What to ask an in-home daycare?

chrinikki1 · March 2014

I'm a FTM and I have a possible lady who does in-home daycare for 4-5 kids (not definite on the number). She is kicking one out in a month or two for behavioral issues and will have a spot open. She came highly referred by my friend who has had both her kids (1 and 4 y.o.) going there for years. All my friend told me was she IS licensed and does education 3-4 days a week and field trips (zoo, fire department, police department, etc) 1-2 days depending on circumstances. I am supposed to chat with her later so STM's what am I asking/looking for?? And if your in CA (Southern OC) what is a fair ballpark cost for her services? Thanks!

aimeepigott · March 2014

I asked mine what her policies were if there was no school (snow days, flooding, whatever). She has older children after school for about an hour. I also asked what supplies she needed ( obviously diapers/wipes, pack n play? Baby bouncing seat?) Do you have to supply the car seat and stroller for trips? As baby gets older do you need to supply snacks or other food? I'm in Wv so what mine charges won't be applicable!

missyrissy · March 2014

What is the educational curriculum taught? Hours of operation? Visiting hours allowed? Nap time hours? Driving policies if who is allowed to drive? Are assistants available and licensed? CPR/first aid cert? Educational background? State aid? Accredited? Food program approved? Etc.

I own an in home daycare and these are the questions I hear most or would love for my parents to ask.

ghostof5letters · March 2014

How many sick/vacation days per year. Which holidays does she observe? Does she take vacation weeks? When? (Mine takes the week between Christmas and New Years, Presidents' Day long weekend, and a week in August every year).

What happens when one of her own children is sick (mine has a 3 and 6 year old(

bullybutt · March 2014

What kind of field trip would she possibly take a newborn to? With multiple other kids? Does she have an assistant? I might have an issue with that.

singingirl96 · March 2014

bullybutt said:

What kind of field trip would she possibly take a newborn to? With multiple other kids? Does she have an assistant? I might have an issue with that.

I have to agree with this one. I would be ok with a short local trip to the local library, park, or fire station. However I would not be ok with a long trip where they'd have to get on a busy highway.
I turned down a daycare provider because she did story time at the mall every Thursday. I would NOT be ok with my daycare person taking a bunch of kids to a busy mall even with a helper. Plus it is 25 minutes away and you need to take a major interstate to get there. Ah NO way!

I was going to mention snow day policy... but where you are doesn't snow

Lucky you.

I had to switch daycare last December since my daycare provider closed every time the schools closed. Here in MD, schools close if there is a threat of a snow flake... so needless to say she was closed a lot this past winter. Our county has used 9 days this winter, and she was closed all 9 of them. That would have cost us $450! Not to mention the fact that I would have wasted all of my vacation time or have to scramble to find friends to take him for the day. I'm so glad I switched after the first 2 days. We loved her and were sad to have to leave, but you have to do what is best for your family. Bonus: new daycare was $75 cheaper a week.. HUGE difference!

chrinikki1 · March 2014

@signingirl96 may I ask you what you mean by snow days costing you the $450? I thought if I don't take him, I wouldn't pay. Is that not the case? Also, regarding the field trips, I don't know that she would/wouldn't take the baby or that she does/does not have an assistant. I will ask about all those areas. I just know that the other kids I know that go, go on the field trips. No idea how she does a baby. Thank you all- anything else please keep it coming! I now have a great list. Also, how soon pp is the earliest you can take a baby to daycare? I was planning to only take 8 weeks leave.

ghostof5letters · March 2014

chrinikki1 said:

@signingirl96 may I ask you what you mean by snow days costing you the $450? I thought if I don't take him, I wouldn't pay. Is that not the case? Also, regarding the field trips, I don't know that she would/wouldn't take the baby or that she does/does not have an assistant. I will ask about all those areas. I just know that the other kids I know that go, go on the field trips. No idea how she does a baby. Thank you all- anything else please keep it coming! I now have a great list. Also, how soon pp is the earliest you can take a baby to daycare? I was planning to only take 8 weeks leave.

With my IHDC, I get 10 days a year where if I don't take her, I don't pay. The only exclusions are the holidays she observes or her vacation days. Otherwise, I pay.

JMSbaby2014 · April 2014

Who pays when is a good question - my friend uses an ihdc and if my friend has to cancel she has to pay but if the daycare lady cancels (one of her kids is sick or she is sick for example) then my friend doesn't have to pay

Glitzyklm · April 2014

Our in home childcare payment policy is we pay full rate for holidays and days he doesn't go. We pay half rate for her vacation days.

singingirl96 · April 2014

chrinikki1 - $50/day x 9 snow days... If schools are closed, she's closed.... and she still got paid.... ugh. Luckily you won't have to deal with that problem since you're in socal.... so jealous. I lived in LA for a couple of years.... I miss that weather big time!

That would be a dream if I didn't have to pay if I didn't take him for one reason or another.... If he's sick and stays home, she still gets paid. If I go on vacation, she still gets paid. It is the same with my new daycare as it was with the old. The only difference between the two is that my new one doesn't close if schools close... she says that as long as I can get him to her, she's open. We had a foot of snow and I still had to work, so I took my 4x4 and brought him to her... sure enough she was open and took him for the day.

