Help!! Need some advice!

[Nurse]

Hey everyone.. So I'm just wanting some feed back as to what you guys would do for your day home?!

A girl I used to work for started bringing her son beginning of December. He is 1yrs old and hardly eats anything, won't smile, will only sleep in a swing, but that's another story. He comes from 10-4 mon to Fri. Starting in Feb the hrs will be 10-230 mon to Fri. Since the hrs are less she feels she should pay less. My issue is a) I'm still feeding him 2snacks and a meal b) he is still coming mon-Fri and therefore I cannot take on another child paying full rate mon to Fri. C) I called around and my full price is still 10 dollars cheaper than average.

In my contract I have definitions: Full time: Care Monday to Friday. Part time: less than 4days a week ex: mon-wed wed-Fri. Less than 6hrs.

Have I screwed myself over by putting in the less than 6hrs? He is still coming mon to Fri... If it wasn't someone I knew it wouldn't be so hard....

Any advice welcome!!

[Momof4]

How is it that you are feeding him so much? I have breakfast snack at 8:30am, lunch at 11:30am and snacktime after 3pm, which is after naptime and diaper changes. I would not allow that client to pick up her child at 2:30 because I protect the naptime of all the children and pickup time is not allowed before 3pm. I don't allow dropoffs after 9am because we go outside and leave the property to go to parks and the library all the time.

As for money, a space is a space and I don't have half-day service since a child has to be here from 9am-3pm minimum. Maybe you could change your contract to indicate the 6 hours must fall into this time frame?

[Nurse]

Thank you for the reply... They want him to have a snack at 1030, lunch at noon and snack at 230... He hardly eats anything sometimes.. And his nap time is a disaster.. Sometimes he sleeps 10min, sometimes 30-60min... I regret telling her to bring him

[Momof4]

Let me ask you one more question. 'THEY WANT?' I'm sorry, but WE have routines, rules, policies, hours of business and a contract that is a legal, binding agreement between two parties, a business owner (YOU) and a client. We accept families into care who fit within our rules. We do not accept families into care who push us around, want us to make changes that will make our lives unhappy or make unreasonable demands. I think it's time you lay down the law and tell the woman the times you serve meals and the time the children are expected to nap. A one year old boy should be sleeping in a playpen for at least an hour 1/2 or two hours daily.

[Nurse]

I think I'm too soft and need to grow a back bone. They co sleep and has never had to nap without them until now so they said use the swing.. I tried the playpen, but he just cries and they do not beleive in letting him cry it out...

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

If it were me, I would politely but firmly tell her that she is already receiving a very good rate for her child's care - and even if she requires your services for fewer hours every day, your daily rate is not going to change. I would also use the conversation as a springboard to discuss/explain the situation. I would explain that fewer hours do not necessarily mean less work - as you said, you're still prepping a lunch, snacks, etc. It also doesn't translate into lower expenses - you still need to provide a playpen for naptime (even if the child is only attending partial days) you still buy toys suitable for their age, you still have to pay insurance rates for your daycare, etc. I've dealt with a lot of parents who split hairs over the "but he's only there for a few hours hours - why can't I pay half rates ?" question (Answer: because your child's 10 to 3 shift is just as much work as the other kid who comes from 8 to 4) It's a bit of a pet peeve of mine. Just tell her that while you love her little guy, and would like to help her out, a space is a space and it makes more economic sense for you to have a full time child in that space than a part time one. If you have the wiggle room in your program to have a part time child that's awesome - maybe you don't need to terminate/replace this client. But - if you're already "losing" money on this one I'd suggest that you cut your losses. Again - keep things polite and professional - you could just tell her: "I appreciate that your caregiving needs have changed and I no longer feel that I am able to meet your needs. As per our contract I am providing X weeks notice that our care agreement is terminated. Effective date X I will no longer be able to provide care for Baby X" Personally, I don't offer part time care because I want a full time income. You are actually taking a financial loss to help this woman out. If she has any sense of decency at all, pointing these facts out should end her requests for a lower rate. Sadly, if she is quibbling over this kind of stuff I think things will get worse before they get better - you may want to start looking for a new family.

[Nurse]

Finding some to take that spot would be no problem at all as I get a call at least once a week asking for openings so I don't know why I'm having such a hard time cutting them!

[mimi]

Great advice from everyone. Mine? Please do not allow your clients to dictate what happens in your business. The decisions and policies are yours. If the client can abide by them great if not....... I also do not justify my rates. They are fair and that's what I charge.

[kidlove]

you just need to lay down the rules (politely but firmly ) with her....if she doesn't like what she hears she will look elsewhere and you will be off the hook, not by your choosing.. if she doesnt mind and decides to change her picky preference and understands she needs to pay for a full time spot because that is what your contracts state, you could have a good client on your hands. she may just need to understand you are the one in control, up to this point you have pretty much allowed her to make the rules...just let her know....1) your contracts clearly state Mon-friday = full time pay. (the child is taking a fulltime spot even if a few hours shorter per day) and 2) you feed the children by a set schedule not by each parents desires. point out to her that is how you get the day to flow properly. sometimes you need to remind parents their child is not the only one in care and IF you catered to all parents specific requests you would run yourself ragged. Good Luck! this one can be saved...your right you just need to get tough!

[Crayola kiddies]

I'm hoping you have a contract and policy book ... Mine states no drop off or pick up between 12 and 3. That child still comes m-f and therefore full time oh and by the way my part time is more expensive so if she wanted to pay part time I would gladly accept it. Also I would say ....NEXT .... To this family ..... I have a schedule and your child follows it not the other way around .... This child is a poor sleeper because this is what they have created .... Kids CIO in my daycare .... They go to bed dry full and tired and they stay there till nap time is over. I would not give get a break on price and maybe she'll leave but in any event I would tell her age needs to start napping him in a playpen at home cause the swing will not be safe for him to be in much longer if its already not .... Unless he's really tiny the swings are only rated for 20lbs most 1 yr olds are hovering around that size. For liability I would not be putting him in a swing and he would be in a playpen. You have to make some rules and stick to them ..... Perhaps you need to tell her a different daycare would be more suitable to her needs