Home daycare?

Well, the time has come lol. Since DD was born I've always said I'll go back to work when she's 18 months. Here in Ontario there's something called 'subsidized daycare' where you put yourself on a list and if you qualify and there is a space they call you and you get a daycare spot where you pay a very small percentage of what the daycare fee is (depending on your income). Well, they haven't called me yet, I've been on the list for 4 months and they say it can take over a year.

I've been considering putting DD in a home daycare for the time being since its cheaper and the place is literally a block away from our house. SO is completely against this, he doesn't trust putting our daughter in someone else's home..basically he's imagining worst case scenerios (sp?) in his head and would rather me just stay home.

For those of you that have used home daycares, did you have good experiences, bad ones?

Where in Ontario do you live?

I've never experienced it. However, I have thought about it in case I ever do. I guess, you can never be sure and be 100% about any daycare whether it's a home or business. I think the best you can do, is set up a meeting to go talk to the person who will betaking care of your child. Check out the house, see if you like the environment of the house. Ask how many children she takes care of, etc. THEN go with what your gut tells you and make a choice. Good luck.

I used an in home daycare for about a month, and took her out of there quickly. I had a terrible experience with the woman who ran it though. She told my 3 year old daughter that she had a "big mouth" and spanked her without our permission.

Luckily the local daycare center did a "price match" for me and I was able to get her into that daycare for the same price I was paying at the in home daycare.

Mine was good. I had an excellent babysitter! I actually was having problems with the daycare facility he was in prior to moving him there. She was a wonderful influence on him, taught him things the way a mother or aunt would, she was Hispanic so she even taught him some Spanish. He loved miss Flores!

I don't like center daycares.

They can be with different people every few months as they move up in classrooms, and they switch them around. I hated it it was like my daughter never got a chance to bond with anyone for more than a month. That was the one center daycare DD when to and never again and never with future children either.
That and yeah there may be more people there but around here anyone can work at a center daycare just as long as they have their GED and pass a background check.

Home daycares are where DD goes, I have had wonderful experiences and we talk to her first daycare lady still and DD still loves her. She retired.
I like that it is one person not a slew of people that DD knows. She doesn't have to move rooms or anything like that, she interacts with children of all ages.

Quoting [♥]Mrs. Morgan:" I used an in home daycare for about a month, and took her out of there quickly. I had a terrible experience ... [snip!] ... did a "price match" for me and I was able to get her into that daycare for the same price I was paying at the in home daycare."

  Here that would be Illegal! Someone who did not have custody inflicting physical discipline.

I had a bad experience and it was at the home daycare of an acquaintance. I trusted her, her and her sister in law neglected my son. He ended up with blisters on the h side if his thighs from them not changing his diapers. I confirmed this was the cause when I decided to pick him up a couple hours early and put him in a diaper different than the brand they had there. He was in the same diaper I had put on him that morning. They also with held water from him because he misplaced his sippy cup, I picked him and he was crying asking for water. When we got to the car he guzzled half of my water bottle.

Quoting [JadeLee]:" I don't like center daycares. They can be with different people every few months as they move up in ... [snip!] ... a slew of people that DD knows. She doesn't have to move rooms or anything like that, she interacts with children of all ages."

This is something that I prefer about daycare centres, I feel that she is there to learn and socialize I am not looking for her to form a familial bond to a primary caregiver

Quoting That-Girl:" Where in Ontario do you live?"

In Ottawa

The woman I am considering has been a caregiver for over 20 years, she's with an agency and I was good friends with her daughter in high school. Her daughter told me to come spend a few hours at the house to get a feel for it, there's a nice park in their neighborhood (which, like I said is extremely close to my house).. I wouldn't ever consider it if I hadn't known her daughter. I'm really torn... some of you guys have all the experiences I'm afraid of..

The #1 thing I don't like is, its her on her own with multiple kids (5 at most at a time) and she's human, she could get overwhelmed or frustrated and has no one she can hand them off too or walk away for a few minutes. In a centre there are multiple people so its not like they can lose their temper. Ah, this is difficult.

Quoting [JadeLee]:"   Here that would be Illegal! Someone who did not have custody inflicting physical discipline."

Here in our school system they still give "pops". Corporal Punishment is still legal in Texas. I just got my baby out of that woman's house asap.

Let me tell you, if anyone ever hits my kid again there will be trouble with me.

My son is in a home daycare and its great! We live in a small town so word gets around and after a little digging, I didnt hear a single bad thing about the lady I was thinking of taking him too. Its a good idea to have a meeting with them and ask lots of questions though, of course not everyone is good and that goes for daycare centers as well. I prefer a home daycare to a center. I was sent to a home daycare when I was a kid. My mom was a single parent so I spent mon-fri there and before and after school when i was in school. My bbsitter became a 2nd mom to me and her 3 kids are my "siblings". What more could you ask for! My son is only 2 and talks about his daycare friends ALL the time.He has such a great bond with them alll already that when I have my second baby here in about a month, I'm keeping him in daycare 1-2 days a week just so he can play and see them. I dont know about in Ontario, but you can find some home daycares in Manitoba that are subsidized as well! good luck!

Quoting Adriana's Mami♥:" The woman I am considering has been a caregiver for over 20 years, she's with an agency and I was good ... [snip!] ... for a few minutes. In a centre there are multiple people so its not like they can lose their temper. Ah, this is difficult."

I would want to know a few things first
1. Does her method of disipline line up with yours?
2. In 20 years how often has she updated her skills?
3. What is her policy if children are sick?
4. Are you required to pay for absent days and her vacation time?
5. At what number does she refuse to take on additional children?
6. What happens if she is sick?
7. Are the children on a routine that lines up with their level of development?
8. Can she provide contact information for other famillies that have used her?
9. Does she have CPR and a valid police check?
10. What about visitors to her home? Can anybody stop by and spend time with your child?

Also if the agency that she is with is Wee Watch, I wouldn't put a lot of stock into their screening process

Quoting That-Girl:" I would want to know a few things first 1. Does her method of disipline line up with yours? 2. In 20 ... [snip!] ... with your child? Also if the agency that she is with is Wee Watch, I wouldn't put a lot of stock into their screening process"

I'm going to print all those out and bring them with me, those are all great questions to ask, thanks! I just have to convince my SO to even consider it.