What would you think (re:talk to daycare lady)

idonthavethis

I talked to a lady on the phone last night that I'm going to go interview to possible watch my son. During the conversation, I asked her what she charged per week. She told me and immediately say "you will probably find people that charge less or maybe more, but I think you get what you pay for." I don't know but that kind of rubbed me the wrong way. It's like she was real defensive about what she charges and I didn't even comment when she told me.  Another lady I'm going to interview with charges $100 less a week, she seems much nicer--now I'm second guessing myself and wondering "if I will be getting what I pay for" since she is a lot cheaper.

 

kbs0929

The comment would have irritated me too.  Are they in-home providers?  Will you be going to see their places in person?  Go with your mommy-gut, check their references, etc.  If she keeps making obnoxious comments like that during your interview, you may want to reconsider having to deal with that type of attitude every day.  Just because someone is more expensive, does not make them the better provider, it just makes them the more expensive provider!

E C

It sounds to me like her comment had its intended reaction - to cause you to second guess yourself.  It would rub me the wrong way, and would cause me to wonder what else she might say with that intent.

BrainySmurfette

That would rub me the wrong way, too.  I will also say that more expensive care is not always better.  Our current daycare charges much less than the first one we used, but the care my daughter gets is by far superior.  However, if she charges more, I would expect a lower caregiver-to-child ratio.

AmyCC1980

Wow.  A comment like that would really annoy me.  Now, I am not the most experienced when it comes to day care -  DD has only been going for a little over a month, but if it were me I would cross her off the list.  I am normally a person that believes that you do get what you pay for most of the time but I don't think that is always true when it come to child care.  I feel like DD is getting excellent care, but I have friends who pay a lot less and some that pay a lot more than I do and they all are very happy with thier LO's day care.  I think it is really important to trust and feel good about the person your LO is spending the day with.  You need to have a good relationship with this person.  If this woman rubs you the wrong way then she is not the right one.

tosababy

I do think you frequently get what you pay for with child care.  That said, though, you also have to base your decision on personality and your family's needs.

It sounds like this lady isn't the right person to take care of your child.  If that's the case, then you shouldn't let her comment bug you to the point that you're doubting whether you should use the other (cheaper) child care provider.

vanillacourage

tosababy:

I do think you frequently get what you pay for with child care.  That said, though, you also have to base your decision on personality and your family's needs.

Ditto.  We pulled my son out of $150/wk child care b/c of safety concerns, and were thrilled with his new $230/wk place.

I wouldn't let one offhand comment totally rule her out - she could have had a bad day, or been burned in the past by somebody leaving her in favor of someplace cheaper.  I'd go check out her home (while children were there) and see what I thought after that.