Need Advice from Other Moms

I really enjoy the home daycare aspect. My son is 2 1/2 and he started daycare when he was 1 1/2. It was at a home day care. After a few months that lady moved so we looked for another and found someone who just started her home daycare and we have been with her a year now. I think it's great!

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I'd prefer a private home if the care was dependable (not unplanned vacations, etc.). Especially if the mom were licenced and certified. If you enjoy it, go for it. From what other moms say on here it doesn't sound like there are enough options for day care. I'd bet you're full quickly.

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I love having my son in an in-home daycare. It's smaller than a commercial place and I feel he gets more one on one attention there. Too bad I don't live in your neighborhood! I'd be happy to be a customer! Good Luck!

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I would definitely pick the at home childcare. Before my daughter was in school full time, she went to a friend of mine that did childcare at her house. My daughter loved going there and I think she only watched maybe 4-5 kids at a time(but they were all younger). I think it would be a great thing and I know there are a lot of working mom's out there that I know would love to have a place to send there children and know they are safe!!

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Hi R.,
I have a ten year old and a six year old, both girls. This year they started riding the bus home and I changed my hours to be home when they get there but previous years they would go to the "Before/After School program" at their school. I think i would prefer the home care provider if i felt it was a safe and comfortable place for them. I have a hard time with sending them to places with too many children and not enough supervision and also to places that mix teenagers with elementary age students. The B/A program worked out really good for us but I feel sometimes smaller is better because many times they have better supervision. Your idea sounds like a really good one to me! Best of luck to you!

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I have some experience on both sides of this issue. I ran a daycare business in my home for 10 years. I had full time, part time, after school, before school, you name it, I did it. After 10 years, I was worn out. I found I didn't enjoy the kids like I used to and really wanted to be home with just my own two boys. I shut down my business when my kids were 5 and 8. Both of my boys missed the other kids and wanted me to start doing daycare again.

Both of my kids are in school full time now and I needed to go back to work. I put together a resume, which was no small task considering I'd been out of "the office" for more than 10 years. I felt really strongly that I needed to be home after school with my kids, my oldest son has some lingering medical problems after he suffered a massive stroke three years ago. I ended up taking a job at a local daycare center. The center is owned by a wonderful woman, the director is very good at what she does, the staff are well trained, caring, etc. The center takes less children per teacher than what the state allows so that group sizes are smaller. There's lots of stimulation, fair rules, healthy snacks and the location can't be beat for school age kids. They charge reasonable rates and accept state aid for childcare.

All that said, seeing what I've seen in the field for the last many years, were I to have a preschool or younger age child, I would choose in home daycare in a heartbeat.

You will find yourself with more kids needing care than you've got space to take them. Set down rules and guidelines with parents and make them clear in the first interview. Insist that parents have a backup caregiver in the case of illness or emergency on their part or yours. DO NOT allow a child to stay in your home with a fever, vomiting, etc. It may seem cruel to call the parents and send the child home. But, I speak from experience. Those nasty bugs will spread through every one of the children you care for and you will have sick kids for weeks. It is truly in the best interest of everyone to send that child home.

Decide on your fees and outline them up front for parents. Also decide when you want to get paid and stick to it. I always asked to be paid on Monday for the week. That way, I knew I was getting the income I contracted for and if the parents chose to not bring their kids, I didn't lose out.

I also had an information form I asked parents to fill out and I kept it for my reference. Things like parents names, address, phone numbers, (home, work and cell), emergency contact information, etc. I also asked questions like, do they use time-out, what is the child's naptime routine, favorite toys, books, favorite foods, dislikes, etc. Also ask them to sign a medical release allowing you to give motrin, etc. for teething, the start of fevers, etc. You need to have their written permission, it's a safety issue for you.

I could go on forever. If you are at all interested in any of the other things I did, or have any questions, e-mail me direct at ____@____.com. I'd love to chat.

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It wouldn't matter to me if the day care was an at-home place or a commercial place. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

What would be a huge issue to me is whether or not I felt comfortable with the day care provider. They would preferably be CPR certified and have enough people to watch the kids in their charge. I've had my daughter in a number of places, and I have not been thrilled with any of them in the area. So I quit my job to stay at home with her until she starts 1st grade next year.

If you had a good after school care program that was close to my daughter's school, I'd look you up. However, I don't think Ventura Ranch is near her school.

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I would rather have my children in a home that they can walk to and from school.

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