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Stay at Home Moms
photoelise
member
"Be the Lego Lady"
Watching someone else's child
photoelise
member
Hey ladies,
I'm not a frequent poster but I was wondering if I could pick some brains. I know some of you ladies watch other kids while you are at home with your own.
I was approached to do this recently and was wondering if you have contracts? I'm not a daycare, and have no desire to be. Just wondering what other people do.
Do you take them places with you (errands/play dates?)
The boy I would be watching would be 3 months old and easily totable, but I was just wondering what other people do/suggest.
Thanks!
"Be the Lego Lady"
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Watching someone else's child
I watch her at night so she sleeps over. Its I have her for like 13 hours a "day" and anywhere from 35 days a week.
I can take her where I want and do whatever. She's gotten close to my nieces/nephews on my husbands side because we bring her around them often. We treat her like our own really. Some days I want to pull my hair out but I think its worth it for the bond that the kids have.
Good luck! Its a hard
I now only do backup care, but have watched other children full time in my home in the past.
No matter how close you are to these people HAVE A CONTRACT! It doesn't have to be something super formal, but just make sure it lays out expectations on both sides (paid or unpaid time off, holidays, when payment is due, etc) and has proper signatures on it. This contract saved a lot of hurt feelings when the family I worked for decided to take two weeks off without any notice and try not to pay me. :-)
Check with your insurance before you commit. Some insurance policies will require extra home owner's insurance for a home based daycare even if that only means watching one additional child.
Also make sure you are clear that you will be reporting your income on taxes (because I'm going to assume you are doing this on the up and up) and would be happy to give them a receipt for flex spending/taxes on their end. Make sure to read up on what is an allowable tax write-off ahead of time so you are properly documenting and getting as much of a tax break as you can. Mileage, some home expenses, food, toys/books/etc. are all eligible.
I did take the kids I watched everywhere with me, but it was clearly outlined when we were agreeing to care that the children would be treated as my own, including toting them wherever I needed to go. One of the kids even went to the doctor with me a couple times. The parents were good with that. On that note, also make sure your parenting styles/discipline tactics are well aligned.
I watch one child. No contract. I get paid weekly (but they only pay for the days that I watch her). They pay me the going daily rate for local daycares.
They provided me with a carseat because I made it clear that our schedule is a very mobile one and we would NOT just be sitting at home. I try not to do errands with her (save those for evenings and weekends) but I do take her to drop my kids of to school, some fun kids events, etc. And she does playdates with us.
The only problem we have run into is that they are much more lenient parents than I am. (Not that I am strict- but there are consequences for poor behavior in my house while there really are not in hers, it seems). But we did have a talk about that and they understand that in this house, she will have the same expectations and consequences as my children. It has worked out decently this way. She actually does change her behavior when she walks in my house because she knows I mean business.
I watch 12 month old twins (since they were 9 months) and a 2 year old. On top of my 17 month old. I would love to take them places but I don't have a car. When I only have the twins or the 2 year old we walk up to target and have lunch at Panera, just to get out of the house.
We don't have a contract but I can see how it would be nice. Make sure you talk about sick expectations, the twins have been at my house really sick and they never come pick them up. And, they pump them with tylenol and drop them off, not saying a word to me that they aren't feeling well. Because of this (and more) I am seriously considering stopping with them.
A contract stating when you get paid and what you expect the other parents to provide (diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, baby food, regular food for when they are older, etc.) would be very helpful.
Good luck, I only do it two days a week and I usually want to pull my hair out.
I do not think I would agree to watch anyone's children on a regular basis without a contract, or at least some kind of written guidelines. That even goes for my best friend or my sister. I think it's important to lay out the basics regarding sickness, cancellations, who provides meals, is CIO for naps ok, etc. I think it's just easier on both parties to set clear expectations so there are no surprises. What might seem completely reasonable to them may not work for you at all, so better to figure everything out up front.
As for going out, I would need the child's parents to be ok with me taking their child along for errands and play dates. DD gets stir crazy in the house and we go out almost every single day, and I wouldn't want to change this just because I was watching another child.