Today I signed my as-yet-unconceived baby up for daycare. When I was pregnant with Gub, I heard and read that one should get on a waiting list immediately for child care. I disobeyed. I thought that since I was going to stay at home for her first year that I would have plenty of time to get on a list and wait a few months. They were right--I should have started this much earlier. Apparently, there is a real shortage of child care in West Seattle in particular, and the current baby boom we are experiencing won't make things any easier.

That is why I had to put my name on a two-year waiting list in hopes that my next child will be easier to scoot off a couple of days a week. The director of another daycare said she recieved 77 calls in four days last week inquiring about availabilty for infants.

I haven't yet forked over my $40 to peruse the resources at King County-based Child Care Resources , which lists licensed child care providers in a Zip code searchable database. I also haven't tried Sitter City , which looks like a great source for finding baby and pet sitters by Zip code. Both services look like they could deliver results, but perhaps I am procrastinating because I can't quite believe Gub is ready to be in school.

So, fine readers, how do you find childcare? Have you tried either of the above services? What do you think of them? What do do when you need a day or night in the city to yourself?

When she isn't writing about kids and families, Lilium Pierson can be found adventuring in Seattle with her young daughter, "Gub." Their favorite activities include library visits, Sundays at the West Seattle farmers market and exploring their neighborhood. Pierson's work has appeared in Seattle Business Monthly.

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