My day so far...

[Daymama]

No worries Judy, to each her own. I'm an APer who uses behavioralist techniques like you describe after the children have settled in, but I do everything I can to promote attachment while the children are in the settling in period. I'm willing to bet that both of us run excellent dayhomes, just with different styles.

I have been a provider for 13 years and have used a carrier off and on the whole time. An ergonomic carrier, properly fitted, like an Ergo, does not cause back pain for me at all, not the way carrying a babe in my arms would, though I've heard some people say they can't babywear due to pain (often those who started trying after a c-section.)

I find that babywearing is a great tool for me as a provider that makes children less clingy in the long run - and I find I only need to do it during the settling in period. Before long, they become more interested in exploring and playing with other children than in the view from my carrier. I might use a carrier while on outings, too, if I don't have enough room in my stroller, but my carriers have been mostly gathering dust for about 18 months now as the children I have now have been very content since a few weeks after they started. I will break them out for some new babies in January, though. I also have had zero turnover from having to terminate fussy babies or toddlers early on or families leaving because it isn't working out for their child - and that is fine with me, as I hate advertising and interviewing and am willing to go to a little trouble to avoid doing more of it.

It might not work for all babies or for anyone who didn't enjoy wearing their own children, but I just wanted to put the idea of a good carrier out there as a tool. I'm sorry you have back pain, Cocoon! It is great that the family sounds willing to work with you on helping the child adjust to care, though. I do a lot of sitting on the floor with little ones, as playfelt suggests, too - that is a great strategy to help a little one get comfortable around you and your home, though it helps to be physically flexible for that one, too.

Your point about providers having no insurance for injuries is well taken, Judy. It is really important for providers who are in this for the long haul to stay fit, be careful lifting, and possibly look into buying into an accident and disability insurance package. There are lots of ways to get injured, both on the job and off, and any injury could shut down a dayhome provider's income. Our health and ability to work are the greatest assets most of us have, and we do have to protect them.