childcare question

[justhat]

I don't mean to pick on your post or start an argument at all as I think everyone should do what works for them (within reason ) But I wanted to point out that I generally do not do an annual background check on my sitters at home nor are they bonded or insured against any accidents. Yes, I know the girls that sit for me, but they are not professional sitters. And children have been abused in professional childcare centers despite having other children around.

We all do the best we can and I certainly wouldn't ever encourage a parent to do somethign they were not comfortable with. However, I will say that the night DH and I used Fairy Godmothers was one of my favorite nights of vacation. Of course, they are all my favorite for different reasons. Until we can afford to do a WDW trip with the kids and then one without them, we will be using FGs and loving it.

I think that's a fine decision, but I don't think I'd be able to leave my kids with someone I have never met in a strange location (strange meaning away from home, not weird). I don't do annual background checks either (actually, we don't have a babysitter at all yet), but neither did the daycare I worked at so I wouldn't be able to trust that a sitting service does either. My daycare required all employees to have a background check and health check, with tb testing. I never completed that stuff, never handed anything in, and was employed with the daycare for over 2 years, at which point I quit because I was 8 months pregnant with my daughter. I am not saying that Fairy Godmothers or Kids Nite Out is doing this, but it's quite possible that someone slip through the cracks.

I'm not sure what 'professional sitter' really means, so it doesn't do much for me as I don't know of any real training they have to take. There are sitter courses from the Red Cross, but I took them as a preteen so I don't think that makes one a professional. That they're insured also don't help me much cause if there's an accident, do you really care if they're insured? You'd probably just care about how your kids is feeling, if they're hurt, etc., not the sitter's insurance coverage.

You're also right, that kids have been abused in daycares. But the reason I feel safer with the kids clubs is that there are lots more kids and many more workers, so it's a little harder to do something without someone else noticing that the worker or kids are missing. Many places (my daycare included) now have rules that 1 worker can't be alone with a kid-so when a parent came late to pickup, 2 of us had to wait there with him/her, just as a safety check.

Another part of my reasonng was that working in a daycare, I saw so many apathetic workers, both in my center and also nannies we'd see in the park everyday. The kids in my center I felt had a slight advantage though, cause we always had at least 2 workers with the kids, so if one wasn't that great, odds are the other one was. And the kids also had each other to play with so if the caregiver was just sitting there, at least they weren't too. When we'd see nannies like that at the playground, sitting reading a book, no one was left to care for the kid, and I think that's a fear I have too. I know those aren't guarantees to happen, but in my mind it's a big consideration.

If anyone feels okay with leaving their kid alone in a room with a sitter, it's fine and really non of my business, and hey, I may even feel differently when I have more than 1 child, or when she's older than 1, but right now it's just too scary for me. I don't know, if I could meet other people and their kids who have used the sitter, if I knew more about them, had time to let them play with my kids for a couple of trial runs while I am still home, I'd feel better about it, but to meet someone and hand her over is too much for me.

 

[disneymom3]

Justthat--you have some very good points! Yikes about that daycare center!! I directed a center and I never even had people start working until I got their clearance from the state back first. Too big of a chance! That is scary. However, we often had just one adult with the kids so that is clearly a risk too if they are not trustworthy.

The other thing that you bring up that I honestly had not thought of before, is the one child versus several concept. Now that I think about it, I would not have left DD alone either as it would have felt stranger somehow leaving her alone with someone new. With all three of them I felt they had each other (not that they could protect each other or anything, but it is more comfortable somehow.)

I am glad we were able to share opinions without it getting heated. Have a good one!

 

[justhat]

The other thing that you bring up that I honestly had not thought of before, is the one child versus several concept. Now that I think about it, I would not have left DD alone either as it would have felt stranger somehow leaving her alone with someone new. With all three of them I felt they had each other (not that they could protect each other or anything, but it is more comfortable somehow.)

I am glad we were able to share opinions without it getting heated. Have a good one!

Yes, I really think that's a big factor in my feeling on sitters. Since it's just Madison, and she's so little, it seems like I could be making her a target. When she gets siblings though, it would be a little harder for a sitter to do weird things as there will be more eyes, ears, and mouths to risk it. Of course, there are tons in daycares too, and things still happen, but like you said, seems more comfortable to have her with other kids than all alone.

Oh, and yeah, no reason to get heated like many posters do. I totally respect anyone's choices, and honestly can't see why so many people get so upset about what people do with their kids. I mean, leaving them with a sitter does not seem harmful or abusive or anything like that to me, just not a choice I'm totally ready to make yet, so why people get so defensive is beyond me. And you made really good points so I hope others see that too, as I think both sides are worth hearing for anyone considering a sitter/daycare.

 

[justhat]

Oh, the other thing, about where I worked. It was actually a really good center, a place I'd leave my daughter if I worked (which I will be in a few months!). And even not working there and knowing the staff, I'd think it was a good place as a parent. The director just sorta forgot about my paperwork I guess. I actually had a background check and health exam/tb test done, cause I worked at a school and camp before that, but just kept forgetting to bring it in and after awhile never thought about it at all. The director never asked so I guess she forgot too. We got along really well and I think she liked that I was in graduate school for child psychology, but still no excuse for not having all my checks in. What if she was audited? Or a parent asked to see my stuff? Oh well, we're not all perfect (cause if we were my daughter would sleep through the night!)!

 

[Rowlf]

We used Kid's Nite Out last year with our then-15-month-old twice. Once for the evening so DH and I could go to V&A's for dinner and once in the afternoon so DH and I could go ride some rides together. We had the same woman both times (Joycie B.) and she was great with our son. All KNO babysitters are trained, have background checks, and are insured. These companies aren't fly-by-night and you certainly aren't calling a random person out of the phone book!

We'll definitely be calling them again this year.