Struggling with Childcare Options

Tiffany628

I have been calling and searching the internet for childcare for when I return to work.  We were originally thinking my aunt who is a SAHM might be interested in watching the baby to make some extra money, but is only interested in occasional sitting.  Then a friend's mom runs a state licensed daycare out of her home was another option, but I called 3 weeks ago and she is already filled for next school year.  So I started on my search looking for nannies (10+ dollars an hour) and other in home day cares.   Daycare centers which are our last pick cost almost $300 per week and we must pay even when the baby is not there. 

We just interviewed two different people over the past week for unlicensed in home day care, which on the more affordable side for us, but not certain on either one.  We like one, but we must pay breaks (Christmas/Spring) or when our LO doesn't attend (I'm a teacher) except for summertime.  The other one charges per the hour.  None of our friends/family that are SAHM's live close enough to watch our LO.  

We are so perplexed on what to do.  Staying home is my first choice, but unfortunately not an option we can do right now.  Anyone else struggling with this issue?   How did you find childcare?

jessiesnwbrd

So frustrating!!! I hope you find something that works out...just keep asking friends and looking around. Friends are good sources because generally friends are in the same income bracket and times in their lives. I've got a couple tips from them.

I sometimes thing I should become a certified day care, so I can stay at home with my kids and bring in a little money. Maybe that would be an option for you?

lilmgirl

I'm not facing the same struggles you are, but I personally would never used an unlicensed in-home daycare provider unless I personally *knew* this person very well.  Why isn't this person licensed?  What sort of insurance does he/she carry then?  I feel different on nannies that come to your house and watch your child only which would be my first choice if you could find one.  My second choice out of your options would be center-care, even though it's the most expensive.  GL!

Tiffany628

jessiesnwbrd:

I sometimes thing I should become a certified day care, so I can stay at home with my kids and bring in a little money. Maybe that would be an option for you?

We talked about me trying to run an in-home day care for the following school year (2011-2012).  I know it takes several years to be certified and you have to pay high taxes on it regardless if you end up having 1 or 10 children.  However, if I was able to have a 3-4 children per week at an affordable rate it would more then make up the income I am missing from work and losing to pay for daycare.  However, finding those 3-4 kids might be difficult because we don't know anyone looking for childcare in our area.  I am a teacher so working part-time isn't an option in the school setting.  We've also considered me going to get my CNA (certified nursing license) to work evening/nights so we wouldn't need daycare but I wouldn't be able to until next summer. 

With the unlicensed in home day care, we  were hoping to find someone we like and someone that doesn't charge us when our LO is not there, which would consist of 3 weeks of break and about 6 days off a school year.  Also, on a day or two when the LO is sick and we keep her at home.  We are looking for 4 days a week roughly 9 hours a day.  I was thinking the unlicensed day cares would be more flexible in terms of this arrangement.  We were looking for a provider with a daily rate instead of an hourly/weekly rate. 

Day care centers are not really an option for us because of the price.  We just simply cannot afford $300 and upwards.   We've checked sittercity.com/care.com/craigslist and scoured the internet.  I already have the guilt for having to work and now I am even more upset with myself because we are at such a loss what to do.  We don't want to "settle" on someone and it not be someone we trust with her. It's just so frustrating.

KatieM1106

I think that you are going to have a really hard time finding someone who will allow you to not pay on the holiday weeks. I felt lucky to have found a daycare who would let us not pay over the summer!

Have you looked at local Churches? Sometimes they provide a daycare service a bit cheaper, because they view it as community service. 

sil222

with my first i used an unlicensed home care giver, she was highly recommended and she was great!  we were on with her 5 months because i moved states but when i left i felt like i was leaving family with her.  when i moved to texas i found another home care lady, this one i think was licensed, i can't remember but she was great too.  alot of women stay unlicensed (not sure why, probably tax purposes) but do awesome jobs, both women had been doing it for years and years and only took babies with a referral.  if you are willing to consider unlicensed check to see how long they have been doing, take a tour of the home, that will tell you alot and try to talk to one of the parents if you can.  another option which is sometimes more affordable is church daycare.  one my coworkers has her daughter at the church day care and it about 50.00 cheaper than other places.  the churches don't advertise usually. 

 good luck with your search.