https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 15 May 2026 19:23:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1708035 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 17:05:06 +0000 swurlygurl 1708035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use an in-home and love it! I don't know if my feelings are biased because she's a good friend though.</p> <p>Trying to think of some new questions to ask:<br /> -How often do they try to get the kids outside?<br /> -What are her sick policies? How long fever-free, etc.<br /> -What kind of meals are provided?<br /> -Holidays/Vacations where you have to find back-up child care?<br /> -Does she administer medicine without Dr note? (I think this varies by region, but mine said she's technically required to have Dr note to even give Tylenol)</p> <p>I think PPs mostly covered everything!</p> <p>What are some things you love about your in-home daycare center?<br /> -I know L is getting lots of love, and that D won't just let her cry and be sad.<br /> -She is SO flexible with just about anything. She has hours, but if I need her to be a little more flexible one day, she can easily accommodate that and isn't going to charge me for it.<br /> -I don't feel like she's just some sort of revenue to a center. I know that D really forms an attachment to the kids she watches, and maintains relationships with them even after they leave. It's the best peace of mind I could have!<br /> -It feels safer to me. It seems like it would be easier for a rando to get her from a center than from an in-home, because since she's only watching 2 extra kids she obviously knows who everyone is!</p> <p>Do you pay extra if you're late picking up?<br /> -No, but DH and I try to be *very* respectful about this, since she's also a friend and we don't want to burn bridges. Plus, I work 5 minutes from her house so it's not a huge issue.</p> <p>How do you do payment? Every week? Every other week?<br /> -She let us choose whatever we wanted, and I chose to pay every other week on Mondays. Heck, the first couple months I was even late almost every time by a couple days and she was really easy going about it! Just gently reminded me.</p> <p>When your LO was an infant, did you get detailed info back regarding their food, naps, diapers during the day?<br /> -No, I didn't. However, the other child that started the same time as L, his parents sent a sheet of paper for her to fill out every day with all that information. She did it (but sometimes complained to me about it).</p> <p>What do I provide?<br /> -Only diapers! Under 1 year I had to provide formula/BM and food if I didn't want her eating table food. But she provides wipes, all table food (breakfast, snack, lunch, snack), water, milk, cups, bottles (SO nice to not have to wash bottles after work every day!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707995 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 16:36:12 +0000 seabsher 1707995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>These are all good questions to ask. When we were looking for our in home daycare, I asked for recommendations from other people that I know. Then, I researched the center on our state licensing agency. I looked to see if they had any infractions. If they did have any infractions that I was not comfortable with...that daycare was out of the question. The infractions could be anything like missing paperwork, out of date fire extinguisher, missing background check for a family member, etc.</p> <p>I like the fact that my in home daycare provider lets me text and/or call her during the day. I have a friend that also uses an in home daycare, and her provider does the same thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707685 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 14:33:04 +0000 lady grey 1707685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love our home day care (LO goes only once per week) but they are not good at giving detailed feedback at the end of the day. They were better about it when he was a younger baby, but now that he is one I never really know how much he ate or drank. They have a little white board in the kitchen where they write down the time and number of ounces LO drank and when he napped. Its nice that I can just look there to see what happened instead of feeling like I am grilling them at the end of the day. But again now that he is older they often forget to write stuff down and I'm guessing will probably stop keeping track now that he's older.</p> <p>We pay monthly. Bring in our own diapers(cloth) and wipes. We've never picked up late, so not sure about that. But they will let us do occasional make-up days for free (like if LO missed a day due to illness). They give LO Tylenol (we provide) when he is teething if I sign a form. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707646 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 14:20:53 +0000 pl0508 1707646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did an in-home for about 3 months and ultimately it didn't work for us. But - I'l answer any way! </p> <p>I loved that she was flexible and that the ratio of adult:kids was low. I also loved that if he missed a day I didn't have to pay for it and that we could go there on a part time basis (3 days a week). </p> <p>I didn't pay extra if picking up late - just would always let her know. </p> <p>We could pay however we wanted. DH and I get paid once a month so we usually paid her monthly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707644 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 14:20:45 +0000 Littlebit 1707644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shellio: ohhh! Great questions. Hadn't even thought about asking about vaccination policies and hand washing. </p> <p>@blackbird: Asking about medication is a great one. I also just added asking about dealing with food allergies. </p> <p>@grizz: Oh ok! That's reassuring :) Was worried it was over something bad!