Drop-in/babysitting Center

Updated on August 18, 2014
F.B. asks from Detroit, MI
9 answers

Hi moms, I want to open a drop-in/babysitting center. Alternative tor regular day care. for parents who need time for errands, appointments and date nights. A center that specializes in short term care 2hrs minimum. I am a nurse of 20yrs who loves children.. I am looking for comments to see if this is something that parents would use. and useful comments that would help.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

I think that's a wonderful idea. Wish that someone would have been available like that when my children were little.

2 moms found this helpful

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K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I think it's a great idea. Just make sure it's clean, reliable, and you have excellent references:) Good Luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Portland on

I am my daughter's drop in child care "center." There have been a few times we could have used your type of center. I think this is an excellent idea.

I would expect the center to be licensed/certified. I would want to visit and get to know you at a time before actually using your service. I would host open houses for this purpose periodically and also allow parents to drop in before signing up. I would expect you to have written information about your philosophy and tge services you provide. I would expect you to have a brief written agreement for us to sign. Thus, I recommend that you get legal advice before opening such a center.

2 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

Not sure if she is still business, but there was a childcare. Center here in town that had a child care center like this.

She was also open 24 hours. She is located close to a hospital, so a lot of the children were the staffs children. They would need to sleep there and then have breakfast too.

Or if there was an emergency call these staff members could drop off their children. During the day, she also had a typical daycare also.

1 mom found this helpful

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

There have been a couple places like that around town here. I remember one in a strip mall down the road from me.
I never used them but I know people that did. They found it extremely helpful on occasion when they had no family to be able to help out.
I believe they need to follow all rules of a full time, licensed day care though so you may want to look into that. I know I would not want to use one without the appropriate credentials. Safety of my children have to come before convenience.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I think that the only way I would use this sort of facility would be if it was fully licensed and had great references by word of mouth.

You know you'll have to have a full staff right? If you do this and 20 people show you'll have to have enough teachers/caregivers there to provide the appropriate care.

Such as having no more than four babies per worker, six toddlers, eight 2 year olds, twelve 3 year olds, fifteen 4 year olds, and 20 school age kids.

Even with mixed classes you can't have more than you're legally allowed to have.

When I had even one baby within a group that group can't be over 6 kids total. The numbers just have to be under control.

If you're really interested in doing this I suggest you call your state office that licenses child care centers to send you information as to their regulations handbook and what you'd have to do to open this sort of business.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.O.

answers from Detroit on

Yep. I use one each day.
Most are like $10-12 an hour and that's crazy.
Mine is $2.50 an hour, part of a community center. Open 5 hours a day.

S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

It's a great idea. I sort of did this myself on a small scale for neighbourhood moms. Man of my clients were parents whose shifts overlapped by an hour two, and appointments, errands and date nights.

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J.T.

answers from New York on

I just found one if these where I am for the summer and I think it is the best thing since sliced bread!

As long as you are fully licensed etc. then go for it!

The place I use asks for prior notice (call at least the day before) so they can plan staffing. But if there is an emergency, they do not say no.

Good luck!

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