At home daycare

Naner21 · May 2015

I just told our in home daycare provider whom we absolutely adore that I am expecting & will be taking 4 months off for maternity leave. She mentioned that she will be starting a policy that she will require payment for 1/2 of the duration of the school year (she only watches teacher's kids) during maternity leave. We absolutely adore her and understand where she is coming from, but at the same time, I will not be getting paid so it puts us in an uncomfortable place. Calculating it out, it would be about $1,400 for the duration of my leave. Tips? Advice? Input? Thank you in advance.

valeriegp · May 2015

That seems like an awful lot. My son has never been in a home daycare, but at the schools he's been at we did have to pay to hold the spot over the summer (my partner works in public schools) but it was never that much. I think last summer we had to pay the first month he'd be back in full and then a fee that was less than $100. Of course, that was at a center where they can cushion the blow a little bit. She can't fill your spot for those four months but that's lost income, so I understand, but that is a big chunk of change.

jesselayne8 · May 2015

If you love the daycare then you need to suck it up and figure out a way to pay it. You are lucky it's only half. She can not be expected to just hold his spot and lose all that income.

Perfect Sonnet · May 2015

I think it makes sense. She is holding a spot for you despite her loss of income. My daughter is still going to daycare while I am on maternity leave. Mostly because we don't want to lose her spot at the center, she would miss her friends/class/learning opportunities, and mommy would lose her mind. Maybe consider just keeping your child there?

Naner21 · May 2015

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. We are just a little taken back with the amount and the fact that others didn't have this on their leaves - this is a "new policy."

Naner21 · May 2015

I'm considering taking DD 2 times a week, but with gas & time it's not worth it really as she is by my work 45 min-1 hour away. We are fine with paying a deposit - say $300 which is what it'll be per week with 2 - that'll go towards that first week back, but giving away $1400? Not so much ...

MrsStanger · June 2015

Did she entail what the $1400 was going to go towards? Anything? I would honestly look elsewhere. I too adore our current sitter, but if she ever said/did something like that to us I would find something else. I know its tough this day and age to find someone you are comfortable with and that you trust. She will be out the money while you are away, but it sounds like you have given her ample heads up to make up for that time lost!

Naner21 · June 2015

@MrsStanger - Just to cover lost wages. I would be fine if it were $300 and would go towards the first week of watching both of the children when I return or even $600 for the first two weeks as a sort of "deposit" that we will be back, but it seemed like it was just to cover her lost wages which I understand, but at the same time feel that it comes with having an in-home daycare and being able to "stay at home" ..

SLGILL1978 · June 2015

That does seem like an awful lot. Is there anyway you can speak with her and just put a deposit down for both kids? Most providers request/require a deposit not a payment for loss of wages. I work for the school district as well. My daughter has attended a couple of in homes. One did not require us to do anything. We just kept in touch and I gave her my start date. The other one, did require a deposit before she started.

MrsStanger · June 2015

i hope she is willing to sit down with you and work something out. That is just SO much! If she is claiming the daycare as a business maybe she can try for unemployment through the state. to put that on you while you are on leave just seems so crazy to me!....GOOD LUCK!

Perfect Sonnet · June 2015

MrsStanger said:

i hope she is willing to sit down with you and work something out. That is just SO much! If she is claiming the daycare as a business maybe she can try for unemployment through the state. to put that on you while you are on leave just seems so crazy to me!....GOOD LUCK!

Why should she have to file for unemployment when she could probably find another kid to take the OP's spot and get paid her full income? She has a business to run and bills to pay. She is doing OP a favor holding her spot for her. My daughter is in a center and I think I would have to pay half her tuition if I were to take her out and wanted to hold her spot. $1400 equal about $350 a month to hold the spot, which is more than reasonable.

Maybe it is because I live in the land of expensive, competitive daycares, but I don't get the outrage.

Naner21 · June 2015

Daycare is very expensive but expecting to get paid for not doing work, that's not right. I can understand a deposit that we will return but I can't justify just throwing money out - especially when I am not getting paid. This is going to cause some tension, and I can already foresee her being upset if we tell her in light of her new policy, we are not coming back. I just feel like these new policies come up when I'm in a situation. For instance, previously you only paid for days the child was there, now you pay regardless. Another mom didn't pay when her husband was laid off or when she was on leave. It's just a little upsetting that's all. If you want to run things as a business, then things should be handled as a business all around - not just benefiting her. In any case, I'm not looking forward to this conversation ...

Smiley-1980 · June 2015

I run a home daycare and I would not be able to just hold a spot for nothing. I wouldn't ask them to pay me and not send their child but it would either be they send the child part time or I would be looking for another child to take that spot and wouldn't be able to hold it.

Naner21 · June 2015

Would it be reasonable to pay the amount, and then ask that half be applied towards when both kids come back in the fall?

MrsStanger · June 2015

@Perfect Sonnet This is where we differ. I live in the land of the Amish. There are only a handful of daycares to choose from as the in-home seems to be preferred in our area. When I was on leave for my children nothing was expected of us so I just cant fathom what is being asked of her. I do see your point in that they would need to hold her spot. I just know that I didn't have a steady income when on leave so im unsure as to how that can be paid knowing that it isn't a deposit to be used when the kids return...just so strange to me

rmckenna · June 2015

I guess for me it depends on when you are due. Do you pay over the summer when you're not 'working' to keep your spot? When I had my 2nd my son still went to daycare every day, even though I was on maternity leave for 2 months. I wanted to keep him on his schedule as much as possible and make things a little easier at home while trying to recover from my 2nd c-section and taking care of a new born. My son went some shorter days while I was on leave, but he still went to daycare everyday. I know I would have had to pay to hold his spot and if I'm going to do that he might as well go. We still had the opportunity to bond as new family of 4, but I felt he needed to know that not everything changed when his new sister arrived.

You have to do what works for you though.

kderham · June 2015

My sitter hinted at a similar policy but my husband and I landed on it being more beneficial to still have DS in daycare while I was on maternity leave that way 1) his life is interrupted less 2) I get quality time with the new baby (the same quality time DS got, so it seems "fair") 3) DS will get some more personal attention while at daycare and be around his friends. I think it will make the adjustment easier on him. Our commute to daycare is very short but still. With DS remaining in daycare, she agreed to hold the spot. But without, she mentioned that she might have to give that oh-so-coveted newborn slot away. I really love our daycare and I really don't want to switch DS who has really thrived there so I'm fine with paying the extra cost. Why can't you just save up the money since you know in advance? I mean, your expenses will change as soon as the baby is in daycare, right? It just seems that if you are really happy there, you will find a way to make it work. But maybe you can talk to her about it and get something a bit more reasonable worked out too? All in all, it seems like a reasonable but costly policy. We have to still pay if we go on a week of vacation . . . its similar but a longer stretch of time and obviously a lot more money.

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