When to Start Looking for Daycare When You Are Pregnant

If you plan to use a daycare center for your baby, start looking around the middle of your pregnancy, in the second trimester. Infant rooms are small by law, so spots open up slowly and waitlists are common. Starting four to six months before your due date gives you time to tour, compare and secure a spot before your leave ends.

If you live in a busy area or need a specific start date, start even earlier. Below is a timeline you can follow, plus the questions that matter most for an infant spot.

Why infant spots are hard to find

Illinois requires one teacher for every four babies, and an infant room can hold no more than 12 babies. A center might only have one or two infant rooms. That means a center may have just a few openings each year, usually when older babies move up to the toddler room.

The numbers are tight across the region. In June 2025, Cook County centers that report their spots by age listed about 6,700 infant spots for children from 6 weeks to 14 months old, according to Illinois Action for Children. That is not many for a county with millions of residents. In the same group's surveys, a lack of openings was one of the two most common problems families reported when searching for care.

A timeline from pregnancy to the first day

First trimester (weeks 1 to 13): get a rough plan

• Talk with your partner about the kind of care you want: a center, a licensed home, a nanny or family help.
• Look at your work leave. Figure out roughly when you will need care to start.
• Set a budget. Infant care is the most expensive age. Our Illinois daycare cost guide has local averages.
• Make a short list of centers near home and near work.

Second trimester (weeks 14 to 27): tour and get on lists

• Call your shortlist and ask about infant openings for your expected start month.
• Tour two to four centers. Use our daycare tour checklist.
• Check each center's state monitoring reports online.
• Join waitlists at your top choices. Ask whether there is a fee and if it is refundable.

Third trimester (weeks 28 to 40): confirm and plan

• Follow up with every waitlist about once a month. A polite check-in keeps your name fresh.
• When you get an offer, ask what you need to sign and pay to hold the spot.
• Ask for the enrollment packet early. It usually includes medical forms, emergency contacts and feeding plans.
• Plan a backup in case your first choice does not open in time.

After your baby is born: get ready to start

• Schedule the well-baby visit where your pediatrician can complete the daycare health form.
• Keep track of immunizations. Centers need an up-to-date record.
• If you are breastfeeding, start practicing with a bottle a few weeks before the first day.
• Plan a short trial week, if the center allows it, before you go back to work.

When should your baby start daycare?

Most infant rooms take babies from 6 weeks old. In practice, the start date usually follows parental leave. Many parents in Illinois return to work between 6 and 16 weeks after birth, depending on their job and leave.

If you qualify for the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, you can take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave, though it may be unpaid. Ask your employer about paid parental leave and how it fits with your start date.

Tell the center your expected start date as soon as you know it. If your due date changes, update them. Babies do not always arrive on schedule, and most centers understand that.

How daycare waitlists work

Every center runs its list a little differently. Ask these questions before you sign up:

• Is there a waitlist fee? Is it refundable or applied to tuition?
• How many families are ahead of me for my start month?
• Do siblings of current families get priority?
• How will you contact me when a spot opens, and how long do I have to say yes?
• Do I need to pay a deposit or start paying tuition to hold the spot before my baby starts?

Some centers ask families to begin paying when the spot opens, even if the baby starts a few weeks later. Get that in writing so there are no surprises.

What if you are starting late?

If you are reading this in your third trimester or after the baby arrives, do not panic. Spots do open, especially mid-year when babies move up to toddler rooms or families relocate.

• Call centers directly instead of only filling out online forms.
• Be flexible on the start date by a few weeks if you can.
• Ask to be called about cancellations.
• Look at a few more locations, including ones near your work.
• Consider a short-term option, such as family help or a nanny, until a center spot opens.

Frequently asked questions

How early should I get on a daycare waitlist?

For infant care in the Chicago area, getting on waitlists four to six months before you need care is a good target. In very busy areas, families sign up earlier.

Can I tour a daycare while pregnant?

Yes, and many parents do. Centers are used to expecting parents touring the infant room.

What is the youngest age for daycare in Illinois?

Licensed centers can care for infants starting at 6 weeks old.

Do I need to pay a deposit while pregnant?

Some centers charge a waitlist or registration fee. Ask whether it is refundable if your plans change.

Plan ahead with Children's Land

Children's Land cares for babies from 6 weeks old in our infant program, where each baby has a primary teacher who follows your feeding and nap routine from home. We provide formula and baby food, and you supply diapers and wipes. With 12 locations in the north and northwest suburbs and Chicago, you can choose one near home or near work. Contact us to ask about infant openings for your due date, or find a location to schedule a tour.

Related reading: Your Baby's First Week at Daycare: A Parent Checklist.