Babysitting/Daycare worries. Anyone else?

Achoo!, LPN · Aug 28, 2005

I honestly have no idea yet. The day care in town here opens at 6:30 a.m. If I need to be at a clinical site 40 miles away by 7:00 I have no idea how that is going to happen. My biggest concern would be if my kids were sick. I would need someone to just let them hang on their couch and watch TV because the day care would not take them if they had a fever or whatnot. I need to wait and see what the schedule is.

lalajenn · Aug 28, 2005

Just wanted to wish you luck on whatever you decide. I will be no help because my husband will watch the kids. He works at night so he can watch the kids during the day and whenever I will get home from school he goes off to work. Also my mom will get home from work at 4:30 so we will use her if we need to.

VeryPlainJane · Aug 28, 2005

Our school has a Daycare/Preschool center from 18mo-14yr, they are open from 7:00am to 9:30pm...it's really a good program. It's right on campus with really saves a lot of time..it's one of the biggest reasons I chose this program.

nikkif · Aug 29, 2005

I understand your concerns. I also have 3 young children and plan on starting in 2006. Why don't you scope out the other mothers at your kids school. A lot of them are probably stay at home moms who wouldn't mind making some extra money and helping you out and it probably wouldn't be too bad for them because you aren't there full time!

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2005

Ill give you my reasoning and you see if it makes sense to you. I have 5 kids and the smallest are ages 5,3 and 2. I chose to keep them out of any type of day care until they could talk and tell me what was going on ( I see your kids are toddlers and above). But I also chose a regular daycare because there are so many people coming in and out ,more workers (hopefully some honest) plus they are monitored; I think more but the state or whatever agency license's them. I have had nothing but trouble with the individual situation and stay clear from that. I am not trying to offend anyone if they are in the childcare buisness and I know abuse happens everywhere. It just makes me feel more comfortable knowing there are many adults around.

My biggest worry about nursing school, is what to do with my kids during the day. It's been worrying me for awhile. I am putting in my application this October for the Fall '06 year. I will have a 4th grader, a half-day kindergartener and a preschooler. The first year is 3 days during the day. One 8 hour day and 2 4 hour days of class. Every month, we do a different rotation and my schedule will probably change.
I need someone to get my kids two girls to school as well as watch my son and the girls when they are not in school.
My options are private individual or daycare center.
The private individual would probably be cheaper and more flexible, but there is also the worry of what if they need time off or get sick.
The daycare centers would likely be more expensive, but maybe less flexible. The ones in our area have vans and such that take the kids to school. It would probably be better for my son, as I can't afford both preschool and childcare, so a daycare center might be like being in preschool for him.
Thus far our elementary school does not have before and after school care, which would make this much easier.
I see there are alot of moms here, so I am wondering what everyone else is planning?

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2005

Look the daycares up on the child care licensing site . You can look at defenicies ,present and past. I have stopped other parents to see if they are satisfied with the care. I also pop in alot (when I can) just to peek at them and make sure things are going ok. Those are you babies and you have a right to be nervous and cautious. Good luck to you...

Micci · Aug 29, 2005

By the time I start school in '06 (if that even happens), my son will be a month away from 4, so he will be able to relay any bad stuff to me.

I am also nervous about the individual situation. The abuse thing is a big worry. The other issue is consistency. My MIL is losing her nanny job (kid is starting school) and she asked me last night if I need someone yet. I know how inconsistent she can be- calls in sick in the morning, right before they are going to work. I also won't be able to pay her what she makes full time.

I think I am just going to look into daycare centers and see what they charge. If it is too high, I will look into home care.

Ill give you my reasoning and you see if it makes sense to you. I have 5 kids and the smallest are ages 5,3 and 2. I chose to keep them out of any type of day care until they could talk and tell me what was going on ( I see your kids are toddlers and above). But I also chose a regular daycare because there are so many people coming in and out ,more workers (hopefully some honest) plus they are monitored; I think more but the state or whatever agency license's them. I have had nothing but trouble with the individual situation and stay clear from that. I am not trying to offend anyone if they are in the childcare buisness and I know abuse happens everywhere. It just makes me feel more comfortable knowing there are many adults around.