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June 2011 Moms
In Home Daycare
This is for the ladies who send their LOs to an in-home daycare.
My H and I are going to meet with my BFF's cousin tomorrow night about watching DD while I work. The woman is in her mid-40's I'd guess (she has a daughter my age) and watches another little girl who is 19 months old.
What expectations should I have for her? Should she have toys for DD, a stroller? Do you ever let your DCP take your LO out in a car? Do you leave your car seat or use the one your DCP has?
Any other advice? I'm really anxious about DD going to a sitter for the day but I can't keep watching her while I work...it's not fair to her.
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Re: In Home Daycare
Hey... I understand your anxiety.
We expected her house to be clean and her to have tons of toys, suitable high chairs, suitable cribs, etc. We wanted her to be licensed and registered by the State. To have all of her paper work in order. Our provider has seperate drawers, high chairs, cribs, etc for each individual baby. We also really wanted to get a vibe from her that she cared for the babies, not just that it was something to do and an easy way to make money. She provided us with a typical day. I asked how she would handle certain scenarios and discipline. She should def. have toys that would engage your LO. Age appropriate of course. I DON'T allow her to go anywhere with my DD, but that's just a preference. Our expectations were to find someone that DIDN'T take them anywhere. We signed a form to allow her to go on a walk in a state approved stroller, but that is all. We never left our carseat because it got cluttered and now she is in a convertible, but one mom does.
Trust your mommy instinct. If you dont feel comfortable or something doesn't seem right, it probably isnt.
Feel free to PM me if you want to ask more. I text message my DCP on a daily basis and I get updates and pictures all day. She welcomes the interaction.
I agree with TCUFrogMom. However, our DCP is not licensed. I know it is risky, but I am really comfortable that she follows most of our state guidelines (she doesn't follow the diaper changing process and LO uses toys and seats that aren't state approved and we are OK with that).
When we interviewed her we had her show us around her house. We wanted to be sure it was clean and safe. She has separate cribs and linens for each baby (2) and a toddler bed for the boy that is there part time. There are separate areas in her fridge for the baby's bottles. She feeds the older boy lunch that she makes.
Since it is her house, we wanted to know who would regularly be in and out. She has two teenagers and a husband that are there. We did background checks on them as well.
Honestly, I went with my gut when I picked her. She seems kind of an unlikely caregiver because she's a 50-year-old, bleach blonde biker looking type, but she has a sweet heart, she is extremely organized and clean, and she just "felt right."
She does not take the LO's anywhere. She has a fenced in back yard with locks on the gates so they do go outside when the weather is nice. I'm happy she doesn't go anywhere!
Good luck!
ETA: We leave our carseat there (mainly because we only have one seat and two bases). Also, she has tons of tons of baby and toddler toys.
Mine is a more organized situation. They have a stroller to take the kids for walks in, high chairs and all that.
Our DCP doesn't ever take the kids out, beyond a walk in her yard (she lives on a ranch, so they feed the horses after naptime). So no car rides. I do leave my seat there sometimes, but only for the purposes of me dropping off and DH picking up.
What are her days normally like? What food do you need to bring, vs what will be provided (if any). What is her plan if she needs to call in sick?
I think expectations vary for in home. My inhome is a neighbor that lives one street over, and watches Guinevere both to get her "baby" fix since her youngest is now almost 3, and as a little extra money, since she's home all day anyway. I get her at a steal - over 50% less than what other DC were charging. So while she had a few baby things left over from her kids, I planned to supply everything, and turned to Craigslist for a highchair, bouncer, swing, etc. I supply all food and diapers, and have brought a few toys, like an extra Sophie Giraffe.
I do let her take Guinevere out in the car, but she texts me before she leaves, when she gets there, when on way home, and when home. She's retired military, and so is her husband, so that, plus a background check and a driving record check made me comfortable letting her go out. I bring the carseat because I like mine better, even though she's offered to use one her daughter outgrew.
The biggest thing I like is being able to stop by and visit, and the flexibility. I would ask about her expectations of being paid during vacations/holidays/sick days. Thats something well documented in centers, and so should be discussed up front for you. For us, I was willing to pay holidays that I take off, and sick days, and then wanted to negotiate not paying for leave that I gave advanced notice for, and she said no, even if its a last minute cancel, she only wants to get paid when she has Guinevere. Okay!
Edit: I'm a slacker, it sounds like you found someone, I hope you and LO love her and that she fulfills everything that is important to you!
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As someone who did a DCP search nearly 5 times (due to moving several times and losing babysitters to jobs) I've pretty much got my questions down that I drill them all on.
I'll typically ask if they're CPR/first aid certified and if not, I ask them to become certified if I choose them. I'll see how many children they'll be watching and I can have the phone #'s to all of the parents. If they have any significant others or friends who would be around them, and if so, I'll request to meet them. What they were doing before being a nanny and what prompted them to become one. If they have any professional experience and/or education in early childhood care/development. If they protest to a drug test and background check.
There are a few others that I'll ask also. I usually am not super picky on the answers, but as long as a DCP is willing to provide all of the requested information and they don't protest and a drug and background check, then I'll feel comfortable with them. However, my main determinating factor is made when I meet them and see how Alex reacts to them and how they are together. It's usually a good indicated. GL!