Working Moms

Care when Daycare closes for a week

We are switching from a daycare center to an in-home daycare next week because of issues we had with the center.  The in-home daycare closes two weeks out of the year, once in the spring and once in the summer.  I only get two weeks vacation, and DH has even less than that.  It is not feasible for one of us to take off those weeks in their entirety, so we are going to have to find alternate care.  The March break is actually not too far off, and I'm beginning to wonder what we're going to do for it. Has anyone hired a nanny for a week or less?  Any other ideas? 

We are relatively new to our town, and don't have family in town.  We have some friends with kids, but none of them do I feel like I know well enough to ask if they can watch our baby for a week. 

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Re: Care when Daycare closes for a week

  • We use an in-home also. She doesn't close for full weeks, but usually over the 4th of July and Christmas she will take a couple additional days off. I usually get it off- but I have had to have someone else watch him. There is one lady that I use all the time, she watches kids too- but it is further for me. Maybe ask your friends who they use and see if your LO can go there. Also depending on the timing see if a college student on spring break could come to your house and watch LO.
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  • Is there any possibility you could pay for one of the Grandmas to fly in to visit for the week?  I would also talk to your friends with kids and ask them if they know of anyone.  They might have a babysitter, neighbor, friend, family member, etc you would be interested.  Last option is using care.com to find a babysitter.  You could have them come over for a few date nights between now and March to get to know your LO.  Good Luck!
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  • Maybe the provider recommends someone who is available at those times? Or talk to other patents who use her to see what they do? I had to patch together care for different reasons, and I had a combo of my husband taking off, my mom flying out for a week, and using neighbors here and there.
  • If I was in that situation with a baby that age, and I couldn't take the time off (which I could) I would have my mom or MIL come into town.  Or you can try a site like care.com to find shortterm care.  Good luck!
  • When we had that problem, the parents would alternate care or one parent would offer to watch the kids that the parents couldn't get coverage.  This was when D1 was older though.
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  • Check with your work and see if they have something through HR to try and help find Backup care...if not, you can try and find a backup care provider in your area.  What they do, is call daycares that coordinate with them and see if one can find a spot for your child for the week in question.   That being said, sometimes it can be expensive...but it's may be possible to get a discount.
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  • You'll have to work on making your "village" bigger. Sounds cheesy, but I could not be a working mom in a town without family without backup. Start making friends, finding babysitters, or ask family to fly in and help.
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  • I would ask your current provider for a recommendation.  Lots of home providers know people who are in the same business, they network just like other professionals.  She may have a suggestion for you.
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  • I would ask the other parents that use your daycare what they do during that time and if they know anyone that can provide temporary care. Maybe they'll have a good lead?
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  • Thanks!  All good suggestions! 
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  • This is why i'm hesitant to put LO in montesorri school since they follow the school calendar, and a week before/after summer school starts..... I haven't figured out a good resolution either except line up days to alternate with other parents, but then you have to trust them & be friends with them too
  • One of the local nanny services in our area also does care-on-call and short term engagements.  We've used them to book alternate care for one week intervals.

    Also, since the other parents who use your provider are going to be in the same situation, is it possible there's a parent who might be willing to share a provider and associated costs for the week?

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  • Just had one other thought.  Try to find a local mom's group on facebook, its a good way to network with other mom's.  The group I'm in has plenty of SAHM's who would be willing to babysit to make extra cash.
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  • Are you close with any of your coworkers? I have always found the best recommendations through those I work closely with.

    I've asked my in-home DCP to be a back-up for one of my colleagues when her sitter cancels, and she has asked hers to be a back-up for me. It's worked out really well, and our kiddos know each other, so when they go to the back-up sitter, they always have a little buddy to latch on to. 

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  • We send DS to a ChildTime center and love it. They have a program where you can buy days of care for drop-ins without being registered full or part time there. A couple of my friends who SAH have this (I think the card is for 5 days at a time) and they use it sporadically for days they have appointments, etc.

    I think they may offer this at more than just our center, given that it is a national chain (although I know they are operated individually). It may be worth it to visit one and see if you like it enough for it to be your back up care and see if they have a program like that.

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