmauld12]

12 weeks for the second one. Usually you. Are guaranteed a spot if you are already there. Mine at the time just told me to tell them when I wanted to start and we had waited 1+ yr to get into that daycare

[u/Cocopanda14]

I told them the day after the positive test. I ended up miscarrying but still was glad I told them when I did because they only had one spot left in the infant room for when I would have needed it to start!

[u/yeahdonut]

As soon as a I got a positive test. Them baby room spots are hard to get, even with sibling preference!

[u/ambidextrous-mango]

Literally the first to know after my husband. Kiddo still didn’t get off the waitlist until he was 7 months old.

[u/jessrunsforpie]

I told them as soon as I found out I was pregnant. We actually lost that pregnancy at 9 weeks and they just kept us on the list until we had another pregnancy. Then we updated estimated start date. You could notify and ask them if the spot is transferrable to another pregnancy if you lose it. If you have the funds I'd just put down the deposit. We had a stupid long wait list. 

Ps- rainbow baby is now 14 months!

[u/east_coaster315]

We told ours at 5w with this pregnancy and we are still 3rd on the waitlist behind 2 other siblings... :|

[u/Business_Apple_8158]

I told my daycare right away with my 2nd pregnancy!! They prioritize siblings but only have so many spots.

As many people have warned about, I did end up losing that pregnancy. However, I didn’t mention anything to stay on the list. When I got pregnant again, I just sent them an email that I would need a spot for later in the year and explained why. They were so kind about it.

The infant class did end up being full but a spot opened up literally days before I delivered. I had to pay tuition to hold it while on maternity leave but you gotta do what you gotta do!