[blparent] Working outside or in the home

[Pipi]

I can give my persoanl opinions on this, but just remember they are my 
opinions. I don't want to scare or discourage anyone from using daycare 
centers.
I've worked in childcare for 10 years now. And personally, I never want my 
daughter to be in a daycare center. and she will never ever go to a home 
daycare unless it is a close friend or family member of mine. I have heard 
too many stories from friends about bad home daycares. And I've experienced 
one with my nephew. We went to pick him up early one day. There was a little 
boy who had his leg stuck in one of those floor heating vents. The daycare 
provider was telling him to get himself out because it was his fault for 
taking the cover off in the first place. I didn't like this. The kid should 
have never been able to get it off. It should have been screwed in tightly. 
I know accidents happen, but that is rediculous. And the way she handled it 
definitely wasn't right. My nephew didn't return to that home daycare. Too 
many things can happen when there is only one person about.  I know there 
are some great home daycares out there. I'm just not a very trusting person 
when it comes to strangers and my daughter. I run my own home daycare now, 
so i'm glad there are people that do trust and use them. Call me over 
protective I guess.
As for centers, do your homework, and do lots of it. There are lots of 
magnificent centers. There are some ok ones. And there are ones that should 
have been shut down by the state. I worked in one of the bad ones for less 
than a week before I put in my two weeks notice. It was shut down not long 
after I left.
The other centers I worked in were pretty good. But even though they are 
licensed daycares, rules get broken. Ratios  get exceeded. I quit one of the 
other daycares I worked at because I was pretty much taking care of 23, 3 
year olds on my own. The other person they hired to help me liked to call in 
sick quite a lot. And with budget cuts and all, the center didn't have 
enough staff to cover when people called in sick. It's little things like 
that, that make me not want my daughter in a daycare.
But again, do your homework. pop in to check out the center at all different 
times of the day. Ask any and all questions you can think to ask. Ask them 
about ratios and what they do when they are under staffed. Ask about the 
foods they serve, nap times, when children are ill, anything and everything 
you can think to ask about.  Like I said, there are some great centers out 
there. You just have to find them.
As for me, I'm fortunate enough right now that I don't have to put my 
daughter in a daycare. And I'm working on making it so I can continue 
working from home. This is just my personal preference though. I'm an over 
protective mom who didn't ever think she'd be a mom. And I want my miracle 
baby happy, healthy, and well taken care of at all times. I don't want to 
risk anything. So for now, the only people taking care of her, are myself 
and close friends and family.
Pipi