Good quality centers in my well-educated but mixed-income Atlanta suburb run just under $1000/month, but have insane waiting lists or crazy application processes. We were #48 on a waiting list for 8 slots that would come open 11 months from the date of our tour.

Fortunately, we found a place in a Montessori school that both takes infants AND has a slot opening up “in May or June.” So we maybe be crazily juggling for as long as 2 months….

Ask if they are NAEYC accreditated – ratios for infants should be no more than 4 infants to one caregiver….and there are lots nad lots more tidbits of advice I could give. I was an infant care provider for most of my career, then was Director of an accreditated child care for 5 years ( 140 children).

I put Em on the list at MY facility when I was 2 weeks pregnant. No kidding. I was lucky to get into my own center.

The ‘expensive’ plces here are about 100.00 a week. We chose a home daycare because there were tons less kids and the sitter was a mom herself with a kiddo right at our kiddo’s age. We paid 85.00 a week until he was weaned from the bottle and then it dropped to 70.00. This woman is great, she even gave him breathing treatments when he had bronchitis as a little guy so I didn’t lose my job from having to take off work so much. (I have a much better job now and don’t have to worry about losing it over little things like taking care of my child’s health)