PenelopeSnuz77 · April 2014

Thanks, STM's!! I'm visiting an IHDC tomorrow and this is a life saver! I thought I thought of everything, but this was great!!

TheLovingWife · April 2014

singingirl96 said:

bullybutt said:

What kind of field trip would she possibly take a newborn to? With multiple other kids? Does she have an assistant? I might have an issue with that.

I have to agree with this one. I would be ok with a short local trip to the local library, park, or fire station. However I would not be ok with a long trip where they'd have to get on a busy highway.
I turned down a daycare provider because she did story time at the mall every Thursday. I would NOT be ok with my daycare person taking a bunch of kids to a busy mall even with a helper. Plus it is 25 minutes away and you need to take a major interstate to get there. Ah NO way!

I was going to mention snow day policy... but where you are doesn't snow Lucky you.

I had to switch daycare last December since my daycare provider closed every time the schools closed. Here in MD, schools close if there is a threat of a snow flake... so needless to say she was closed a lot this past winter. Our county has used 9 days this winter, and she was closed all 9 of them. That would have cost us $450! Not to mention the fact that I would have wasted all of my vacation time or have to scramble to find friends to take him for the day. I'm so glad I switched after the first 2 days. We loved her and were sad to have to leave, but you have to do what is best for your family. Bonus: new daycare was $75 cheaper a week.. HUGE difference!

I am almost positive that I looked at the same daycare, and when you mentioned MD I am pretty sure of it. Small World

I definitely have a problem with field trips for an infant, especially if the provider is taking older children that might be a distraction.

chrinikki1 · April 2014

I spoke with her briefly to set up an appt to meet and discuss all these questions further- but I quickly did ask what she does with a baby while all the other kids are doing the field trips. She said she typically wears them in a harness. She specifically said she only takes 4-5 kids max and my guy would be the only baby-baby. My friends two are the next oldest at 1 and 4, then there's another 4 yo. She said she gets them out of the house at least 1 time a week, whether it be a trip to the park, her Dad's fire station or the local zoo (we have a SMALL zoo by our house). She seems pretty legit as she told me what kind of things I need to ask IHDC (and much of what she said was what's listed by everyone here). She told me she wants us to come meet her and the other kids while they're in action. One thing she REALLY did emphasize was if scratches/bumps/head bumps occur she provides written documentation as well as a sheet on signs to watch out for (I.e. Concussion). I felt this was a great point because I'm a FTM who 1) is more laid back expecting bumps/bruises and 2) wouldn't know what to look out for in the first place.

chrinikki1 · April 2014

I pay her for sick days and vacation?! WTH? Maybe I need to rethink my career path.

ghostof5letters · April 2014

If you're curious what others are paying, I'm in Southern NJ / Greater Philadelphia Area and I pay $45 daily no matter how old the child is. Price doesn't fluctuate from newborn to toddler.

missyrissy · April 2014

I charge for 14 sick/vacation days as a home provider. This is so I can be accredited. It promotes "good business practices". I do not charge for snow days. I do close when the local school closes because I feel unfit is not safe enough for kiddos to go out to go to school, it's not safe for them to be driving to my house either and would feel horrible if something happened on their way here. Each parent gets 10 sick days where they don't pay for childcare then have to pay beyond those ten days.

priadean · April 2014

One thing I see a lot in our tax business is some in home day care providers won't allow you to claim the care on your taxes because they aren't claiming it as income. Watch out for this. You could lose out on tax benefits but choosing them. The numbers matter!

ae234 · April 2014

missyrissy said:

I charge for 14 sick/vacation days as a home provider. This is so I can be accredited. It promotes "good business practices". I do not charge for snow days. I do close when the local school closes because I feel unfit is not safe enough for kiddos to go out to go to school, it's not safe for them to be driving to my house either and would feel horrible if something happened on their way here. Each parent gets 10 sick days where they don't pay for childcare then have to pay beyond those ten days.

This would be something that would be a deal breaker for me. Saying this I think is just a way for the daycare to be closed. If I can get there then there is no reason for the daycare to be closed. I am an adult aren't I? I can figure out if it is too dangerous to be driving TYVM.

kwh33ls · April 2014

The biggest question, that my DH thought of (and I never even considered) was "are there guns in the house?" and how are they secured, etc., if so. He made me believe in his intelligence and forethought when he came up with that one...

cgroves050706 · April 2014

Please read this link, it explain a lot. This is local for me (SC), but we have been dealing with friend's loss of her 3 month old baby. She died due to unsafe sleeping conditions at an in home daycare. The caregiver was caring for too many children and the child died because of neglect. The mother is trying to get new laws passed/amended so DSS can regulate registered vs. licensed daycares (yes, there is a major difference). https://www.facebook.com/childcaresafetySC/posts/247003922149877

cgroves050706 · April 2014

They could also be caring for more children than legally allowed! This could be a fatal issue especially when your child may be neglected!
https://www.facebook.com/childcaresafetySC/posts/247003922149877

missyrissy · April 2014

I guess I figure you'll have to deal with snow days when they reach kindergarten anyways right? You may be an awesome driver too! But what about the other horrible drivers on the road? Or things beyond your control? Out whole city closed 3x this winter so even businesses etc closed and we had two bans where tow trucks were kept grounded per police and 100$ fines for driving...

What to ask an in-home daycare?

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