Navigating Childcare in Vancouver: What to Know (and How to ‘get lucky’)
If you're a mama-to-be or new parent in Vancouver, you might have received the dreaded advice of starting the childcare search… yesterday! Even if you’ve only just shared the news of that little blue line. Sounds crazy right?! But unfortunately, they’re not wrong. First of all: deep breath. It’s not just you. It’s not that you’re behind or doing it wrong. The truth is, finding childcare in this city is a challenge for everyone, and the system often feels like it was designed by a committee of raccoons and red tape. But you can get through it - and we're here to walk you through how.
The Childcare Landscape: What Are the Options?
Childcare in Vancouver generally falls into a few main categories. The younger your baby, the less options you may have. Once your kid hits 2.5 or 3, things tend to open up a bit more, as the staff-to-child ratios increase.
1. Licensed Childcare Centres
These are regulated spaces with trained staff, safety standards, and official oversight. They include group care (by age), preschools, and school-age programs. They're the gold standard - and often the hardest to get into. Under this category are the magical $10-a-day programs. There are over 90 $10-A-Day programs in Vancouver… it seems like a lot. Yet hearing of someone getting into one, is like winning the lottery.
2. Licensed Family and Multi-Age In-Home Care
These are smaller setups in someone’s home, still licensed, and often more flexible with lower staff-child ratios. Some families find these more nurturing or less overwhelming for little ones, and they are generally easier to get in to.
3. Registered Licence-Not-Required (RLNR) Providers
These caregivers aren’t licensed, but they are registered and vetted through Child Care Resource & Referral Centres. They usually care for two kids max - not including their own - and may be a great stopgap option.
4. Nannies, Nanny Shares, and Unlicensed Home Care
Hiring someone privately (or sharing a nanny with another family) gives you more control, but these setups aren’t regulated. The upside is flexibility. The downside is cost and lack of oversight.
5. Preschool and Co-ops
For kids over 2.5/3, there are often part-time options available (especially Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and co-operative preschools). These are sometimes easier to access than full-time infant care, and if you find a spot at a community centre, are generally pretty affordable. If connected with a school, some pre-schools may prioritize you for their out-of-school care programs (a whole other problem!).
Let’s Talk Expectations…
The demand for childcare in Vancouver is much, much higher than the supply - especially for infants and toddlers. It’s not uncommon to wait a year (or years!) for a spot, even if you apply while still pregnant. Worse still, is it’s also not uncommon to hear stories of the child aging out of the program, before parents even hear back.
So if you’re feeling anxious, or discouraged, or like you’ve somehow missed the boat - you haven’t. You’re doing your best in a system that’s already stretched. Figuring out childcare can become a full-time job, and while it can definitely be stressful to navigate, usually things tend to figure themselves out… one way or another.
How to Boost Your Chances
Start early (yes, even if you’re still pregnant). Many centres accept waitlist applications before baby arrives. For others, you’ll need a specific birth date or certificate. Before you finish for maternity leave, check whether your employer has any partnerships with childcare centres.
Apply broadly. Don’t just aim for the “dream” centre - get on every list you can find, that you would be willing to drive to. Waitlists are unpredictable. If you’re on a mission, and it’s your jam, make a spreadsheet and note when they advised you should follow up.
Follow up monthly. It’s not nagging; it’s persistence. A friendly call or email reminds them you’re still in the game, especially in the few months up to needing the care. Unless it’s at the start of the school year (September) when there is a larger turnover, centres may only have a month’s notice that a spot becomes available. You may just get lucky and call right after they receive that notice.
Be flexible. Maybe you take a part-time spot now and move later. Maybe your first caregiver isn’t your forever one. That’s okay. It’s not unheard of for families to drive to Burnaby or Richmond to drop their child off. Or think outside the box… there are many outdoor preschool programs now in Vancouver, like Sunhouse Academy that runs out of Trout Lake. Or maybe you team up with another family, to split days.
Use official resources. Sites like the Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre and the BC Child Care Map can help you search by neighbourhood, type, and availability. Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre publish a list every Friday on vacancies coming up in each neighbourhood. This should be your weekly go to in the months leading up to you needing care.
Network with other parents. It’s true that sometimes the best leads come from someone in your neighbourhood friend group. Post in your neighbourhood Facebook group, or follow along at Vancouver BC Childcare - Givers & Seekers. Home daycares and nanny-shares will likely frequent your local library or Strongstart programs… so head there and start connecting.
It’s going to work out!
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. You’re navigating a high-stakes decision during a high-stakes season of life. Keep going, stay flexible, and lean on the community around you. The right care will come, even if the path there is a bit twisty.
You’ve got this. And when you finally do get that golden email that says “We have a spot for your child,” please know we’re cheering for you like it’s Game 7 of the Stanley Cup.
Next stop, figuring out after-school care… 🤦♀️😂
