a small insight before I get to the story.  In this area for a nice daycare it is about $150.00 a week with formula provided, in home daycare ranges from $75.00 to about 120.00 a week depending on experience what they do with the children and so on.  So when I first spoke with my baby sitter she said $75.00 and that she was a stay at home mom and couldn't find a teaching job so decided she would do this for extra money.  So last week I started taking DS and things would good she is good with him but it was odvious she hadn't been around the new baby techniques such as she had him on  his stomach for nap time altough she was around and that was fine it still freaked me out a little so I told her.  Then wed. She calls me in the evening and proceeds to tell me that she wanted me to know a little more about her life that her childrens dad had passed away when her son was 4 wks old and her husband wasn't thier dad. which her kids are 12 and 7.  Proceeded to tell me that her and her husband were getting a divorce and he was moving out.  So I had paid her on monday, when she told me all this I said are you sure financially you can just watch Felix?  Yep no problem, This week I tottally forgot to pay her monday and tuesday so wed when I dropped him off I said sorry you just need to remind me until I get in a routine I put the check in his diaper bag.  So last night I go to pick him up and she says you misunderstood I ment $75.00 a day holy S**t I would have never even geussed that unless she was a nanny cleaning my house, because of what the going rate is.  She said well that is what my church charges I asked so I called them today nope it is 75.00 if it is just like a one day deal and $20.00 a day so she misunderstood.  Honestly that is more then I bring home!!  While I was there I was in shock and didn't compute it until I got in my car and calculated how much that was $375.00 a week my sister in OK for the best daycare paid $220.00 a wk for infant and they thaught baby sign and everything.  I feel so dumb that I didn't even think that.  so I told her I would pay her for the past week and a half but I couldn't bring Felix anymore.  Luckily my sister-in-law watches kids again for $80.00 a week and she is going to take him til we find a new sitter since she is about 30 min out of the way it isn't a good long term solution.  Sorry this is so long I just had to get it out!!
                
                             
        
Re: Babysitter Made me feel like an idiot!! vent, super long!
Thank you for your opinions I have just been shell shocked about the whole thing wondering if I was the crazy one!!
that's less than it is here in NYC-- but seriously-- from the other prices in your area, sounds like she misled you-
glad you had backup care!
ditto, that seems way over the top!!!!
First off I hope you find another provider soon and I do not think you are an idiot.. your provider should have been more forthcoming..
Never, ever, ever, ever bring your baby to anyone to watch without a contract. Including in home daycare.
I watched a friends son when she went back to work, and even though I knew her, I still made up a contract.
Things can get EXTREMELY nasty regarding payment and you want to avoid situation like you just had.
Ouch! You're not the idiot. An unlicensed home care provider charging $75/day sounds outrageous to me.
I pay $260/week and that is for a really top notch daycare center in a metro area. (not as high cost of living here as somewhere like new york, but prices are higher than what you listed)
Like PP said, definitely push for a contract with whoever you end up using. (And I'd encourage you to see if there is a licensed provider you can use. The fact that she didn't know to put your baby on their back scares me. What else does she not know?) You might look up your state's department of family services website. The TX site has a searchable listing of licensed providers.
WOW~! thats insane! I hired someone privately in her home for $100.00 a week, I would probably have had a stroke if someone looked at me and told me $75.00 a day! I almost would have been tempted to call her back and tell her that she was incorrect in thinking the church charged that! Not that I would go back to her, but just to be sure she knew you called!
The contract actually sounds like a great idea! I may be tempted to do this.. even though I am very close to the person watching her and am not at all worried - after this I may just talk to her and see if she minds signing something and put it that I am doing it to protect both of us!
Good luck finding something more permanent - Glad you at least had a back up plan!
So weird! Even in metro areas of Missouri that would be a ridiculous amount to pay for someone doing care in their home! Hope you find a new provider soon!