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Summary
An incomplete waitlist application is one a parent started but has not submitted yet. The child may appear on Waitlist → Wait List with status Incomplete while Kiddo sends reminder emails. This is different from a submitted application that still needs a waitlist fee.
Before you start
- You need staff access to Waitlist.
- Families apply through your public waitlist link — see Share your parent waitlist link.
- Reminder timing and templates live under Communications → Wait List Communications — see How automated messages work.
How incomplete applications happen
Kiddo creates a waitlist application when a family finishes the Enrollment Information step and moves toward payment (not when they only fill in parent or child details earlier in the form).
Until the family submits the application:
- Kiddo has not recorded a submission yet (the application is not finalized).
- The row can still appear on your active Wait List tab with status Incomplete.
- Opening the child's profile shows an Application incomplete notice at the top of Center Information.
On Home, families may see Incomplete on the center card until they return to your waitlist link and finish.
What you see on the waitlist
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Status Incomplete | Application started; parent has not submitted yet. |
| Status On Wait List | Application submitted and active on your waitlist. |
| Application incomplete banner (child profile) | Same as Incomplete — do not use Waitlist Submission Date to submit for them; that field only updates the date shown after an application is already submitted. |
Incomplete rows are not in your official waitlist order for offers the way submitted applications are. Treat them as leads to follow up, not as fully queued families.
Reminder emails (default timing)
Kiddo can send up to three automated emails reminding the family to finish. Default timing from when the application was created:
| Order | Typical timing | Email subject theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 days | Reminder to finish application |
| 2 | 4 days | Reminder to complete your waitlist application |
| 3 | 7 days | Final reminder to complete your waitlist application |
Your center can change timing or turn workflows off under Communications → Wait List Communications. Emails come from your center's name via Kiddo.
What happens after 7 days
Two things work together:
- Final reminder — The third email goes out around the 7-day mark (or whatever you configured for the final reminder).
- Auto-archive — After all three reminders have been sent, Kiddo usually archives the application so it leaves Wait List and moves to Waitlist → Archive. Staff see the archive reason tied to incomplete-application reminders.
Kiddo does not auto-archive incomplete applications that already have a paid, waived, or not required waitlist fee, or a 100% priority or promo discount that removes the fee.
Families who return later may need to restart the application if the completion window has expired. Their place in line is based on when they successfully submit, not when they first started.
Incomplete vs unpaid waitlist fee
These are easy to confuse:
| Situation | Status on waitlist | What the family still needs |
|---|---|---|
| Incomplete application | Incomplete | Finish and submit the form (parent, child, enrollment steps). |
| Submitted, fee not paid | On Wait List (payment Pending or Overdue) | Pay the waitlist fee (unless waived). |
The waitlist fee payment reminder workflow applies only after submit. It does not replace incomplete-application reminders.
What you can do as staff
- Open Waitlist → Wait List and look for status Incomplete.
- Open the child's profile and read the Application incomplete notice.
- Contact the family directly if reminders are not enough — resend your waitlist link.
- If the record is stale and you do not expect them to finish, archive the application yourself instead of waiting for auto-archive.
Do not expect changing Waitlist Submission Date on an incomplete application to submit it for the parent.
Common questions
Why is someone on my waitlist if they never paid?
If status is Incomplete, they have not submitted yet — payment may not have been collected because the form was never finalized. If status is On Wait List with Pending payment, they submitted but still owe the waitlist fee.
Do incomplete applications count for priority or offers?
No. Waitlist priority and offers apply to submitted applications. Incomplete rows are visible for follow-up but are not fully in queue.
Can I turn off the reminder emails?
Yes — adjust or disable the incomplete-application workflows under Communications → Wait List Communications.
Will the family get an email when we auto-archive?
Not automatically from the archive step itself. They may have already received the three finish-your-application reminders. Reach out directly if you want to confirm they are still interested.
What if they started but I do not see them on the waitlist?
If they stopped before finishing enrollment preferences, Kiddo may not have created a waitlist application yet — there is nothing on Wait List to show. Only a partial signup exists until enrollment information is saved.
Related articles
- In the app: Waitlist → Wait List (status Incomplete) · Communications → Wait List Communications
- Share your parent waitlist link
- How automated messages work (and what families receive)
- How to archive a waitlist application
- What your parents see: Finish an incomplete waitlist application
- Parent Help links you can share with families