Which factors should you consider when choosing a daycare spot?

Distance:

Many parents initially look around their home for a suitable daycare spot. How far do you want to travel to the childcare center? Is there perhaps a care facility on your way to work?

Finances:

It usually depends on the federal state whether and how much subsidy you receive for a daycare spot. Additionally, daycare costs can vary considerably even within a city.

Hours of care:

Depending on whether you and your partner work full-time or want to pick up your child from care at midday, you should check the opening hours.

Care situation:

How large are the groups at the daycare and how many caregivers are employed?

Personal fit:

Ultimately your gut feeling decides whether you want to register your child at a particular daycare or not. After all, your child will spend a lot of time there. For this reason, the caregivers and the facility should appeal to you from the start.

Focus:

Childcare offerings range from musical, linguistic or integrative focuses to special concepts such as Montessori or Waldorf. It's best to find out on site what each daycare's focus is.

How do we get a nursery or daycare spot? – our tips

Better early than late:

Exactly when you can submit an application varies between municipalities. However, most daycares want the application at the latest six months before the start of care. To allow enough time to find a suitable daycare and be placed on the waiting list, you should start earlier. A nursery spot can already be sought during pregnancy. A daycare spot should already be sought shortly after the birth.

Use databases:

Especially in cities, it's easy to lose track of the available childcare options. Larger municipalities often provide consolidated information about publicly or privately run care facilities.

Keep multiple options open:

Often there are only one or two daycares that meet all your expectations. Depending on how urgently you need care for your child, you should also have yourself placed on the waiting list at others. How many lists you may be on at the same time varies from municipality to municipality.

Smooth transition:

Many care facilities combine nursery and daycare. If your child has already attended the nursery, there's often a seamless transition into the group with older children — which is also pleasant for your child.

Consider the daycare calendar:

When your child starts daycare often depends on the schedule at the care facilities. New children are usually only admitted in August, because that's when older children start school and the little ones can move up. Consider this when planning parental leave and privately arranged care, if possible.

Ask around:

Maybe friends or acquaintances already have experience searching for nurseries and daycares? You'll certainly get some valuable tips and information that can help you.

If nothing works – alternatives to a daycare spot

It can happen that despite the greatest efforts and the legal entitlement, there is initially no possibility of a nursery or daycare spot. If you still rely on care for your child, you can fall back on alternative offerings. Often childminders (day mothers or fathers) can help in this case. The big advantage here is flexibility. In addition, your child receives more intensive care in a small group.

Another alternative is a parent initiative, a privately organized care offering. However, this often involves a very time-consuming application process. In addition, strong parental involvement is required and you must, for example, help with cooking, cleaning or minor maintenance work.

Image credits

Educator kneels on the floor and plays with children © Krakenimages.com - stock.adobe.com

Child wearing a tank top sits on the floor and is surrounded by colored pencils © Krakenimages.com - stock.adobe.com