Breast-fed babies!?

[Rachael]

Was this ok to turn down this request? I feel guilty because she has to go back to work so early but I just think it wouldn't work having a parent coming in during the day everyday, am I wrong????

Absolutely it was okay to deny this request. You are a day care not a nanny and you have to consider the impact of such a huge disruption to all your children.

I discourage these drop-in parents - regardless of the validity of their requests. This isn't a coffee shop. Parents pick up and drop off and don't come and go several times a day. I've declined parents who have asked if drop-ins during the day are encouraged because they absolutely are not.

Plus it ties all your activities to you being home and available for this drop-in to happen.

I know it sucks when a parent has to return to work sooner than they would wish. My son was 12 weeks old when I had to return to work - and knowing that was all the leave I could have, I actually worked until I went into labour in the office so not to impact on my time but hard as it is to be the one to put the boundaries in place, sometimes it's easier for a parent to adjust when they know calling in and out, isn't an option. It's like ripping off a band-aid - some situations call for hard prompt actions vs seemingly gentle prying which actually hurts for longer.