Overlap? No thanks!

[Van]

When a parent is paying for f/t and only use p/t then they are paying for f/t and it is their days not the casual parents that are on the sideline waiting to see if they can come to daycare
IMO the f/t parents shouldn't need to tell their plans for 2 weeks in advance
it is double dipping to get the extra money which is fine if it works for the f/t parent and the casual and your ratio of kids but if the f/t parent wants the extra days she has 1st take on these days or someone is taking her days away which is so unfair to the f/t parent
I care for infant/toddlers so no way would I take a casual inf or toddler as they are so much work

[5 Little Monkeys]

Op, I think it's highly childish to delete your post and blame it on the "pit bulls of this site". I don't think anyone attacked you but maybe tried to open your eyes to how your agreement comes across and how it's unfair to some parents.

I think maybe you are feeling guilty and realized what we said was maybe how you should ethically approach this situation in the future? At least I hope this is the case taking advantage of clients is never a good thing!

There are many different ways to run our dc's but when it comes to us or parents being taken advantage of, I find the majority of us agree that is wrong and stand up for what is morally right.

[crayolamom]

There is nothing wrong with what I do and I will continue to do it. If someone signs a contract with me and tells me they will never need Mondays but want the spot or if we agree to contract hours/days and all of a sudden they want to switch days and pick up/drop off hours, to bad! I was told one thing so I scheduled my other families hours around our schedule. Majority of you on this form wouldn't allow parents to pick and change their days change drop off/pick up hours last minute. I also allow parents to pick up during nap time in order to help accommodate what they need as MANY of you do not allow this. So next time you want to go off about how unethical someone is or how someone is taking advantage of someone remember that another provider may do more then another provider in a different way. As for the money thing , they pay a weekly fee not a daily one and as for children not needing 2nds or 3rds hmm your not a dietician so I would hold off on remarks because I am pretty sure last time I talked to my doctors kids are growing/active and do require more food at time and by restricting them food that would be a form of neglect.

[5 Little Monkeys]

There is nothing wrong with what I do and I will continue to do it. If someone signs a contract with me and tells me they will never need Mondays but want the spot or if we agree to contract hours/days and all of a sudden they want to switch days and pick up/drop off hours, to bad! I was told one thing so I scheduled my other families hours around our schedule. Majority of you on this form wouldn't allow parents to pick and change their days change drop off/pick up hours last minute. I also allow parents to pick up during nap time in order to help accommodate what they need as MANY of you do not allow this. So next time you want to go off about how unethical someone is or how someone is taking advantage of someone remember that another provider may do more then another provider in a different way. As for the money thing , they pay a weekly fee not a daily one and as for children not needing 2nds or 3rds hmm your not a dietician so I would hold off on remarks because I am pretty sure last time I talked to my doctors kids are growing/active and do require more food at time and by restricting them food that would be a form of neglect.

1. I think the majority of us would allow the parents to change their days if they're PAYING for it. A weekly fee is no different than a daily fee...they're paying for the WEEK and are entitled to come. I agree that they should give you a time for drop off and pick up though. If you want to double dip that's fine but like others have said, the first parent should ALWAYS get first chance at the day. I'm assuming you haven't had much issue with this because lots of parents haven't needed to do this yet and don't realize that they will be told no for a day they've paid for

2. I also allow pick up time during nap

3. I'm not a dietician but doctors aren't either right? That's why they send you to dieticians when needed. There are ample articles online that will help you determine how much baby and toddlers need. I have one printed and hanging on my cupboard for quick reference. If you are giving them healthy, balanced, appropriately sized meal and snacks than no, 2nds and especially 3rds are not needed. Just as too little food is a form of neglect, so is too much!! I will give seconds if they've eaten their whole meal and want more but never thirds...that's just irresponsible and in excess IMO.

[superfun]

If you're reading this while you're calm, I think you'll see that everyone that replied to the original post is trying to be very reasonable. Your posts are the only ones that are defensive and angry sounding. I don't know if you mean to sound like that or not, but that's how it is coming across.

By your standards, I'm doing pretty well. I give the kids second servings if they eat all of their first serving. I allow pick up during nap times, I'm flexible with my drop off times, is there anything else? But I would still always let the first family have a day (or week) they paid for. The second drop in family would have to make other arrangements.

