How Daycare Waitlists in Chicago Work and When to Apply, By Age

Daycare waitlists in Chicago run longest for the youngest children, since state ratios keep infant rooms small and babies rarely leave before kindergarten. Toddler and preschool places turn over more often, mostly around the start of the school year and in January. How far ahead you should apply depends on your child’s age, your return-to-work date, and whether a sibling is already enrolled.

Daycare centers do not usually publish their waitlist policies. Families often have to guess about wait times, fees, and the benefits of applying early. This guide covers timelines by age, how centers prioritize names, the two times of year when spots open in Chicago, and what to do if you need care soon.

How far ahead to apply, by age

Parents returning to work after a birth usually plan for a 12-week absence. This matches the length of job-protected leave under the federal FMLA, as Illinois does not have a state paid family leave program. Because of this, the application deadline often occurs before the baby is born.

The difference between infant and preschool wait times is about six months. A family that enrolled a 3-year-old in July after a few calls may need to start the process a year in advance for a second child.

Why infant spots are the hardest to get

Infant daycare spots are the hardest to secure, because Illinois staffing ratios limit infant classrooms to fewer children, while turnover is also very low.

Illinois sets staffing ratios by age, which limits the size of infant rooms. State licensing standards allow one teacher to supervise four infants, while that same teacher can supervise 10 preschoolers.

A room for 12 infants requires three full-time teachers, while a preschool room for 20 children requires two teachers. Consequently, a center with enough space and staff for 60 children can only accommodate a small number of infants regardless of demand.

Turnover is also low, because a child who starts at 4 months old usually stays until kindergarten. Infant openings only occur when a family moves, a parent changes plans, or a group of children moves to the toddler room together. The Center for American Progress reports that 46% of children under 6 live in ‘licensed child care deserts,’ where there are three children ‘competing’ for every licensed spot. Infant care is the most limited part of this shortage.

How a daycare waitlist works

A daycare waitlist matches families with openings based on the child’s age, requested start date, application order, and any priority rules used by the center.

Few centers publish their waitlist policies, which makes planning difficult. Our policy is clearly listed on every location page: a $150 fee per child, sibling priority, and 30 to 60 days’ notice for openings. These factors, along with the number of lists you join, vary by center.

Is there a fee to join?

Some centers offer free waitlists, but most charge a non-refundable fee, and each center sets its own amount. At LadyBug & Friends, the waitlist fee is $150 per child, separate from the one-time $125 enrollment fee that applies when you accept a spot, both of which are listed on our tuition page. Remember that a fee secures your place on the list but does not move you higher up. You should ask questions if a center suggests otherwise.

Are daycare waitlists first come, first served?

Most lists follow a chronological order, but centers sometimes also apply other priorities on top of that. Our list prioritizes siblings of current students first, then families enrolled at other LadyBug locations, and then the date of joining. Families with multiple children also receive a 5% sibling discount. This is why parents often join the list long before a second child is born.

Age bands matter as much as position. If a toddler place opens and your baby is 13 months, that place is not yours no matter how long you have been waiting, because the toddler room starts at 15 months. The call goes to the first family on the list whose child fits the room that opened, which is why the same waitlist can feel quick for one family and slow for another in the same month.

How much notice will you get?

You should ask about notice periods before joining a waitlist. At LadyBug & Friends, we contact families 30 to 60 days before a spot opens, and this allows time to notify employers and complete paperwork. A center that gives only two weeks’ notice may not provide enough time for these arrangements.

Can you be on more than one list?

Yes, and most Chicago families are on three or four, which is what we recommend. We also encourage you to keep a record of the application date, fee paid, and the specific room your child would enter. Also, you should provide centers with your actual target start month, since a center looking for a September enrollment will skip families who requested a December start.

When Chicago daycare spots open up

Openings in Chicago usually occur during two periods: the weeks surrounding the start of the school year and the month of January.

Late August and early September is the busiest period for enrollment. When the oldest children leave for kindergarten, every room moves up a level. The resulting openings at the bottom are the infant spots that are unavailable in February. If you want a fall start, applying in the winter puts you in the queue before this transition occurs.

January is a quieter second wave of openings. These spots are usually created by families moving, job changes, and parents adjusting their plans during the holidays. While there are fewer openings, there are also fewer families looking. A mid-year start often results in the shortest wait.

