How daycare waitlists work in Vancouver, and how to get a spot sooner

7 min read · facts checked Oct 19, 2026

If you've started looking for child care in Vancouver, you've probably heard the same thing from every program: "We have a waitlist." Most licensed programs in Metro Vancouver have more families waiting than spaces, especially for babies and toddlers. Understanding how those lists actually work makes a real difference to how quickly you find a spot.

There is no central waitlist in BC

Some places in Canada run one shared list for every licensed program in the region. British Columbia doesn't. Every centre, preschool and licensed home daycare keeps its own list, with its own rules. That means a family who wants a good chance of a spot usually needs to get onto many lists, not one.

How programs choose who gets a space

Each program decides its own order. The most common factors are:

• Date of application. Many lists are first come, first served, so applying early matters.
• Siblings. Most programs give priority to brothers and sisters of children already enrolled.
• Fit with the opening. A space for an 18-month-old goes to the first family whose child is the right age on the right date, which is why your start date and the days you need are as important as your place in line.
• Staff or community priority. Some programs reserve spaces for staff, members of a co-op, a workplace or a school community.
• Who answers. When a space opens, many directors simply phone down the list. Families who reply fast, or who've stayed in touch, are easier to place.

How many daycares should you apply to?

There's no magic number, but families in Metro Vancouver commonly apply to somewhere between 10 and 40 programs for infant and toddler care. The right number depends on how flexible you can be:

• Widen your distance. A program 10 minutes further from home, or close to work instead, can open up dozens of options.
• Include licensed family daycares. Home-based programs have fewer spaces, but they turn over differently from large centres.
• Be flexible on start date and days where you can. "Any time from September" fits more openings than "September 1, five days".

Waitlist fees are banned at funded programs

Since April 1, 2024, BC has banned waitlist fees for families applying to provincially funded child care. Before that, some programs charged anywhere from $25 to $200 just to add a name. If a program asks you for a fee simply to join its list, it's worth asking whether it takes part in provincial funding. A deposit to hold a confirmed space is a different thing.

Staying near the top: check in, but politely

A list is only as good as its last update. Directors often clear out names that never respond. A short, friendly check-in every couple of months, saying you're still interested and repeating your child's name and start date, keeps you active without being a nuisance. Never call every week; it doesn't move you up and can sour the relationship.

Tip: Keep a simple log: program, date you applied, how they confirmed, your place in line if they shared it, and when you last checked in. Families who do this rarely miss an offer.

When an offer comes

Offers usually come with a short deadline, sometimes 24 to 48 hours. Before you're in that position, decide which programs you'd accept immediately, which you'd take as a stepping stone, and what you'd pay. Then if you accept a spot, tell the other programs. It frees the space for the next family and keeps your relationship good if you want to move later.