Survival rule: a waitlist is not a reservation. Follow up briefly every 2–3 months — active parents move up.
Finding a Spot: Start While Pregnant
From the first birthday your child has a legal claim to a place (§ 24 SGB VIII) — but waitlists are longer than the law. Join 5–8 lists at once.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Jugendamt
Municipal authorityKita voucher, acknowledgement of paternity, child maintenance and legal support all go through your town's Jugendamt.
Where to go in your city →› Details and tips
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
I applied to 6–8 Kitas at once and asserted the legal right in writing to the youth office in parallel. The city must find a place from age one — one polite letter citing the law moves things.
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
Some states have online portals (e.g. Kita-Navigator): register everywhere at once. And ask your employer about a workplace Kita — company places often bypass the general queue.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When to start looking for a Kita? ▾
9–12 months before the desired date, earlier in big cities. Waiting lists are long, and from age one the child has a legal right to a place, which you can use to press the city.
No places anywhere — what to do? ▾
The legal right is your lever: demand a place from the youth office in writing. No place within a reasonable time — reimbursement for private care/childminder, sometimes via court. Do not accept no place.
How do I enforce the legal claim? ▾
From age 1, § 24 SGB VIII applies. If the city offers no place, write to the Jugendamt threatening legal action: cities lose these cases and often find a spot after the first letter. Compensation for nanny costs is also possible.
When should I join the lists? ▾
In big cities: during pregnancy. A year of waiting is normal, especially for under-3 (U3) places.
Kita or Tagesmutter? ▾
Registered childminders (up to 5 children) are a fully subsidised U3 alternative with the same fee rules — and often shorter queues.