Mommas, Why Is It SO Hard to Find Good Childcare?

I would have called and asked about the price change, but I know some daycares have a minimum payment for drop offs...I have watched kids in home daycare and I charged different rates for full time kids than I did for drop in. Just a thought. Do you have a La Petite Academy near by? I loved working for La Petite, but then again that was ages ago, so who knows how much they have changed. I have had two different experiences with in home care with my daughter from when she was younger, one woman we adored and she was an Angel another woman was good except a little on the strict side, hard to find someone great but when you do treat them like they are worth their weight in gold!

In my experience as a mom, an occasional care-giver, and an observer of the culture, the reason it's so hard to find good child care is that we want it to be the best, AND we want it cheap. It's very rare that we can find a situation that meets both of those requirements.

We actually expect trained, loving, capable and responsible women to work at rates of pay that most other professionals would find insulting. Particularly after we consider that they are usually paying rent, providing food and craft supplies, planning activities and taking care of janitorial services after hours.

Of course there are reasons that we want/need/expect childcare to be a bargain – the moms seeking the care are often underpaid, as well. But there are only so many women (and far fewer men) who are willing to provide the services at very low cost. Basically, as in other areas of life, we get what we pay for. What are our kids worth?

But I am sorry you got sideswiped on the cost with this new daycare. That doesn't sound cool to me. What did she say when you reminded her of her previous rate?

http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/child_care/search_texas_child...

I visited over 50 preschools just to get a short list of 3 or 4. The one that we went with was *perfect*, but logically it was the last one I visited... and murphy's law meant it was number 50 something.

I think Peg is dead in the black. We want the best and we want it cheap. Rarely the twain shall meet.

HI Carol,
I didn't see how old your little one is... 2 weeks at 3 times a week isn't a lot of time to adjust. It's hard to know how the information about how your daughter's day was presented, but maybe it wasn't annoyance as much as them wanting to let you know how things went so you could be prepared for how her evening might go. I know that in my daycare I feel bad if a child doesn't nap or eat well, even if there was nothing I could do about it.

As far as the $5/$7 switch, my best guess would be that it's full-time vs part-tiem rate or it's an age thing or both. Where I live, licensing only allows there to be a small number of infants in care at one time, and infants are considered to be children under 2 years of age. Some people will not take infants part-time for that reason; because it's much easier to fill a spot with a child under 2 than one over two. And in most cases you get to have infants for a longer period of time. It just makes good business sense to fill full-time spots with infants.

I think it's very hard to find a good daycare. Where I live it is very easy to get a childcare license, and the agency that oversees care is severely understaffed. It's not unusual to go for a period of 5 years without having someone from licensing come for a visit. Sadly, there are lots of people out there providing substandard care in all kinds of ways and for all kinds of reasons.

My best advice is to keep looking. Speaking from experience, finding a good
care provider is not easy. It's a hard hard job with long hours and high burn out. Your best providers won't necessarily cost more, but they will be harder to find and have a longer wait list. And your need for part-time care narrows your choices even further. Prepare your list of questions when you go for a visit, including how they deal with napping issues and eating issues and interview the provider. A good provider will have had experience dealing with children transitioning to their care, and will be able to reassure you so that you know your baby is well cared for.

Good luck!

I know many churches only do parttime MDO so they don't have to get licensed. Keep checking. They ususally do Tues/Thurs.

Check with your area/state child care resource and referral agency (you can find it through www.childcareaware.org). They should be able to tell you the licensing requirements for your state. I know children should be provided with a rest time even if they do not nap. Sometimes the time of day is not when a child is ready for a nap, which is why some child care programs will only take part-day in the mornings because it interrupts the napping schedule. You can check with your program if this is a major problem or if they are worried she is not getting a needed nap in.

If she has only been there a few weeks to a few months, she is still adjusting. Some children need longer than others. Some children are more picky away from home and just need time to adjust to the different food, routines, etc.

I can't answer about the rates or anything else, either. I went back to work when both of my boys were 6 weeks old, but my husband worked evenings so we usually didn't need care during the days. Now we have an overlap and it is impossible to find registered or licensed care (that is affordable for us) that is for 3 hours a day, so we have a seminary student who comes to our home and that has been working out for all of us pretty well. If you are just looking for a few hours for a break or cleaning, see if you can find a reliable and good-fitting sitter who might be willing to take her on an outing so you can clean, or in good weather to walk her to a park or something so she doesn't know you're home. I babysat a few times in college when the mom had to do things at home and would pretend to leave but go upstairs to get some things done. That would allow you to keep your daughter's schedule, set your price, and name your expectations.

I live in a different state, but here there are laws and one is they are supposed to take a nap.
Next, if you don't have to work, then don't. Time will come when your child is in school and you will have lots of time.
Next my son told me he used to pretend he napped. Do you want to pay someone for your child to pretend that they are napping? Here again that was about an hour and a half to two hours.
I cannot tell if you need to work to survive or just need a break. If you need a break perhaps get someone in once in awhile. And if you have to work with no way out, then you have to deal with all of these things. There just is nothing like mama.

You have gotten several good responses although I didn't read them all. I have a home daycare so here is some perspective from that point of view... Regarding the church daycare, how was the tone when they told you about the sleep and food. I always try to tell my day care parents about their childs day, patricularly if they didn't sleep well and didn't eat much either. I also have a 15 month old that sticks close to my side all day. It does get rather annoying after awhile, so perhaps they didn't mean it to sound that way but unfortunately it came out that way to you. Since your daughter has been home with you for so long, it will take longer for her to adjust, especially since it is parttime and not full days. Did you try talking to the workers? The one thing that annoys me the MOST about daycare is when parents assume things and the lack of communication. Honestly sit down when they have time to talk and discuss how you feel and what is happening. They are likely simply telling you what is happening, not trying to be annoying.

As for the home daycare, are you sure the communication was good about the hours, prices and the age of your child. I took offense at the word "ambush", remember, communication is key to all good parent/caregiver relationships.

Good caregivers are out there, remember too, what 1 parent/family loves, another may hate. Someone said here, a daycare provider was too strict and she didn't like it, another parent may love that quality.

You said you worked as a care provider before i'm assuming children? I did as well and i think I have tons higher standards because of that.

I'm just wondering if you might be reading too much into the tone of the church worker. I known i always informed my parents about how the childs day ways, how much they ate, how they napped, because i understood that it would affect the rest of the day and night. If they had a big lunch then they might not eat a huge dinner etc. You could try just being totally honest with them and saying, leaving her is hard for you, you do want to know about her day but could they please tell you at least 3 positive things at pick up time. And i really think she does need some time to adjust.
Have to say mdo were i am from are usually 2 -3 hours in the am 9-11:30 ish. ANd i have never heard there was a law that required children to sleep. That makes me laugh, you might have to provide them with a quiet restful time but you can't MAKE someone sleep.
The inhome provider was a jerk to you, i'm just thankful you found out now instead of after your LO have been with her for a month or so.
Keep looking, ask strangers for recommendations. and maybe think of ways to save up and afford something better, online pictures might not really represent the centers as well as walking in.

.the situation with the in home daycare may have been a miscommunication. Perhaps $5 hour is the hourly rate for full time care and $7 is the rate for part time care. Keep looking - you may find childcare you are happy with as the age of your child changes.