Most providers have a no drop off during naptime rule. Depending on the ages of the kids in care that can vary from 12 - 1 for going down meaning lunch is at 11:00 and then some not up till 3:30 Naptime is when the caregiver eats her lunch, makes afternoon snack, plans activities for later in the day or the next day and prepares supplies, comes on the computer like we are doing now and checks emails so she gets a little bit of adult conversation.

It is hard when you don't know what your day is going to be like and how it is going to flow. I like the freedom to do what needs to be done when and if I want to go to the park for a walk I don't want to be stuck home waiting for someone to arrive or walking the floor with a cranky child waiting for another parent to get here so there will be no door bells to disturb sleep, or serving a later lunch because we were busy having fun and then have another child arrive just before dessert and not have any extra planned for them because they were not supposed to be in care over lunch.

I get that you are looking for drop in care. The caregiver is looking for consistency so that all of the children know what to expect.

One word of warning I will point out is that the caregiver has made it clear she expects to be able to count on a minimum income per week and that is reasonable. I know you are not keen to sign the agreement accordingly but are you prepared for your caregiver to give you notice and fill your space with another full paying child. Just as at your job if the boss was giving you shifts and you were starting to pick and choose just the ones you wanted to do you would soon be replaced. The pay a daycare provider gets is their income and they have a right to know how much they will earn and to take the steps necessary to secure that income. The first step is to set up a minimum due contract with all parents so that a base income can be established. That is what she is asking.