There are countless blogs, videos, books, and tips for first-time moms, but let me share the things no one tells you about having kids. These mostly apply to school-aged kids, but as life happens, it’s good to be aware of these general timelines. A lot of moms keep this info to themselves — probably in hopes they’ll snag those coveted daycare or summer camp spots first.
Here are the top three things I always tell (and then remind a few years later) to new moms or moms with kids younger than mine.
Daycare: Sign up while you’re still pregnant
Yes, you read that right. If you plan to use daycare for your baby under a year old, start looking while you’re still actively pregnant. If you’re considering nanny shares, hiring a nanny, or relying on family, have those conversations before you need to go back to work.
I know researching, touring, and getting on waitlists feels rushed, but in Florida (and likely other states), infant daycare spots are extremely limited due to strict baby-to-teacher ratios. Seven years ago, when we had our first baby, we started calling daycare centers when she was two weeks old and were told the earliest available spot would be in December or the following year. When we were pregnant with our second, we secured a spot before we even told our parents we were expecting!
Summer camp sign-ups start in january (Yes, Really!)
If your child is in VPK and entering elementary school next year, summer camp sign-ups happen between January and March of that same summer. If you’re reading this in late winter or early spring and haven’t signed up yet — do it now!
Many parents use shared Google Docs to coordinate with friends and classmates or start text chains early to plan which camps their kids will attend together. Keep in mind, summer camps often run fewer hours than daycare or school. You may need to budget for before- or after-care or coordinate with friends for pickups and playdates.
Before & after-school care fills up in spring
If you have a soon-to-be school-aged or already school-aged child, spring is the time to sign up for before- and after-school care for the upcoming school year. Yes, it feels early, but these programs fill up fast.
Check your child’s school or talk to the administration about sign-up dates. Be ready — these spots sell out like Taylor Swift tickets! Sign-ups often happen in the middle of the night and involve filling out a mountain of forms, so plan accordingly.
Feeling overwhelmed? Take a deep breath
If you’re pregnant and feeling a bit panicked right now — breathe. It’s going to be okay! Start by getting a feel for your neighborhood, ask other parents what they do for childcare, and check our main page for helpful lists and tips around Central Florida.
