Is anyone 100% in love with their childcare? I keep having little issues pop up and I'm not sure if I'm just being picky because it's not me and I'll find fault in anyone else caring for my child or if I should go ahead and look for someone else.
Most of my issues, I realize, wouldn't be issues if we had gone with a daycare center - such as the woman's small dog (who was a puppy when we met with her and I was just a few months pregnant) is still not trained, barks nonstop, jumps, and of course I'm worried he could jump up and nip at the baby. I also see her on google chat throughout the day - I figured she did this when the kids were napping, but I just IM'ed her to see how Liam is doing and she said he is right there playing with her. I wouldn't be able to watch two toddlers and a baby AND check my email at the same time...is it too much to expect she should be watching the kids while they're awake?
I don't know what to do. My h and I talked about it and he said it wouldn't hurt to start looking around, but I liked the current woman SO much when we met with her the first couple times so I'm afraid little things like these could happen with anyone. Any thoughts?
Re: childcare issues
I stay at home, so I don't have to worry about daycare, but the fact that you see her on Google chat to me would be unacceptable. She can always check her email when all the kids have gone home for the day.
Regardless of how much you liked her when you first met her, things change. I would be looking else where.
Also, I am a dog lover, BUT--I never let my baby be unattended in the room with my 2 dogs, and I'm a little worried that with her being on the internet, there is a possibility that at times she isn't monitoring where the dog is in relation to the babies...just a thought.
100% in love, absolutely not.
We opted for a center instead of in home mostly because if there was an issue I wanted to be able to talk to someone other than her direct provider.
Rileys first center I thought I loved. It was corporate, I worked for them years ago. 4 star accrediation from the state it was supposed to be perfect. The second week I dropped her off the Assistant Director was sitting on a chair with her back to the room working on lap top doing labor reports. One kid had green snot he was trying to breathe around and a poopy diaper. Mind you Riley was just in the ER 4 days prior (after only 3 in the center) for a high fever. Another teacher came in for a few minutes so the AD could use the rest room and she announced that the kid was pooped but she would deal with it later.
I talked to the director who blew me off so I sent to the Regional Director who agreed that it was not ok. Regardless we pulled her the next day.
We are now in a center that I like. It's daycare so it isn't ideal and certainly isn't done up to my standards but no one will do it just like me. There are cameras in every room so I can sit and stalk her all day! Its been a huge relief.
Exactly, I am so worried about the dog and baby being together...on the floor, it would take one second for the dog to nip at the baby. I also have never left my own dogs alone with Liam (even though I completely trust and love them, they are animals). Drea, you're right, I will bring up my concerns when I pick him up this afternoon.
And KCKappa, I went the in-home route to avoid all the sickness...but now that's looking way more appealing. But I do agree, I wish my own Mom could watch him
growing a foosa
I really really like my day care. But I'll never 100% love it, because it's not me.
I would have issues with what you've described. While I'm a dog lover, I really only trust my own dog around my baby at this point. As far as the computer, well, I would just expect more. Even if she could adequately watch all of the kids and be on the computer, is that the level of attention you want her to be giving?
When we looked for day cares, I had more concerns about the few in-homes that I researched than I did with any of the centers. I didn't know any of these people and they weren't friends-of-friends. But many of them seemed a bit unprofessional, and I want the person who's watching my baby to take it 100% serious because I'm paying for a critical service. I think it's really really difficult to look into every detail with an in-home provider. There's just so much that can happen or appear once you start seeing their style day in and day out. My colleagues who use in-home providers have had many stories similar to yours.
Ultimately, I've been very happy with our center. It's a larger center which means there are lots and lots of extra eyes to see what's going on. They had dedicated staff for administration, food services, and childcare. I think this is key because I know that those responsible for her care will not be doing administrative tasks or have other duties when they should be looking after her.
I work at the center where my children attend, and I'm still not 100% in love with their care. I'm across the hall from DD and in a suite with DS, so I see both their rooms all day long. On one hand, it's a good thing, because I know exactly what's going on, but I hate hate hate hearing DS cry. There are some other issues that either wouldn't be if I weren't there, or I wouldn't know about.
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You said the dog was not trained besides what you listed is it going to the bathroom on the floor?
I would be concerned why she was on the internet while my LO was right there playing. You are paying her to watch your LO not to be on the internet.