Need Advise on Hiring Childcare

hello there, you are doing the right thing by feeling that away. there is nothing wrong with getting a consent from the care provider. i am sure that they will understand this request,and if they are truly to be trusted, then they will understand.

I was given this info when looking for a MDO program. I thought you might find it helpful.

For information about daycare centers, MDO's, family day homes, summer care, etc., you can contact the Resource & Referral dept. of the Child Care Group: 214.631.CARE (2273), or check out their website: childcaregroup.org

They will help you find care in your area. They also provide info about what to look for in child care & what questions to ask, etc. It's a free service.

Hi K.,

PLEASE ask for references, at least the phone numbers of her current and/or previous clients. Do not put your precious child in the hands of someone with whom you are not completely comfortable. Why put your child at risk because you don't want to insult someone you hardly know? Give yourself some peace of mind--- ask for references!!
Take care and good luck!!!
C.

I know how you feel! But we are on our 3rd nanny now (first one was my brother-in-law who decided it was more than he could handle with his two kids; second one got pregnant and majorly sick; third one has been fantastic!) and what we have discovered through this process of looking for nannies is that there really are good people out there wanting to be nannies. You hear all the horror stories, but I think far more common are positives. I was so ready to do background checks, but I never did one. WInstead, we relied on gut instinct from being around the person (which I swear you can really get a good feel from someone quickly), in depth interviewing with us (you can find WONDERFUL questions on the internet), and then VERY important were the references!! Our recent nanny gave us the names of parents she had worked for in the past and they had GLOWING things to say about her. They WANTED to recommend her. That was huge. Since this woman you are looking at is a nanny to other ladies part-time, give them a call and then also I would call any others she is not currently working for. And let me emphasize - this is your baby - NO GUILT over asking the tough questions or certainly not asking for references. It's your duty really:) And for the first couple of weeks, maybe you could drop in unannounced at lunch or something or you could have her first couple of days while you are there - either at home working yourself or doing errands. I worked at home the first two days our nanny worked with us and it allowed me to observe her and allowed her to get to know our baby and house with me there to help with questions. It would be worth a vacation day if possible. My advice then is to take a deep breath, trust your gut, call those references, and then just observe things and your baby's reaction to her. If you are particular with your child's care, which I am, I found it was good to write out detailed instructions so that you both know your expectations. We also wrote out "house rules" such as don't answer the door or phone while we are away. There are good examples on the internet. Good luck to you! If this woman does not work out, we found our nanny through www.gonannies.com where many ladies advertise. And we were about to use an agency recommended called Mom's Best Friend. Good luck! There's nothing more gut wrenching than making sure your child is with someone safe, loving, and responsible - I know!! It will be okay though. My son is SUPER happy with our nanny. And I'm enjoying getting to know her too.

i am a registered home provider and i would want to make sure that she is either registered with the state or at least listed. by law even if she only has 3 children she must be listed with the state.
if you have more questions you are welcome to call me at ###-###-####

K.,

By all means check all of her references and do a background check and if she is licensed by the state, check her record on the Dept. of Family and Protective Services website. I use a lady in Irving and did all of the above. She did not have a problem with it and in fact encouraged it, because, as a professional, she knows that's how she retains her clients and keeps us happy. If your lady is a professional, she should know that it is your right and duty to do all that you can to make sure that your baby is safe while in her care. Be vigilant! I hope this helps.

Take care,
Y.

You should ALWAYS do a thorough background check and get references no matter how nice the person may look. Looks can be deceiving.

Also there are nanny cams that you can install in your home without the nanny knowing and you can see how she treats your child when you are not there. Better be safe than sorry.

Definately get references and background check would be a plus.
She should understand if she feels insulted then she is not for you.

Good Luck

K., If you are not going the daycare way, which I feel is the safest, by all means do a background check. Ask her if she is licensed by the State. Call or go online with the Texas Dept. of Family & Protective Services to see if she has had complaints, or been written up. People who watch in homes are not monitored hardly ever if licensed. If not licensed they are never monitored. This is why I chose a center. They are monitored by State and Health Dept. or a regular basis. It may cost a little more, but it's your most precious item you will ever have. They can't be replaced. If you decide to go the center route, I suggest Childtime on Hedgcoxe. They used to be Gerber Baby, but were renamed. Good luck which ever route you take.

Hi K., Is this lady named Deborah? Independence and 15th? If it is she is my daycare lady and she is WONDERFUL...I have a five month old there part time...I am a first time mom too. write back if you have any questions. Good Luck L.

K. in Plano
I am sure you are going thru a reputable source, but in this day and age when there are so many things going on, I would definitely check references. I would want to talk with whomever she lists also, and even go online and do a background check. I know of a P.I. if you felt that necessary. With our precious kids, you cant be too careful.

I owned a daycare about two years ago, and I strongly advice doing a background check. Make sure that you also get referrals which will help determine what type of person she is. Making sure that she is the right match for your child is very important maybe have her come sit with your child for a couple of hours while you oversee them just to see how your child reacts to her. Hope this is helpful.

Dont be shy about doing a background check. Just say that you have done it on everyone. I think you can also run checks without the person knowing. But you get a more complete check with thier info. She should expect that anyway. Anyone that works with children should be used to that. And if she gets offended she is probably hiding something. I checked out everyone that deals with my boys including their pediatricians! I would also ask for references. Just say that you want to hear from people that she worked with in the past.