Filling my spots-dilemma

I am feeling stressed about my daycare spots right now and have two options with neither being easy.

My current setup looks like this...

SIBLINGS A
dcb 3 - JK Sept 2017
dcg 1 - turns 2 in May
SIBLINGS B
dcg 4 - JK in Sept 2017
dcg 1 - turns 2 in April

dcb 9mths - starts in April once the above child turns 2

The Mother of SIBLINGS A is due to have baby number 3 in May. She will need a full time under 2 spot as of May 2018.

As of Sept 2017 when the two older siblings leave for JK I will have 2 spots open up. One will be an under 2 spot and one will be for over 2.

Family with baby number 3 will need the under 2 spot but it will open up approx 9 months earlier than she needs it. I have enquiries for a 1-year-old start in September. If I take them to fill the spot, then I lose the other sibling from SIBLING A family. I will then only have 2 kids in care due to the loss of the over two which is a hard spot to fill. If I don't take the September start then I will be down to 3 kids temporarily and 4 when the baby comes to care, but if I don't hold the spot for baby, then when mum goes on maternity leave in May she has no incentive to stay and will pull her soon to be JK and her 2nd child.

I feel sick that this is all in the name of safety but is actual bullshit. Before this stupid bogus bill I would never have had to worry about it and could have taken the 1 yr old Sept start and still accommodated the other family for May. This hurts me financially and is a perfect example of how this bill screws us over yet does a big fat nothing to keep the kids any safer than before this change was made.

You're right, it is hard but have you considered licensing and keeping six. Until all is set? (Older kids gone to school). How ever, personal experience sometimes unexpected changes happens. I had the very same situation three older siblings and three younger siblings in waiting list. One close to two. So, I practically decided to go though the agency and got a good deal. So, I kept six of them all happy. And my plan was that when the older ones leave I'll be able to go back to five, well, needles to say I had more inquires so I just keep my six for now and licensed. If I go down I'll also go private. It worked out well in my case.

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Originally Posted by Peacefulbird

You're right, it is hard but have you considered licensing and keeping six. Until all is set? (Older kids gone to school). How ever, personal experience sometimes unexpected changes happens. I had the very same situation three older siblings and three younger siblings in waiting list. One close to two. So, I practically decided to go though the agency and got a good deal. So, I kept six of them all happy. And my plan was that when the older ones leave I'll be able to go back to five, well, needles to say I had more inquires so I just keep my six for now and licensed. If I go down I'll also go private. It worked out well in my case.

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I have no intention of signing with an agency to get the 6th spot. I make no money for taking that child once I've paid my expenses and agency fees. Plus I am still yet to see a single Ontario insurer that would offer coverage for that many children in my care.

It depends on your location. Caregivers around or close to Peterborough have the support of "Compass" agency. And their monthly fee for private caregivers (meaning your own clients, hours and fees) is only $100 a month. It icludes a safety quarterly visit. I wish I could be located close to that agency.

Then the other option is that parents go through the agency and the agency pays you their fee usually $8 to $10 less of what their fees are. But also think, these are parents that already know you this arrangement could be done until you have all settled down. Anyway, my package deal is $225 a month. I had to take a commercial insurance and I pay $540 a year. But I still have profit. With all the changes happening; I'm not sure for how long I'll be operating, they keep opening centres around my neighbourhood. So at this point I'll just try to keep working full as long as I can, I do not think we will last too long, especially where I live.

I don't know how to fix. Just offering support that I feel your stress and am frustrated by it all as well.