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Does anyone have any suggestions for handling a 12-month-old who hasn't been cared for by anyone other than mom and dad before?
Would a visit with the parents/child here together be useful in this situation? Or a few visits? How long should these visits be? Would you charge a fee for them or not?
There is another thread on tips for parents to help integrate their child into group care ..... But I do a few integration visits regardless of the age but how many I do does depend on the age. For a 12 month old I do a one hour visit with mom and then the next visit mom has to leave for an hour or two and the next visit I do lunch and a nap and if all goes well I end it there and then we start and I do charge ... $10/hour up to what ever their full day rate would be.
Same...I do a bit more only because I want it...not the parents!
I like to have
one visit for about 2hrs with mom/dad here
then one-two 1/2 days with child alone
and final a full day before starting FT care...
I charge $5 an hour....upto the daily max for 'one day a week' is $40
Oh nd YES please read the other thread....having them on the same schedule as you re: naps, able to play alone, not having the parents be by their side 24/7....all those help! Also being able to fall asleep on their own.
Search the threads for "How to Prepare Your Child For Childcare". It's a one page handout you can give to the mom and dad to help them get ready. Because that's really who needs to prepare, the parents!
Yes, I would integrate slowly if you feel the need. Start with a couple of hours, probably from just after breakfast until he/she is ready for morning nap if he/she still takes one. Then a full morning, with our without lunch, then getting picked up right after nap.... you get the idea.
HOWEVER; I don't allow the parents to come. From day one (after the interview process) I teach that mommy and daddy don't come with you to my house. They drop you off, we play, then you go home with them when they come back. I find it less confusing for the kids. Some of the kids still cry, but those kids will have separation anxiety no matter what. It happens.
Good luck!!