In home childcare
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Forum Name: General Chat
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Topic: In home childcare
Posted By: _SMS_
Subject: In home childcare
Date Posted: 24 May 2012 at 6:36pm
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Ive made the decision to go back to work. Unfortunately i dont have any family members to watch my children. In fact i very rarely am apart from them. I have a 3 year old & 10 month old.
How did you find a good in home carer? How did you know you could trust them? What sorts of questions did you ask and what do you look for? I have heard some horror stories so this really isnt easy for me but financially i need to go back to work now. Also for my sanity too Any advice would be great. Thanks :) -------------  
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Replies:
Posted By: blossombaby
Date Posted: 24 May 2012 at 6:59pm
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I would say look into a centre as an opition as well.
I have some people who love inhome but they are most sahm who have tehre kids there a couple of hours/ days a week. Most of the fulltime working mums that started with inhome have tehre kids now in a centre. Reasons being carer getting preg and lots of msickness, peace of mind knowing what the kids are doing and that there is a a few people that watch them as to one. Things like the centre is always open - where as alot of inhome carers chose to have periods off and therefore you have no care for the childre. also remember what will be your plan if the carer is sick or there children? WHat will you do. That was the main reason for us chosing a centre because we simply cant have a phone call at 7am saying they can't look after child for the day - and even if they have a relief carer i wouldnt send my girl to someone she doesn't have that bond with?? if that makes sence. Sorry that doesn't really answer your question but they were def things i thoguht about when we made the chose. And good luck returning to work its never a easy choice  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: luvmylittlies
Date Posted: 24 May 2012 at 8:00pm
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We use in home care through Barnardos. My daughter is a a sensitive little soul and wouldn't have dealt with a daycare environment at the time. We have a carer i love who always checks with me when she needs to (pamol, unusual behaviour, sick etc) and makes decisions I am happy with if she can't get hold of me. Sadly I will have to find someone else for my son as she has no more spaces free.
People say 'you'll just know' . I'm not so sure about that but did reject one lady I recently interviewed just on the 'feel' of it. Some ideas of things to consider; Do they approach care the way you like to? Eg if you are a baby led person for sleeps etc will it matter if they work by a strict routine? Who else is likely to regularly be there (assuming you're leaving the kids at their house, not yours)? Do you feel comfortable if other family members are around the kids? Although i'm pretty sure all family members have to have a police check but just because you like the carer doesn't mean you like their stay at home husband (for example). Do they do any regular outings? There is a balance between too many and too few. Visit at a time when the other kids are there so you can see the way the carer relates to them and how they interact with each other. Find out where the children will be sleeping. Check out the indoor and outdoor play areas. What languages do they speak at home? You may love the fact that your child will be exposed to another language or you may hate it. How much structured and unstructured play do they do? Eg crafts, music, reading etc versus just playing. I'm sure there's tons more things but they are just a few to get you thinking. ------------- Adoring Mum to Talisin 8/9/11 and Kiara 18/01/10 |
Posted By: mizpix
Date Posted: 24 May 2012 at 8:26pm
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I'm with blossom baby on this one. Had my boy in home with PORSE for 18 months. generally very good, but was forever having to find alternative care for sickness holidays etc, plus my child got dragged here and there for shopping, appointments and the like. He's now in a centre and he loves it, the are always open when they say they will be, has several regualar carers he has bonded with and loves all the activities. it's very stable and i have no worries when he is there
------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2920e5" rel="nofollow - My Ovulation Chart |
Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 24 May 2012 at 9:29pm
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I also decided to put my son into a centre when he was little, as I just couldnt trust someone in their home with no other adults around and him not talking, so I really wouldnt have known what what going on during the day. At least in a centre there are other teachers around and parents coming and going so I felt happier nothing dodgy / unpleasant / cruel was happening.
