Drawbacks of Selecting a Friend to Be Your Child's Daycare Provider

Has a friend offered to watch your child when you return from maternity leave or choose to re-enter the work force? Even if it makes financial sense and you are aware of the other benefits of selecting a friend to provide childcare, there are some potential drawbacks that require consideration as well. Before heading to work and leaving your child in the hands of a friend instead of a licensed daycare provider or daycare center, be sure to consider the drawbacks first.

Back-Up Plans

In a daycare center, they have a larger staff and substitutes available for when children or teachers become ill. However, if your friend's child becomes ill or your friend herself, you'll need to have a back-up plan in place. In addition, daycare centers require children to be fever free, diarrhea free, and vomit free for 24-48 hours before returning to the center. Be sure to follow this rule with a friend serving as a daycare provider as well, or you run the risk of re-infecting each other's families. Having a firm plan for back-up daycare providers for your child in the event of their illness or illness in your friend's home is essential.

In addition to back-up plans for illness, consider making a plan for what you will do if the arrangement doesn't work out. We discussed with the friend who watched my daughter for the short time that I returned to work that if it wasn't working out for her, we needed her to give us at least a month's time to find another suitable situation for our daughter. Planning ahead for the what-ifs is necessary when selecting a friend as your childcare provider.

Consideration and Commitment

When returning to work, parents need to commit themselves to their job. Ask the same of any friend that is willing to watch your child for you. They should consider this a job, even if they are doing it as a favor to a friend. In addition, you should consider this their job as well, treating them with consideration if you are going to be late, need to pick up your child early, or some other situation requiring discussion arises. Both parties should realize that this arrangement is mutually beneficial and make a commitment to it in order for it to work.