Daycare issues - need advice - UPDATE post #1

[ammeador2]

I moved my DD to a new daycare and she has done wonderful. Kids that age generally can adapt to new changes easier that adults. You have to do what is best for your DS. And I am sure that he will make new friends in a matter of no time! Hang in there!

 

[letthewookiewin]

it is ok to still feel conflicted..that is why parenting is tough.I always feel conflicted and question my choices and decisions for DD.Everything will work itself out.Don't worry

Well put and I totally agree. I think that once you DS is there full time, and he still loves it, that you will realize you made the right choice.

 

[gaelic grace]

Children are our most precious gifts. Trust your instinct- God gave them to us for a reason. Good Luck!

 

[squirrel]

Wow your ratios for childcare are sure different than ours in BC. We are allowed only 8:1 for 3-5 yr olds. All the centre's I worked at always had 2 staff closing in the evening. That way when parents came to pick up their child(ren) one staff member could talk to them about their child's day.

Glad you decided to switch centres. It sounds like the old one is in need of new management.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Wow your ratios for childcare are sure different than ours in BC. We are allowed only 8:1 for 3-5 yr olds. All the centre's I worked at always had 2 staff closing in the evening. That way when parents came to pick up their child(ren) one staff member could talk to them about their child's day.

Glad you decided to switch centres. It sounds like the old one is in need of new management.

I've always thought that he ratios here in Texas were a little two high. The one that I really never liked was the infant ratio 4:1 or 2:10.

 

[lecach]

I've always thought that he ratios here in Texas were a little two high. The one that I really never liked was the infant ratio 4:1 or 2:10.

The infant ratio really bothers me too. While I was laid off I subbed at my DS's previous daycare in the infant room. There were 2 teachers and 10 babies. Sometimes you had to just let a baby lay there and cry because you were giving another one a bottle or changing a diaper. It broke my heart. Especially knowing that when my DS was an infant he very likely had to lay there and cry himself. And besides - I have no qualifications to be in that room - no cpr training, no TB test, no background check. I was just a Mom. I would have been mad if I was one of the parents.

The center we're at now, one day I was dropping off DS and I heard the infant teacher on the radio asking for help. When I passed her class she was all alone with 6 babies. And no one had come to help. I asked her how she handled it and she said "oh I am fine, this happens all the time". It might happen - but it's not legal. And it's not right.

 

[5stljayhawks]

I have three in kindercare, which converts into a REALLY, REALLY Nice house payment -). After they were bought out by private equity, they closed down the one down the road so we were relocated to another center.... We have had a few issues, but I make it a point to talk with the director and express the good and the bad.... I have even had the regional manager involved and called the national headquarters....

When I had to work the day before xmas, I found out how many teachers were working that day and bought $10 gift certifacate, it was like $100, but is a small way to say thank you. Heck $5 starbucks would even wo

 

[squirrel]

Wow, they let you have an extra infant if there are 2 staff! We have a 4:1 for infant and toddlers. I think the kindercare is a 10:1 ratio. Out of school is even higher I think ii's 15:1 - Not a 100% sure as I haven't done that age group.

My least favorite is the infants-I love babies, but I just think they need their mom and dad's at such a young age. It's too bad that most families have to have both parents working when their children are so young.

I have a family daycare. I don't have any children under 1, as most of the mother's take the full one year maternity leave. I know you don't have that down in the US.

 

[letthewookiewin]

It's been a couple of years since I worked in day cares, but I remember the school age ratio being 26, and I think my 12-18 month ratio was 6:1(?). At the end of me working in day care, Texas came up with this weird formula. You wrote down all the kids in the class with their ages, you then divided the number of children in half. Then you counted down the list that number and what ever age the child was you landed on was the age that you went with. So, if you had 20 kids and the 10th kid on the list was 7, you went with that ratio.
My best advice to parent is to show from time to time unannounced to just check in on your child. If you can peek into the class where they can't see you, so it doesn't upset your child when you don't take them with you. Know your ratios, and make sure they stick to it. Also ask how they did on their last state inspection and check with the health inspector.