Daycare options for 6mo old in Fall 2017 - recommendations and openings in Oakland?

My husband and I are a bit late to the game in terms of identifying childcare options for our first child. We are due end of Feb 2018, and have combined 5-6mo paternity leave. So we're looking for childcare near Lake Merritt or Downtown Oakland beginning in Fall 2018. 

Any recommendations for places you love?

Know of any openings around that time?

THANK YOU!!! 

Parent Replies

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First of all, you are not late to the game. I just had my first child in May, I didn't go back to work until she was 5 months old, and didn't start looking for childcare until a month and a half before I went back to work. You are way ahead of the game in my book!

Second, what type of daycare are you looking for? Centers or home-based? As far as centers, I didn't find too many in the area. There is Small Trans, which has a waitlist opening in January, and maybe 1 or 2 other places. I ended up going with my first choice, a wonderful place in east oakland, but I almost went with Pride In Learning, a Montessori school right on Lake Merritt. I encourage you to contact them for openings. If you are looking for home-based daycares, there are many in the area, and the openings vary on location. Bananas is a very useful resource. I would get a listing of options from them and start calling, inquiring on openings. For most of the places that I called that said they had a waitlist, they were opening up spots in summer 2018. Good luck and Congratulations!