If you take DC to an in home DCP

WifeofaMarine · September 2009

I know you probably have to pay when you're on vacation, but do you still have to pay if your DCP is the one on vacation or if they are sick, have a family emergency, or can't watch DC for one reason or another?

When she was on vacation, we still had to pay her. We really didn't mind or make a deal out of it because we absolutely love our DCP and its a great environment for DS, plus we are saving a lot of money per week over center daycare. There have been days here and there that she hasn't been able to watch DS and we've still paid her the full weekly rate ($125).

She had already told us she couldn't watch DS on Monday because her husband had a medical procedure she had to take him to, so DH took off. Monday afternoon she fell off a chair and fractured her ankle, so she hasn't been able to watch him Tuesday or today. DH and I both had to take time off work on Tuesday (me unpaid leave since I'm out of leave time) and DH was off today. We're taking him back tomorrow and Friday because she said her husband is taking off work and her friend will be there (who is around the kids a lot, they love her), so even though she really can't put weight on her foot, there will be two others there to help with the two babies (DS and another little girl two months younger).

I really don't think we should have to pay her for a full week when he will only be there two days this week. But at the same point, we're not willing to fight about it because we absolutely love our DCP and the great care she is giving DS.

Just curious if other people that take their DC to an in home DCP pay them when they are on vacation or can't watch DC for one reason or another.

trapani2be · September 2009

I don't pay if she is on holidays or if she requests the day off, and she actually gives me 10 "free" days per year to use if ds is sick or for whatever I want.

LyndsayQ · September 2009

My DCP has a contract we both signed. It states if I'm (or DH or DD) sick I pay her, but if she's sick I don't pay her. However, she never says she can't watch her. She'll call and say "I have a fever, but you can still bring her." Which IMO is just making me make the decision ergo she doesn't lose any money. ::shrug:: She's not sick that often, so it hasn't become a big deal.

I would talk to your DCP about setting some limits. That's a lot of time off and to be paid in full too.

kellyrank · September 2009

we only pay for the days he goes to her. i am a teacher so we have a lot of random days off as well as the summer. i have known her since we were born & our parents are very close friends so that may make a difference. she resigned from teaching to be home with her 3 children & is watching my son for some extra spending money. i don't know if that helps or not!

hmms · September 2009

We do not pay when she needs the day off (if she's sick, one of her kids, takes a long weekend, etc). We do not pay if we pre-arrange that DS will not be there in advance, nor do we pay over summer vacation (I'm a teacher), but we do pay if DS gets sick and we don't take him, or a snow day, etc.

She only watches our LO - not sure if that matters at all, other than she's not a typical full-time in-home daycare setting, more of a daily babysitter

BabyMenzel · September 2009

our dcp has designated # of days for vacays/sick days/fam emergencies and then is also paid for holidays, so yes we pay her if she's sick/has a fam emergency. then again i don't pay much/week ($100) so it doesn't bother me....my parents on the other hand they don't like that she gets paid when she's sick/has a fam emergency.

this past week they had to shut down daycare because of H1N1 and Hand, Foot and Mouth and she still was paid, but used 4 of her vacation days so it wasn't so hard on us parents

Paigeo · September 2009

We pay the same weekly rate whether DD is there or not. Her rates are very reasonable and I figure I get paid vacation so she should as well. We have also had days like that where she couldn't watch DD... but for us on the flip side there have been days she was watched DD when she has had a touch of a cold that I am sure a day care center would have sent her home.

RedBrideNC · September 2009

Our DCP does not require that we pay her for days that DS is not in her care. Aside from one day, our DCP has not taken any "vacation". She's great and we love her so we choose to pay her. So far we have paid her for holidays and a couple weeks that he was with MIL.

We figure that considering the price of centers in our area, price wise we are getting a deal. Also if he were at a center we'd have to pay 50% of the rate for the weeks that we keep him out.