But I did look at home based carers when my kids (who are both in daycare two days a week) were older as my son was doing kindy and I wanted someone to have my daughter and pick him up from kindy for the rest of the day. I didn;t really find someone I was 100% sure of. there was one lady I really liked, but she wasn't with an agency so didn't do the "free hours" which is something to consider, especially for your older child. And one of them charged for the hours he was in kindy, so I would be paying twice for those hours, which annoyed me! The other ladies didn't, but I just didn't like them or their houses or the other kids they looked after enough to leave my children there (hubby ended up taking one day off a week instead). So definitely meet the other kids they look after and see if your kids like them, and alos their partner if he may be around. check out what sort of trips they go on. Are you happy that she can watch 4 kids at the zoo or park and not lose any etc? If they go to playcentre are you sure she will have time to spend with all the kids she takes? What are the charges vs a centre? Who looks after them if shes sick or her kids are? How much notice will you get if she decides not to do home based care anymore? Will they do a kindy drop off / pick up if required? Is their section secure (I looked at one on a main road where someone could reach over the fence and grab a kid if they really wanted to)? Do you agree on the types of food to send, or will her children be eating junk while you send healthy food? what age kids does she look after? (If its just her and a baby, will it be enough "socialisation" for your older child if she doesn't take them out much). Do you want them going to do chores with her or not? What sort of qualifications do you waat them to have? (Price goes up if they are ECE qualified). Not sure if that helps - but just a few things to consider. Good luck finding someone!! I know some people love their homebased carers and it works really well, but I guess its just alot of interviewing to find someone you clique with. ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: Dophy
Date Posted: 24 May 2012 at 9:48pm
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I sent my my then 5 month old daughter to jemmas in home care I found them fantastic, her carer was really so lovely she had a two daughter and it was just her and my daughter. Every time we drove up the drive Caitlyn would get so excited and jump around in her carseat so I knew she obviously loved going to her, after nearly a year I changed jobs so ended up being able to arrange care wit my mum in law so she isnt going there anymore although we still keep in touch and have the odd play date. My experience with in home care has bee really good. You should go see a few different carers and go with your gut feeling and the one who will put your childs need first.
The first carer I went to had a great set up with toddlers but wasnt suitable to my 5 month old I dont think she was with porse also porse dont supply things like high chairs, cots toys etc so you would have to supply. Personalky I found jemmas to be better for us they supply cot and all essentials but they also have a toy library and your kid gets a book bag with a new book to take home to read each week. So found them really good. We paid $5.30 an hour which seems to be about average. |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 24 May 2012 at 10:33pm
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Depending on what company you go with, an in home carer is great. I've both used in home care plus do inhome care myself.
Re days off, ie the carer is unavailable, we got to company run activities at least 3 times a week & the kids do get to know the other carers and their kids. It's like meeting up with the same group of "Mums & kids" 3 times a week. So if your chosen carer has to have a day off the person who is available as a back up will be known to your child. The whole point to me with in home care is that your child is in a home environment, which means they go and do all the usual activities you'd do if you were able to stay home, ie go to the park, the supermarket, kindy etc. I treat the kids as one of my own & love them as such as well. Most caregivers will feel this way as well, as I could imagine it would be very difficult to look after a child that you don't fall in love with. Also bonus of in home care, your kids will be together, not in separate areas. Questions to ask: where they sleep, eat, put their belongs for safety during the day, what discipline do they use, do they encourage independence in the child, ie putting shoes on. What activities do they go to during the week, also find out if you can ask to see another childs journal that they have done. As in home carer's they should have fire/earthquake drills, smoke dectors, food and water for three days in case of emergency, a hygienic place to prepare food. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: Smithy77
Date Posted: 24 May 2012 at 10:49pm
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We have our two boys in home care. (have been with Barnados, now with Porse) and we find it works great for us as they don't get as sick from being exposed to other kids and they are treated like part of the carers family.
