Child care is scarce in Maryland, the nation – and the pandemic made matters worse

Halfway through her 12-week maternity leave last summer, Sarah Haddaway didn’t expect the trouble that would accompany her search for child care. After unexpected rejections from one fully booked child care facility after another, the lifelong Western Maryland resident began calling every provider she could find. Almost 11 months later, Haddaway’s son Brooks — who just turned 1 — is on at least seven providers’ waitlists.