Does DC allow you to drop off and pick up when you want?

luckyNJ · February 2010

Our DCP has a full-time and part-time option. In order to use the part-time option you need to have LO there in the morning and pick-up before noon or dropped off after noon. Those hours don't work for us as we need care from 11-4pm. So although we are only there 25hrs/week we pay for full-time. The thing is, when we first registered they gave us a hard time about the 11am drop off and said it would be better for us to drop her off before 10 like all of the other kids. But we were hoping to have her there no more than 25hrs/week so we politely said that that wouldn't work for us and they begrudgingly allowed us to do drop off at 11. Now DD is having trouble adjusting (she's been there 2.5 weeks and it's not getting much better) and they are suggesting that if we dropped her off at 9 or 9:30, she may be more involved/distracted and less cranky. I don't think that an earlier drop-off would help and am a bit frustrated that they seem to be pushing this on us. Any thoughts? Anyone else pay full time but want their LO there at 'unusual' hours? Does your DC have a problem with it?

mauceddie · February 2010

Ours does not restrict drop-off or pick-up times. However, saying that, I see their point. I make sure dd is dropped off before circle time (9:30). I also try not to pick her up before 4:00 because they have a snack at 2:30 and then do an activity at 3:00 and she doesn't want to leave. I can see how it's easier for them to integrate into the daycare if they are involved in their scheduled activities.

UCLAangel · February 2010

Ours doesn't have a restriction either, but I agree with the PP. They really do get into a routine and like doing what all the other children are doing so it may be throwing her off to get there late. Since you're paying for full-time anyway, why not take advantage and use it full-time? My DD has learned so much by being in daycare and I don't feel bad at all since she is so much more advanced than her counterparts who don't go to daycare. Plus, the night and weekends are truly our quality time since she is in daycare all day.

luckyNJ · February 2010

Thanks for your replies and you both make good points. I think this is DCP's reasoning as well. I just had a hard time believing it because in the infant room they don't really have a schedule or do much in the way of planned activities. Each time I get there someone's being fed, another's being changed, some are playing by themselves, someone's in the swing, others are sleeping, etc. So it didn't seem like LO was missing out on much. But it's interesting to hear that you think she might better get into the swing of things if she were there earlier. We are definitely open to trying it if it would help her adjust better.

spunkielexis196 · February 2010

We have a very flexible drop off/pick up. The only requirements is if I want DS to have breakfast/morning snack at DC he has to be there by 8:30; lunch by 10:45; and afternoon snack 2:30.

I have had DS there by 6:00am and as late as 1030 if he has a morning appointment. I have also picked him up at various times. However we pay for full time. My DC only has FT care.

ohio01 · February 2010

We have a similar situation but our daycare is extremely flexible. The bad thing is they don't offer part time rates so we pay for full time even though we only use them for about 20 hours a week. They are also very flexible and follow your schedule as far as eating/napping/etc.

deltagirl79 · February 2010

DS is in the infant room too and they don't care when we drop off or pick up. If he's going to be late and I know a head of time I try to let them know but they are flexable. We are switching daycares in the next few weeks though to go part time. He'll be there MWF though all day, not part of the day.

AmyCC1980 · February 2010

Our DC wants all children dropped off by 9:30 (unless there is a doctor's appointment or something like that). They say the reason behind this rule is because when LOs come and go at different hours it throws the schedule of the entire classroom off. I don't normally have a problem with it but tomorrow DH wants to take DD to the zoo in the morning and then drop her off at DC around lunch time so he can get some stuff done in the afternoon. We'll have to see if they take issue with it.

Carmeltopher · February 2010

Ours does not have restricted pick up and drop off times. If we want to only be charged for a half day we just have to make sure that she is there for 5 hours or less. Otherwise it is considered a full day.

Pesky · February 2010

No restriction outside of their business hours. They might mention if DD were to miss an event or something but other than that, I don't worry. We normally have her there first thing so it's not an issue but I do try and time things like dr's appt to not interfere with lunch or nap.

jlw2505 · February 2010

We FT and my kids are there FT but we can drop off or pick up at anytime we want. We had to tell them our standard hours so they can work staffing around when kids are there or not but its not set in stone. If I am going to drop off or pick up earlier, I always let them know the day before (more if I know) as it helps with their staffing and meal planning. I do find that certain times of day are more distracting for the class or harder for the child that is coming in or leaving based on what is going on in the classroom at that time. I know the schedule for each of my kids classrooms - when they do meals/snacks, naptime/quiet time/outside and stuff like that and really try to work around those times and get my kids there or pick them more during the free play timeas I find it goes a lot easier.

SeattleMegan · February 2010

We can drop-off/pick-up whenever we want (and we normally do it at the same time every day) but I agree with PPs in that I think it's definitely beneficial to your DC and to DCP to be consistent. I'm guessing they weren't suggesting it to be difficult, but they see lots of kids so they probably know what works best. Good luck!

Mango2 · February 2010

We can pretty much pick up/drop off whenever, but I know it does throw the schedule off for the room and the teachers when we get there too late, even in the infant room. They have a routine when they feed, change, bottle, etc. that they try to get all the babies on, even in the infant room.

Once they're older (2.5), our daycare does want them there by 8:30 so kids can particpate in the pre-school activities that go through nap time.

xmasbabymama · February 2010

They ask that you call if you aren't going to have your child there by 9. And if it's an exception - like an appointment - it's no big deal, but they do want the kids on a regular schedule - it's better for the child and the classroom as a whole with fewer interruptions. Mostly the people that do part time at my center seem to do it with certain days of the week, not certain hours every day.

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