When choosing a carer i did turn a couple down. I wanted my boys to be part of the household and the ones i declined had a separate space for the children that seemed segregated from the rest of the space. I just trusted my instincts. When our carer is on leave the boys will go to another carer who they have met thru playgroups, if she is sick (which has only happened once in 2 years) one of us works from home for the day. Good luck on your transition to work. It is hard to do and having peace of mind about your childrens care defintely helps. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lisame
Date Posted: 25 May 2012 at 9:52am
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lots of good questions here. Most of what I'd say has already been covered.
We also wanted someone who was happy with using MCNs, and didn't just put the kids down in front of the TV on rainy days. We chose an older carer - you're less likely to have problems with days off IMO. Her daughter is training in ECE, and is approved by the agency (Anglican childcare) as a carer also, so often she will provide backup if necessary. Otherwise, there are several other homecarers that she regularly goes on playdates too; many of the babies from our coffee group are also in homecare so they go on visits to each other's 'day' houses. So there are other carers that she is already used to in emergencies. TBH though, we've hardly had any emergencies - apart from when her carer's dad had a stroke and was about to die. And even then, she went to another carer's house for a few hours, and we picked her up after her sleep. her carer used to work in a centre, and gave it up because she disliked some of the policies they have to use - some about being affectionate with the kids, some about toilet training, accommodating different needs, etc. We are lucky though that we live in a small town where there are lots of homecarers and most of them know each other. And our carer absolutely adores our little girl and has already said that she will not be changing from home care to ECE (which is her longterm goal) until she has gone to school and doesn't need her anymore. I never considered a centre TBH. I much prefer the idea that she has one person that she can rely on, connect and build a relationship with, who can keep track of her development with us and give suggestions on new games etc we can play with her. I know she's going to be a LOT of help when it comes to TT. ETA: we had an in-home carer (nanny) from 5.5 months, and changed to homecare at around 10 months as we were on our 2nd nanny already, and the 2nd one proved to be really unreliable. I was hoping that a nanny would provide that continuity and relationship - but turned out not to be the case. homecare has done that for us though. |
Posted By: InthemiddleMummy
Date Posted: 26 May 2012 at 9:20am
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I dont like what I see with in home careers, I see the kids getting dragged in/out of car/prams up town at farmers / warehouse / even paint & decorating stores etc and cold mornings dragged up to the school to drop off other older kids / chained to a pram. Once I saw a lady at the park with about 5 kids (i know she is a porse career) and one of the wee 3 yr old girls must of wet her pants and she made her walk home along the footpath in the nude from waist down, dont you think if you took 5 preschoolers to the park you would go prepared. I would be mortified if it was my daughter/son.
Personally its not for our children. I like a fully trained experienced teacher in a centre, where is a teacher is sick/or having a "bad" day the other teachers can take over. where there are rules/routine/restriction etc |
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 26 May 2012 at 5:50pm
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I have done in home caring and am nannying at the moment, but want to go back to in home caring,.
I take the children in my care to our church playgroup, and to music and movements, and other outings ------------- susie |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 8:56am
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GirlsRock, if you knew she was a porse caregiver I would have reported her. Also I would report her on the fact she had 5 children, legally we're only allowed 4 children 5 years or younger.
------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 8:57am
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Also SMS go with your gut feeling, I saw 3 home carer's before I met the one I had with Alia & just knew she was going to be great. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 8:02pm
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My DS2 in with an in-home carer. She was a mum i knew and asked her if she was keen and she was. He loves her and it has been so good for him. Personally i liked the idea of him being in a home environment as opposed to a centre. I don't like the noise and stimulation a larger, busier environment has. He was 18 months and i just preferred 1:1 care.