</p> <p>Thank you all for your help! I've added a TON of questions I didn't have before. Super helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707607 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:54:33 +0000 Boheme 1707607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shellio: Ohh, good questions! VERY good! </p> <p>@Littlebit: We only left because she and her husband are expecting their 5th baby and she's just going to keep her own kids from now on. We *LOVED* her daycare! We still have playdates because her 1 year old son was my son's first friend :) Very positive experience. I also didn't answer your questions! </p> <p>Also, what are some things you love about your in-home daycare center? His teacher loves him. She listens to our wants and needs. She's flexible. No strict schedules, weird rules, or labeling everything. No turnover or new teachers all the time. She has become a friend to us.</p> <p>Do you pay extra if you're late picking up? I've been late once, and I just texted her to let her know. She refused to let me pay her extra. </p> <p>How do you do payment? Every week? Every other week? We paid her at the beginning of every week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707605 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:54:07 +0000 blackbird 1707605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We :heart: our in-home. Mostly, E loves T....and that is all I care about at this age. She gets great care and is loved and thriving. What I love about our in-home is that T does what the parents want. There are no regulations/rules regarding formulas and bottles, I don't have to label a million things, I don't have to worry about her being on a certain schedule or nap schedule or sleeping a certain way. T just does whatever works for us. I leave diapers and wipes and a change of clothes there and I just bring E every day. It's just so easy. And in the subdivision right next to mine, heh. </p> <p>Do you pay extra if you're late picking up? I've never had to pick up after 5pm. We've gotten close a couple of times and T brought it up with us. We made sure to get her earlier. It was a miscommunication issue. </p> <p>How do you do payment? We pay every other week</p> <p>When your LO was an infant, did you get detailed info back regarding their food, naps, diapers during the day? No. DH would ask how her day was. T says she ate great/poor, was happy/sad, poo'd X times, slept X times...it's pretty loose and casual. And honestly, I like it. I'm not a neurotic parent, I don't need a chart telling me how E did when I wasn't around her. I just want a quick synopsis from DH, who gets the update from T. I just want to know that my baby girl had a great day with her friends :)</p> <p>Our in-home is small. There are 4 children and T watches them. It's in her basement and it's very home-y. It's not structured. They play, they do crafts, T cooks for them.</p> <p>Other things: definitely ask about back up care (T has one!), sick policy (for us, it's more casual thank daycare center,s thank goodness), if they'll administer medicine (mine will give advil/tylenol with my consent) and holiday pay/if YOU take off. We get one week off a year, so we don't have to pay if we keep E home for a week (or when we take her on vacation next month). Potty training, too!</p> <p>Also if the doors are locked during the day!!!! That was important to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707592 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:49:55 +0000 shellio 1707592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't use an in home day care but my sister does and she LOVES hers. A couple of things come to mind-</p> <p>-vacation policy? My sister has to provide alternative care for her kids for two weeks a year (one week at a time) so the provider can go on vacation.</p> <p>-do they take field trips, and if so, how are the kids transported? Make sure you feel comfortable with the answer.</p> <p>-how many infants do they have or accept? If you want to have another one it would be ideal to keep them in the same place - this is something that is hard to plan but good to know their policy. If you had a second and they didn't have a spot for an infant you might have to find something else.</p> <p>-Do you use cloth diapers, or bring pumped breast milk? Make sure they're comfortable with this. If you are bringing BM try to find out if they've cared for breast babies before, I know some moms who have had issues with day care and BM feeding.</p> <p>Most importantly to me- I would ask questions about sickness.<br /> -What is their policy on vaccinations? Not sure of your stance on this but if they accept unvaccinated children it places your children at risk even if you vaccinate. </p> <p>-What is their policy on sick children - basically, what will they allow the kids to come in with (and risk exposing your child)</p> <p>-Do they emphasize hand washing - if they have short sinks or stools so that the kids can wash their own hands once they're capable of that, and really encourage hand washing any time they eat, use bathroom, go outside, etc, it will decrease risks of illness transmission.</p> <p>These may already be on your list but just a couple things I thought of. :) Good luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707588 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:47:55 +0000 Littlebit 1707588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: if you don't mind me asking, why did you leave? We're planning on doing this the first 18 months or so, then switching to a center. ETA: thanks for responding! Just added those to the list. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707572 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:43:05 +0000 Boheme 1707572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used to be in an in home. I'd ask to see their child proofing measures, who visits their home during the hours they're open, who will be around the children, if they are CPR/first aid certified, and their screen time policy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707571 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:42:28 +0000 Littlebit 1707571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: Yeah, that sounds like a lot to me too. I would want more interaction for sure. Doing crafts, playing games, going outside. I don't plan on being SUPER strict on screen time, but that seems kind of excessive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707557 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:38:35 +0000 jetsa 1707557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Littlebit: no they bring them. I was just in shock the first day I saw that! They're too little and they only have to be put up from 10-1, which just seems like a lot of time on them </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707555 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:37:39 +0000 Littlebit 1707555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septca: @jetsa: @Alivoo01: These are so helpful! Thanks ladies! I've started a doc and added all these questions in!</p> <p>@jetsa: Wait, she provides them with tablets?! Or they're expected to bring them?</p> <p>@Alivoo01: We only live 4 miles away and my husband has a pretty lax schedule (and really, my work is pretty understanding too) so I don't see being late an issue but you never know. I agree, being late every day is ridiculous. And so rude!! This is their home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707487 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:17:59 +0000 Alivoo01 1707487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't pay extra for late pickups (and I know some parents that abuse this policy and it really irritates me. Late once in awhile bc stuff happens, but every damn day????)</p> <p>We pay monthly, but they offer other payment schedules that fits your needs.</p> <p>I get a daily infant gram about DS's day (time diaper changes happend whether it was wet, dry, or BM, what time he had his bottles and how many oz, what types of foods he ate, etc.).</p> <p>Maybe ask them what their emergency evacuation plan is/where their common meeting place is. How are the parents notified? What's the their policy on discipline? How many children are currently in your LO's class? Are all the teachers there first thing in the morning or what time do they get in vs how many children are there early in the morning?</p> <p>I ask the last question because I drop DS off at 6:30am and the director watches him till his main teacher comes at 8am. Meanwhile, there are other children there in the morning as well. Sometimes, it's just 3 other kids. Other times, it's more and I question the student to teacher ratio. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707479 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:14:21 +0000 jetsa 1707479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We :heart: our in-home here are some questions to ask:</p> <p>How many kids?<br /> Are they state-certified? (I'd guess yes bc of the taxes)<br /> We cannot pickup late. If it's within 10-15 minutes I just let her know but other than that I need to have a plan.<br /> We pay every Monday for the week ahead.<br /> I get a quick verbal report from her but nothing detailed, I hated it at first now I like it bc I can't obsess.<br /> What's naptime like? At ours under 1 they nap whenever, after that everyone naps from 1-3.<br /> What do you need to bring/what do they provide? We bring everything now but after 1 we'll only bring diapers and wipes.<br /> What's the screen-time policy?<br /> We like it bc all ages play together but you may want to ask what their policy is.</p> <p>One thing that shocks me is that all the 3-4 year olds have tablets. She has set hours they can play but it's too many for my liking </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707475 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:12:22 +0000 septca 1707475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't use an in-home center, but I have a lot of friends who do, so based on the issues they have seen, I would also ask about:<br /> - tv policy<br /> - how often the older kids are with the younger kids and what the supervision is like<br /> - what types of baby-proofing/safety protocols they have in place </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/in-home-daycare-users-please-help#post-1707471 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:08:51 +0000 Littlebit 1707471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A couple questions for those of you who use in-home daycare providers. We're touring a place I'm really excited about tomorrow. So far I know the place always has two teachers/watchers, and a third on stand-by in case of illness/vacation/whatever. They're CPR certified and are tax deductible. </p> <p>What in-home specific questions should I be asking? I googled some daycare questions, but wasn't sure if there were specific things I needed to ask since it's in-home (besides the CPR, tax, and coverage questions). </p> <p>Also, what are some things you love about your in-home daycare center? </p> <p>Do you pay extra if you're late picking up? </p> <p>How do you do payment? Every week? Every other week?</p> <p>When your LO was an infant, did you get detailed info back regarding their food, naps, diapers during the day? Just trying to figure out what our expectations should be. I know regular day care centers normally give you detailed feedback, but was wondering if that is something I should expect to get also?</p> <p>Basically we have no idea what we're doing and are looking for some reassurances. Everything I've heard about this place sounds great, but the true test will be going and visiting tomorrow. Any advice? </p>