Parents of 3- and 4-year-olds must track a third date because Chicago’s free public pre-K does not use a rolling list. The Chicago Early Learning application for the 2026-27 year opened April 7 and the initial round closed April 28, 2026. Full-day pre-K is reserved for children who turn 4 by September 1, and you can expect a similar window in early April for the following year. If you miss this window, you will have to choose from remaining seats rather than selecting a preferred program. If you are considering both private and public options, the April date is the most important for your schedule. Our private and public preschool comparison explains the differences in hours and calendars.

What to do if you are already late

Many families contact us in July for care starting in August. Late-summer turnover makes this possible, and these steps can improve your odds:

• Ask for your actual position and the room you are queued for: a center that tracks its list properly can tell you both. ‘You’re on the list’ is not an answer you can plan around.
• Widen the search by one neighborhood, not five: a center two stops further along your commute is a real option. One across the city is not, and a daycare pick-up traffic jam gets old fast.
• Ask whether the center runs multiple sites: where priority carries across locations, taking a spot at one of our nine Chicago and suburban locations puts you ahead of new applicants when your first choice opens up.
• Be flexible on the start month: telling a center you could start anywhere between August and October roughly triples the openings you are eligible for. 
• Consider part-time as a way in: a two- or three-day schedule is easier to place, and families already enrolled are usually first in line when a full-time spot frees up.
• Line up a short bridge: a few weeks of care from a relative, a nanny share, or backup care covers the gap without you having to accept a center you are not happy with. Our nanny and daycare comparison covers what a short-term nanny arrangement costs in Chicago.

Above all, try to check in every few weeks. Lists change as families drop off, and directors often think of the parent who called most recently when a spot opens.

Questions worth asking before you pay to join a list

Be sure to ask these six key questions before you hand over a waitlist fee:

1. How many families are ahead of us for our child’s age group? The age-group part is what makes the number meaningful.
2. What are your priority rules? Sibling and staff priorities can move a dozen families ahead of you overnight.
3. Is the fee refundable, and does it carry over if we defer a spot? Policies vary widely.
4. How much notice do you give when a spot opens, and how long do we have to decide? Some centers give 24 hours.
5. How often does a spot open in this room in a typical year? Directors know this figure even if it is not written down.
6. Do you keep us on the list if we turn down the first offer? In some places, declining sends you to the bottom.

Our daycare tour checklist covers what to ask during a visit. If you are still comparing centers, read our guide on choosing a daycare in Chicago.

How the waitlist works at LadyBug & Friends

We provide our waitlist terms in writing to help families plan. Joining our waitlist costs $150 per child, and we call 30 to 60 days before a place becomes available. Open spots are offered first to siblings of current students, then to families enrolled at our other locations, and then to families in the order they joined the list. Families with two or more children enrolled also receive a 5% sibling discount. We accept children from 6 weeks to 6 years old, and we are open from 7am to 6pm year-round. Our kindergarten-readiness curriculum is in the same building as our full-day care, so children do not need to move when they turn 3.

We run nine locations in the Chicago area, and you should choose the one that fits your commute rather than the one closest to home: West Loop, Lakeview, Lincoln Square, Lincoln & Jersey, Irving Park, Edgewater, Touhy and Harlem, Elmhurst and Mount Prospect. Book a tour at any location and we will add your child to that list within the same week.

Frequently asked questions

How long are most daycare waitlists?

It depends far more on your child’s age than on the center. Infant waits in Chicago commonly run six months to a year, and sometimes longer at popular locations. Toddler and preschool waits are usually two to six months. Mid-year openings can come through in a matter of weeks.

How do waitlists work for daycare?

You submit your child’s details and target start date, sometimes with a fee, and the center contacts you when a spot opens in the room matching your child’s age. Order of application matters, but most centers place siblings and existing families first.

How far in advance should you start looking at daycares?

For infant care, nine to 12 months before your start date, or during the second trimester if you are expecting. For toddlers, six to nine months. For preschoolers, four to six months. Tour first, then join lists, since a tour is what tells you whether a wait is worth it.

Do you have to pay to join a daycare waitlist?

Sometimes. Each center sets its own policy, so some lists are free and others carry a non-refundable fee, which is $150 per child at LadyBug & Friends. A fee reserves your place in the queue rather than improving your position in it, so ask what it covers before paying.

Is 4 months too early for daycare?

No. Licensed centers in Illinois accept babies from 6 weeks, so 4 months is well within the normal range and is one of the most common starting points for Chicago families. It does mean applying early, since the infant room is the hardest one to get into.