It doesn't bother me that he goes to the supermarket with her at times, he loves the supermarket with me so probably does with her too. In terms of sickness she has never cancelled due to sickness, but when my boy has been sick she is always happy to have him even when sick and care for him at home, but i can't send my older boy along to his centre as he just wouldn't cope with it. She has taken my older boy too when he was sick once, but also i would just take time off work for those odd occasions. I just went on instinct really with her, i saw how she was with kids and thought she would be great. I agree with others that sharing similar values and ideas on child raising is important and just someone you feel you can trust. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Isabella
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 8:36pm
I find some people opinions on in-home carers quite saddening  Our DD has been with an in-home carer since she was 5 months old and I would not have her anywhere else. Our lady has grown children and has been caring for kids for 20 years now so she is very experienced in what she does.
She will take DD when she has a snuffly cold, she is absolutely fine with us being late to pick her up, she is more than happy to take on extra hours if I get overtime, she takes her on wonderful trips around town which DD loves! She has her own cot, in a room with the other girls (they all have their own beds)... I think for me, the more intimate nature of in-home care is what I really like. DD is part of the carers family, the relationship there is very secure. She has 4 "brothers and sisters" to grow up with, and play with. Surely youll find "bad" carers in centers too - I guess there are other people there to catch their short-falls but get good in-home carer and there is a bond for life. |
Posted By: InthemiddleMummy
Date Posted: 28 May 2012 at 2:41pm
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Interesting A&C mum.
I just would rather my child playing in sandpit/blocks/painting/learning etc than being dragged into Mitre10 and supermarket and up town on her errands yep they take them to m&m and the like too. Definately suggest checking out all your options too. SOme people even find a mix of 2 days with a career and 3days at ECE a good idea too. |
Posted By: lisame
Date Posted: 28 May 2012 at 5:16pm
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I'm really surprised that a (decent? good?) home carer would think it ok to 'drag' the kids out all day on errands. We have to be asked specifically if it's ok to go out to shops/errands, and have ok'ed certain ones on an ongoing basis, but it's only a supermarket, the PO and a school. The home carers I've met would do what they coudl to avoid having the kids out at shops too much bx handling 4 under 5s out and about is not easy!
What's m&m? Just like there are centres that are not too flash, I guess there are home carers that are the same, and it's trying to pick the good ones. |
Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 28 May 2012 at 8:43pm
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I think any activity can be as interesting and educational as you make it, not just "learning environments". My in-home carer today took J to the post office as she had some things to do, so they spent the morning "writing" a letter and he got to post it to himself. He will get it in the mail in a few days.
That to me is a pretty interesting experience incorporating lots of different skills. That's exactly the kind of way i like to interact with my kids too so i guess that is why i like my carer so much!! And 2yo J's fav place is Bunnings so we sometimes just go there for him to look at the power tools, so those places aren't necessarily a "drag" for kids. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 28 May 2012 at 9:58pm
But the "bad" carers would be fired from a good centre, or trained to do things better. No one really knows if a home based carer is doing something bad - until the child is old enough to tell you. For me if it was the ODD trip to the shops and it was used as a learning experience that would be OK -- but I would much prefer my kids to be interacting with other children and toys at a centre than spending a large part of their day in the car and buggy dropping other kids at kindy/school and picking them up again, and going to the shops in between. so it would be a matter of finding someone who has similar ideas of the type of care/education you are expecting from home based care. ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Isabella wrote:Posted By: NikiS
Date Posted: 28 May 2012 at 10:56pm
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I have done in-home care myself briefly with a child that I adored, but had to go back to fulltime work myself for financial reasons. Of course there are both good and bad in home carers and I guess you just have to go with your gut, but I'd personally also be getting references from other parents. I feel that they are definitely a good option for young babies until they get to an age where they need the interaction and then I feel that a centre can be the better option.
GirlsRock PLEASE tell me you reported that disgusting woman you saw!!! There is absolutely no excuse for that and she shouldn't have even had 5 children with her by law! 
