Childcare Backups?

I have been providing childcare in my home for almost 6 years now. DHS requires that we have a sub available for emergencies, but does not require that we use them. My policy states that if I take the day off for illness or emergency, I do not charge. If the day has already been paid for, then the parents get credit the following week. I notify the parents if anyone in my house is sick and give the parents the choice to bring their child or not. This day is still paid. If the child is absent due to their illness or the parent's illness, payment is still required.

However, that being said, I took my first sick day two weeks ago when my son and myself had the flu.

If I'm going to be closed for a holiday or vacation, I give ample notice and the parents are required to find back up care themselves. I charge for holidays, but not for vacation time.

It all varies from one provider to the other. Each provider should have a handbook with all this information in it.

B.

You might want to hash out a contract of some sort with your provider. My provider has her own contract that all parents sign before your child even starts. She doesn't charge for when she takes off, but if my son is gone, I still have to pay. I've been using my provider since August and she has only taken one sick day. She doesn't have a backup, so that is my responsibility. But, I signed the contract ahead of time, so it's fine with me. You might try to find a drop in center for emergencies. It seems like you are having a continuing problem with your provider taking off, so I would definitely try to get something in writing that says you don't have to pay if she takes off suddenly. It'll save you a lot of hassle and will let her know what is expected.

Hi C., I am a child care provider. I give all of my daycare parents in November a list of all of my personal days, vacations, and any Holiday's I am taking off for the entire next year. It gives everyone plenty of time to make arrangements for there child. Now in the case of myself being sick I let all of my parents know as soon as I can. With that being said, as a in home childcare provider I don't usually call in I work in my home so I don't have to drive. In the last 10 years aside from my Dad passing away I have maybe called twice to tell parents I was unable to care for there chldren. I do believe there were days that if I worked for someone else I probably would have called in plenty.

i would think that you shouldn't have to find your own backup you had to find that one in the first place and that provider should realize that you can't just take off work at the drop of a hat that is why after all you are sending your child there. i think it may be about time for you to find another facility... my provider always had someone trustworthy come in when her children had doctor's appointments or she had some other kind of emergency

C.,
I have my 7 mos old daughter with a sitter in her home and she let us know from the start that for the days that she could not watch our child that we did not have to pay, but that if we simply did not send her or she was out sick, we had to still pay.....I think this is pretty customary for most "daycares"....her mom and dad are able to come and help her out in the event she has a doctor appointment or one of her kids has a school event, etc. Do you have a grandparent that could help on this unforeseen days? Good luck!

you should have gotten a contract with the explanation of her rules. i'm not sure if they are required to have a backup and they still get paid for sick days and yep, unfortunately you'll have to pay for the back up sitter too if they have the room...i'm pretty sure about that and they still get 2 weeks of paid vacation and you should get at least one week "free". i would ask for her to go over the rules with you to make sure. My kids have been in an inhome daycare since they were very young. of course in the first few years for my oldest we were military and used those inhome daycares always had backups for eachother. i'm pretty sure that most of the inhome daycares are apart of an inhome daycare association so you might want to check with them. good. luck