We're looking for new part-time childcare for our 3-yr and 11-mo olds. We need them kept somewhere other than our house. So far we have three options:
A) The sahm across the street who has kids in middle & high school. Nice, but doesn't strike me as very active or "fun." Her kids seem a little anti-social.
A really nice woman in her late 30's who is married with no kids. Babysits a lot for people we know - at their houses. Tried her one day last week & the kids love her. But her house is totally not child-ready. She had towels and blankets covering all her furniture when we arrived We/she would need to buy PNP, gates, highchair, car seat...and maybe slipcovers? Lives about 15 mins away, but it's on the way to my office.
C) A friend who has a 2-yr-old and infant. My daughter plays really well with her son, and I definitely trust her with them. Lives 5 mins away. She wouldn't be able to drive them anywhere (like to the playground or anything) and lives in a townhome on a busy street. Would be less expensive than option B. DH is worried that it could be weird to employ a friend.
D) Keep looking.
Re: Which sitter would you choose?
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My husband is working from home and doesn't want the kids in the house, so no. I do like that she could take them places, but also like the idea of my 3-yr-old having a friend to play with.
The slipcovers would be b/c her house is super nice, not b/c anything is old. I was kind of joking b/c of how she covered everything in towels the first time she kept them. I certainly wouldn't be buying her slipcovers, but I would maybe buy the carseat and gates. We're tight on money, so I'm not crazy about having to make the extra purchases.
Hey! Good point. I just remembered our YMCA has $20 per child MDO in the mornings...maybe I can use that for part of our care...
B-the equipment is not a deal breaker. You can p/u a PNP cheap at a consignment shop or CL. I would buy a chair booster around $25 instead of a high chair. LO can grow into a booster and it takes up less space. Explain you need the house child proof and offer suggestions.
I would not want a friend to watch my LO regularly. If you have a disagreement it can end a friendship.