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Posted By: InthemiddleMummy
Date Posted: 29 May 2012 at 8:17pm
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M&M = music & movement
NikiS i didnt but i should have as really didnt like her behaviur with the kids she looked after when she came into my workplace, several times each week for 2months, ignored them, they shook in their shoes each time she yelled at them. Groan saw another homecare lady today in a store looking for clothes, the kids were sat down by the toybox 2 x 3yr old boys and a 10/11month old baby in a umbrella stroller and ignored while she browsed the racks, sad thing is i knew the baby and her mum but the career wont know that i know her. i know as a mother i take my kids into shops now and then when desperate for an outfit, but for some reason to me it doesnt seem the best thing to do as a childcare provider/worker??? |
Posted By: InthemiddleMummy
Date Posted: 29 May 2012 at 8:19pm
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like do i tell the mother she goes out clothes shopping while caring for her son?, that poor baby is strapped in that umbrella stroller alot (small town i notice her places)
Sorry topic has swayed somewhat |
Posted By: JadeC
Date Posted: 29 May 2012 at 8:26pm
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Man there are some negative opinions in here about in-home carers!
We love ours, DS has been in one through Barnardos for the past year. Our DCP has been with Barnardos for 10 years, and has school age children. In the entire year she's never called in sick (AMAZING) and only took a few days off on either side of Christmas with tons of notice. DS was only 11 months old when he started, and I wanted him somewhere small, with one carer he could bond with. He loves being there and fights me to stay when I pick him up!! I love that he knows all the other kids there well (4 or 5 others, on differing days), but his favourite is school holidays when her older children are there. They will play with the littlies all day - DS does not sleep on these days, and comes home very grumpy, LOL! I can't speak highly enough about our experience. They do not get carted out to Mitre10 as a previous poster has insinuated all in-home carers do. They go to playgroups 2-3 times a week, and to the park the other days. We have a mall nearby and in the school holidays they go for the school holiday program. I love that they are not just in a centre all day. Anyway, I would look into it and go with your gut. Most places will give you a choice of 2-3 carers to meet and visit to see who you click with. ------------- http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Isabella
Date Posted: 29 May 2012 at 8:51pm
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Has anyone who is telling these negative in-home stories actually had their kid in in-home daycare? Or do you just fundamentally disagree with the concept? I find it extremely strange that you seem to be judging the system as a whole when it is the most rapidly growing area of childcare directly responding to demand from parents who are interested in attachment-parenting (when the parent cant be there, having 1 person who they can rely on all the time!).
Girlsrock - do you live in a particularly dodgy area because you have some pretty nasty stories! There are always going to be dorks out there who do it because they think its an easy way to make money while they can stay home with their own young children - but tarnishing everyone with that brush is just unfair. You dont see any in-home people here bagging out center care!
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Posted By: InthemiddleMummy
Date Posted: 30 May 2012 at 2:57pm
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Yes quite tru Im sure there is some equally aweful "centre care" stories.
Nope dont live in a dodgy area at all. INfact a very popular area with families - good schools/shops/kindys/childcare centres/preschools. My auntie is a career with Barnadoes and has been for years (lives in another town to me now thou). I guess after seeing her high standard of care its hard for me to stomach what I see some of these careers up too. She had a house split into 2 flats, one for her & her daughter and the other side was her Barnadoes Flat. Anyways each to their own choices just go with what you feel best as a mother I guess. We've personally chosen community based centre( not for profit ECE) as Ive found ECE centres that are "businesses" chopping their staffing levels down far too much 1 teacher to 15 kids is not great IMO. Our centre is 1:2 for babies and 1:3 for 2-3-4yr and real free 20hours, also I looked for a place with low staff turnover. 1 centre in town has had a turnover of 50 teachers in the 5 years its been open. Im not a trained teacher in ECE and thats not my specialty thats why I like to send my kids along to a centre where they can learn from teachers that are fresh in the knowledge/interested in what is the best thing to teach little ones. So I say just do your reaserch in your town and figure out what works for you & your child |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 30 May 2012 at 5:19pm
How do you know that the home based caregivers are not ECE trained?? We are all actively encouraged to study towards ECE.
