New baby for d/c parent but daycare currently full. What to do?

[Naftafia]

I am having a really hard time trying to figure out what I should do and how. I am really hoping to hear all your thoughts and experience with this!!!
Here's the story!!! My daycare is currently full with 2 full timers, 2 before and after school and one currently part time (the mom who is on mat leave). So the plan has always been that I would take on the baby in early February and the sibbling would return full time, however this means I will have to let someone go.
I am having such a hard time with this because all my kids and families are great and they have all been with me for over 2.5 years. The only option would be to let my 6 year old go but how? I feel like I will be letting them down. I am having this ongoing internal/emotional debate as I know it is a business and the right thing is to take on the baby, or I would also loose the sibbling. Even worse is that I know the dad (single parent to the 6 year old in question) will understand... but it just does not feel right.
All thoughts are welcome!
To all who have done b/a school care I would also like to know how you typically proceed because if everyone stays you will end up with only b/a school?

[BrightEyes]

I would let the 6yr old go. Explain that you need to fill the full-time spot financially.

[godsgirl]

Letting the 6 year old go makes the most sense. However, I wouldn't jump the gun and tell the family until you know 100% sure that the new baby will be attending. Probably a month in advance would be plenty of time for them to find another caregiver. The reason I say this is that we all know how unpredictable families can be and as much as we want to take people's word. Things always change and you don't want to be hooped. Good luck

[Lou]

I had to do this in September. I had an after school part time girl, but an interested family who wanted to sign on their child full time days. I couldn't pass up the opportunity financially (plus I had been having a horrible time with the 7 yrs old, but still had a great realtionship with mom and dad). I sent them an email (I always give information this way so 1. It's in writing and 2. So, they have time to chew on the news before any sort of verbal communication) and gave them a month's notice. Thankfully, they were understanding and appreciative of the notice. I did feel bad, so I know how you feel! Hope it goes smoothly for you!

[Crayola kiddies]

Ya letting the 6 yr old go makes the most sence .... I have only one b&a spot cause I don't want to hold a full time spot for 10 months for next to no money. So unless you want to have only b&a's to have your days free then off she goes .... I also would wait till about a month in advance and get a deposit from the other family before issuing the notice.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Ya that is a tough one ~ if I had to choose who to let go I too would opt for the one offering me the least amount of income ~ a school age child and likely the 'oldest' of them because they'd likely have the best luck finding another option in a before and after school program IN the school system.

[playfelt]

Since the change will happen after Christmas that is a time of financial issues for many people so using the need to maintain a higher income can be part of the reasoning. I let parents know when they interview that I don't take school age kids at all so once they are ready for JK they must leave. The moms appreciate that their baby won't be out in nasty weather nor have naps disrupted. They forget all about the leaving part and truthfully most have a mat leave in there before the child reaches JK age.

The hard thing here is whether the parent of the 6 year old deserves to know before the end of this school term so he can put his child's name on the school daycare list or start looking for alternate care. Mid term can be a lot harder for them. Can you get a deposit from the mom on mat leave now as in confirming the space.

[sunnydays]

This is why I don't promise spaces unless I know I will have it (ie. someone is leaving). I have someone who will be going on mat leave and keeping her child in part-time and I was clear with her that I could in no way promise her a spot for the new baby nor a full-time spot for her first child after her mat leave. If it happens, great, but I cannot hold a spot nor promise on a maybe. In your current predicament, I would probably let the six year go, but I am wondering why you promised the space if you were not sure you would have one?

[Naftafia]

To sunnydays.... mainly because I did not want to loose the sibbling as it was a difficult time to start new with someone, as I had just had my second child. It was actually good timing to have her part time and I did/ and still do, want to have the baby in care. I guess I was just hoping something would change with my other families from within the year so I would not have to!
It's funny because your question made me realize that the hardess part of this job for me will be that I do not like change!!! Yikes! I guess this will be my first time facing this challenge!

[Cocoon]

Can you not keep all of them? I mean he is b/a school care anyway so couple of hours a day shouldn't be a problem no?