Childcare Blues and Tips

What is important when looking for a sitter or childcare provider?

Finding childcare for my baby boy was a task before and after. Now, he's 14 months old and seems to be adapting well at his new daycare. About 10 months ago is when the drama began trying to find a trustworthy, reliable and child friendly provider. I don't recall looking for a sitter this difficult for my first child. My 15 year old daughter's first sitter was a friend of mine that I had went to school with. The second home childcare provider had been taking care of children for over 30 years. This provider was about 60 years old. I actually found out about her through my mother. My daughter's last childcare provider stayed across the street from a friend of mine which she recommended. I had no problems with any of their services.

The three following childcare providers were all certified. Just because an individual or facility is certified doesn't guarantee great care.

My neighbor told me about another neighbor who did child care. I decided to attempt to go back to work part time which lasted for about 2 months until he contracted a virus. When I picked him up the sitter said he had been fussy. During this time I was informed by the provider that her husband was sick with the virus for 2 days. Well, later my son had a temp of 130 and I had to take him to the hospital. I didn't work for about 3 to 3 ½ weeks. She still expected payment during his abscence which is usually the policy for most daycares. The provider should have told me about her husband being sick. Later, she mentioned that she allowed a child with the virus to attend the previous week. I asked, "Why would you do that and expose everyone?" She told me that the mom dropped her son off without coming into the house. The provider should have contacted that parent to pick up her son a.s.a.p. We both agreed it was best for me not to come back, because she said it was too much stress watching a baby. I'm sure she was upset over the money too! Believe it or not she seemed to be doing a good job other than this incident.