Childcare on Parental Leave — CWELCC Savings & Planning Before Going Back | Daisy Days

Parental leave in Canada is one of the best-designed family support programs in the world — and for families planning their return to work in Regina SK, the intersection of parental leave, CWELCC, and daycare planning involves important timing decisions. At Daisy Days Daycare, here’s what families on parental leave in Regina SK need to know.

The Parental Leave to Daycare Timeline — Getting It Right

The single most common mistake new parents make: waiting too long to start the daycare search. Here’s the correct timeline:

During Pregnancy (Months 3-9)

• Research licensed CWELCC-enrolled daycares in Regina SK
• Tour 2-3 centres including Daisy Days Daycare — compare quality, location, and programs
• Join the Daisy Days Daycare waitlist now — for infant spots, joining during pregnancy is ideal
• Estimate your return-to-work date (standard 12-month vs extended 18-month leave)

Month 3-6 of Leave

• Confirm your target return-to-work date with your employer
• Contact Daisy Days Daycare to confirm your position on the waitlist and likely availability
• Begin paperwork: enrollment forms, immunization records, emergency contacts

Month 9-12 of Leave (12-Month Leave) or Month 15-18 (18-Month Extended)

• Confirm daycare start date — aligned with return-to-work date
• Plan the gradual transition (2-week ramp-up before your first full work day)
• Purchase daycare supplies and label everything
• Finalize backup childcare plan for sick days and holidays

The CWELCC Financial Calculation for Returning Families

The financial shock of ending parental leave income reduction AND starting daycare costs is real — but CWELCC has made it dramatically more manageable:

Scenario	Pre-CWELCC	With CWELCC (Daisy Days)
Monthly daycare cost (1 infant, full-time)	$1,100-1,430	~$220
Financial “daycare shock” at return	High — $1,100-1,430 new monthly cost	Low — $220/month total
Years to break even for second earner returning	Several years at some income levels	Break-even in month 1 at almost all income levels

EI Parental Leave and Daycare — What to Know

Important: Service Canada’s EI parental benefits are designed for the period when a parent is not working to care for the child. Using licensed daycare while still claiming parental benefits may affect your EI eligibility. Key guidance:

• EI parental benefits are for the claimant’s absence from work to care for the child — if the child is in daycare, you’re not personally providing that care
• Daycare typically starts the day you return to work — not before your parental leave ends
• A gradual return to work while ending EI has specific provisions — consult Service Canada (1-800-206-7218) for your specific situation
• Some employers offer returnship or gradual return-to-work programs that have specific EI interactions

Starting the Gradual Transition Within Your Parental Leave

Most families schedule the daycare gradual transition (shorter visits building to full days) during the last 1-2 weeks of parental leave — this allows the transition to complete before the first day of work. Plan this timing specifically with Daisy Days Daycare when confirming your start date.

→ Full return-to-work childcare planning guide for Regina SK
→ CWELCC savings calculator for returning families
→ Daycare waitlist timeline for Regina SK

Contact Daisy Days Daycare to plan your parental leave return.
306-807-3233 | info@daisydaysdaycare.com | 2007 Potts Crescent East, Regina SK S4V 2E5