Bad start to the day :(

[treeholm]

I don't think you can categorize the standard of care by age/life stage of the care provider. I'm a grandmother, and the people who chose me told me that was a big factor for them. They want their children in this environment knowing I have raised three adult children, and knowing that I have tons of energy and patience for their children since I don't have any of my own. I put everything into my daycare knowing I will not be up at night with my own LOL! Of course, the young Moms I know who are care providers are also excellent, and just have different strengths. I do want to point out though, that just because my own children are in their 20s and 30s, it doesn't mean I haven't had to research current safety standards etc. Any responsible caregiver would do that. The crib my children slept in no longer meets safety standards, and I will have to reluctantly throw it away. My children were all put down on their tummies to make sure they didn't choke; now, we put babies on their backs for naptime. It's just a matter of being diligent and doing the research. I think choosing a caregiver is far more about finding a match between the family and the care provider than about a preconceived notion of whether a young mom or a grandmother is a better provider. I personally believe I am a better provider as a grandmother than I would have been as a young mom because of my higher energy and patience, but I have lots of grandmother friends who think it is just nuts that I'm doing this now!