Obviously you are talking about one "bad" care giver. I tend not to take my kids to the shops, basically cause we're busy with activities that i take (drag  ) them to where they can do all those things you say. But supermarket shopping, going to other shops are all learning experiences, it's life learning which you don't get in a day-care (which is why I chose home based).
Absolutely agree! you need to do what works for your family. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 30 May 2012 at 6:07pm
I would. Perhaps keep it in a casual sense (Mum may be aware and happy with it). To the OP - lots of great advice here re: what to ask potential carers and what to look for, though I also think listen to your 'Mummy instinct'
My own experience with home-based care has been mostly very positive. We've had 3 amazing carers and 1 who was OK (we moved to a new carer (SIL) as soon as we could). With DS1 & DD1, I returned to work when they were 5mths old so I wanted someone they could build up a relationship with. I also really like the idea of them being in a home environment. And I like that they get to go on normal outings to the supermarket, post office and even *gasps* home decorating stores! 
Each to their own though, you really do have to be comfortable and confident about who you are leaving your children with. All the best with your decision  ------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2 |
Posted By: mizpix
Date Posted: 30 May 2012 at 8:27pm
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I know with my child, the carer was ECE trained, and generally she was good, did good educational activities with the children etc, but as she lived 15 mins from town 2 x runs to town for kindy drop off/ pick up etc meant a lot of time in the car. Also she would take the older kids to swimming lessons then moan that she had to watch my child so much around water and couldnt wathc her own kids at thier lesson. There was countless trips to doctors appts dentist appts etc where my child was dragged along to hamilton (30 mins away) for hours at a time. I often found my child un settled and often did not get a decent sleep on days she had appointments. I have been mucked around heaps with carers wanting holidays, then changing dates, then saying they dont want my child any more then wanting him back in a couple of months...very unsettling and inconcvenient. Also find that the inhome carers I have had dont realise how much work is involved looking after another persons child. They think it will be easy and just can carry on their normal life while earning extra money. They get a rude awakening anf have had 2 of them decide after a couple of months that they dont want to care for my child after all. That irks me as it is quite a big thing for an under 2 year old to shift carers. I had 3 shifts in 6 months with PORSE! So for me I think the decision to put my son in a centre was definately the best ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2920e5" rel="nofollow - My Ovulation Chart |
Posted By: lisame
Date Posted: 31 May 2012 at 1:41pm
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our home carer (incidentally, carer, not career) is trained and is studying towards her ECE diploma so she can teach. She worked in childcare centres for years and didn't like the way they approached things (I think I said this before) so decided to switch to home care.
mizpix, sounds like you've had some really bad luck with carers. Is it difficult to find them where you are? You sound like you might be fairly rural. Girls Rock, I would definitely be saying something about what you've seen. Like mummydee said, just casually, 'in case you don't know' type thing. |
Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 31 May 2012 at 5:50pm
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Thanks all for your opinions. I have 6 different ladies through different companies to see over the next few weeks. Luckily im in no rush and will want to make sure im comfortable with a carer before leaving them.
I guess going shopping etc wouldnt bother me much if it was too a certain point. DD loves shopping so for her its a bit of an adventure out. I guess those are all things i will discuss with the carer as to what i find ok and what i dont and what they would want to do :) -------------
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Posted By: mizpix
Date Posted: 31 May 2012 at 10:45pm
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It's not really in the sticks here lisame, but defintely seems harder to get in home care in a small town. Would be nice to choose a carer rather than just have to take the one that has space! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2920e5" rel="nofollow - My Ovulation Chart |
Posted By: lisame
Date Posted: 01 June 2012 at 1:14pm
| that's bizarre - I live in a fairly small town, and we have a massive oversupply of home carers! Go figure. |
Posted By: InthemiddleMummy
Date Posted: 02 June 2012 at 8:09pm
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lisame
well done on picking up my typo!!! |