[mickyc]

I think I need a bit of clarification. So they pay a weekly fee for their 4 days and never use Monday. They all of a sudden want a Monday and you say no. Is their "weekly fee" the same as someone who comes 5 days? Is it less because they only use 4. Honestly if they are paying the same as the 5 day a week people then you should not be telling them no if they want a Monday all of a sudden. Just my 2 cents.

Not feeding a child seconds or thirds is neglect?! Lol. Ummm, regardless if they are growing one helping should be plenty. Obviously the helping sizes are too small if they ask for 2nds often

[MsBell]

Im going to jump in on this (even though I wanted to avoid)
I think if they are paying a weekly fee, and contracted for certain days ie tuesday, wednesday, friday, then, regardless of how much they are paying, they are NOT entitled to switch. but if they are paying a weekly fee, for five days with an understanding that they have that spot, then they are. How much they pay doesnt matter, that is mute. I have some parents paying more just because they are new, and I raised my fees, the older clients will not pay more until I raise my rates. Lots of providers will charge more per day for kids that only come 2-3 days.for example 5 days of care is $40/day or 200 a week, but 3 days of care $50/day or $150 a week, and the weekly rate applies regardless of attendance.
Also, even if they are paying for five days, with the understanding that they will be changing the days needed, I feel like a 24-48 hour notice is required (2 weeks is too long, but 24-48 hrs reasonable)
so, I have to side with the OP in this (if I am understanding the situation)

[ahnys]

I side with the op too. Let her run her business any way she sees fit. Either parents will agree to it or they won't, in which case they'll leave. Either way it is no one else's concern. Personally I do not charge clients for vacation or sick pay. To me, even if it is only to me, it seems untoward. But if others see it differently they should go ahead and do what makes sense to them.

[dodge__driver11]

Crayolamom: There is nothing wrong with what I do and I will continue to do it. If someone signs a contract with me and tells me they will never need Mondays but want the spot or if we agree to contract hours/days and all of a sudden they want to switch days and pick up/drop off hours, to bad!

Dodge: Honey, sorry, but yes there is, you are double dipping plain and simple. You charge your families a weekly f/t fee, and demand that they give you their schedule two weeks before hand to squeeze in other families? This is not full time care, it is part time, with a full time rate. Deleting your post won't change that you are dishonest. And, though we all operate differently, and have different things that are important to us, the majority say this is the case.

Crayolamom: I was told one thing so I scheduled my other families hours around our schedule. Majority of you on this form wouldn't allow parents to pick and change their days change drop off/pick up hours last minute. I also allow parents to pick up during nap time in order to help accommodate what they need as MANY of you do not allow this. So next time you want to go off about how unethical someone is or how someone is taking advantage of someone remember that another provider may do more then another provider in a different way.

Dodge: That's right we all do it a different way, but calling us out on something that is not double dipping is YOU diverting from the fact, that you are doing what you are doing, and as a parent if I found this out, I would leave your care, and find out if there was anything I could do from a legal standpoint if there was anything I could do to get my money back.


Crayolamom: As for the money thing , they pay a weekly fee not a daily one and as for children not needing 2nds or 3rds hmm your not a dietitian so I would hold off on remarks because I am pretty sure last time I talked to my doctors kids are growing/active and do require more food at time and by restricting them food that would be a form of neglect.

Dodge: Again, the classic diversion. None of us were ever rude, we were to the point, you all of a sudden made this post about vacation, and serving sizes when that was not your original question at all.......and then accused us of being pitbulls when we thought your actions were questionable.

I don't get it.

[ahnys]

Not my battle here, but I am curious. Is "double-dipping", as it is being called, morally wrong, legally wrong, or smart business practice? Many of us call ourselves first and foremost a business, yet express negative judgment toward a provider who has found a way to maximize her earnings, legally and transparently. I didn't perceive from her posts that she was doing anything in a sneaky way, or otherwise misleading her full-time families. Again, parents have agreed ahead of time to adhere to a schedule given weeks before, and everything is above board.

We work on an industry that has very limited potential for earnings. She has found a way to earn extra income on days she has a vacancy. As far as I know there is no law that says we can be paid only once per space. I don't do this, but I actually think it's kind of genius.