With no spaces available at any of the four registered daycares in Weyburn, some expectant parents may be scrambling for child care once their baby is born.

Soo Line Daycare Cooperative is the largest daycare in the city with 120 spaces, of those, 12 are for infants. Like most local daycares, they accept children from ages six weeks to 12 years of age. Director Chelsey Parise said they don't expect to have any openings until July.

"I usually typically suggest as soon as you are, either know you are trying to get pregnant or once you know you're expecting, to give us a call and just get your name on the waitlist because there is quite a lengthy waitlist at all the daycares as far as I know," shared Parise.

With the limited spots for infants and toddlers available at local daycares, Parise said it usually takes one to two years to get an infant into a daycare. The waiting list for older children can be significantly less, as spaces become available as children grow out of the program.

Colour My World Daycare has space for 50 children, including three infant spaces. Although they are full, Director Haley Wall said they expect some openings in September. She agrees that waitlists are a problem in Weyburn.

"Waitlists are very difficult things to navigate. I definitely recommend that people put their names on lists as soon as they possibly can and then update us when the birth of their child happens," said Wall. "Especially at our centre, if you're wanting an infant spot, we're only allotted three infant spots."

Tatagwa Kidz Care is also currently full, with spaces for 34 children, including six infant spots and 10 toddlers spots. Director Leah Horsman agrees that expecting parents should get on a waiting list as soon as they can as their waitlist for infants can take up to two years.

Sunrise Early Learning and Teen Parent Support Centre is slightly unique in that they can accept newborns of teen parents looking to go back to school. Although their 50 spaces are full, they can make allowances through their Teen Support program to help get new parents back in school and Director Lori Hiltz suggests any teenager who may need their services contact them as soon as they find out they are pregnant. The centre has nine infants spots, with six allocated for their Teen Support program, and 15 toddler spaces, with five allocated to the Teen Support program.

For those with school-age children, Sun Country Kids Club helps to fill the time before and after school. Although they are not a daycare, they offer before and after school programs in St. Michael, Souris, Queen Elizabeth, and Haig schools. The program is offered to children who attend Assiniboia Park Elementary School inside of Haig School due to the bus system. They also offer day camps for non-school days and programs in the summer months.

With long waitlists and limited spaces in local daycares, parents and daycare owners alike are hopeful a new child care option will open up soon in Weyburn.