CRAZY situation.....oh my word!

[cheerfuldom]

Ladies, all hands on deck! I cant believe this!

I had a friend (who also has a daycare) recommend me to a family with a 4 month old girl. The friend does not have anymore room for babies. This family needs care asap and contacted me thru phone and my CL ad (not knowing it was the same person). They wanted to interview this evening (contacted me yesterday!). I was a little suspicious about the reason for the rush but figured we would talk about it at the interview.

The reason.....the former babysitter (not sure who it was or if they were a friend, a licensed place or what), gave the baby a bottle of ice cream! thats right folks! and my friend and the parents apparently believe that the ice cream was used to flavor something else.....I have no idea what they think it was mixed with. I guess maybe something that would make the baby sleep? or who knows what!

I am so worried that no matter what I do, they will never trust me after this incident, which I had nothing to do with. I feel awful for them and I am very worried for this interview.

[countrymom]

I would interview them. I had a family who went to another dcprovider that lived about 5 houses down. The mom called me crying saying that something wasn't right. She had a bad suspicion that her yds was left in a playpen all day. And that the ods was being left with the dog all day.

I've had them for 3 yrs and we're good friends. How do they know it was ice cream. I wonder if they need to be reported.

oh, I forgot to add, we here have free playgroups that we can bring the kids too. Well, its run by the goverment and ece teachers run the program. I would bring the dck's all the time. I wasn't keen on the lady running it because she was very mean and shouldn't be with the kids, acually she needed to retire. Well, the one time we go, and she decides that for snack at 1030am to serve ice cream to all the kids because she wanted to clean the fridge out. that was the last time I went. I know that they have a budget, but who serves ice cream to the littles early in the morning.

[HaveaHoot]

My first daycare family came from a daycare that left dck in a carseat all day to the point her diaper was soaked through into the carseat. They have been nothing but an excellent trusting family. I would meet them and see how they are in person before worrying too much about it.

[JenNJ]

Do the interview. I had a golden family come from a bad situation. Dad picked up one day and the windows were open. As he walked to the front door, he heard the provider call a daycare child a "freaking idiot." He said nothing to her.

They stayed home from work the next day since they didn't want to send their son back. They came to interview with me the next day, gave provider two weeks notice that evening. She said it would be too sad, so they could leave immediately (they were going to pay out the two weeks). He started with me that day.

So From Tuesday at one provider to Thursday with me. They stayed with me until he went off to preschool. He was an angel and I am still in touch with his parents now.

[cheerfuldom]

I dont know any details about how they found out and if the babysitter was reported.

[cheerfuldom]

okay, more info via an email from my provider friend, it was a person running an unlicensed daycare so I am surprised they are willing to consider me, who is legally unlicensed.

[Lilbutterflie]

Oh my, that is weird. I think during the interview I would ask questions like how they found out about it, did they confront her about it, what was her response, is she licensed, did they get proof so they can report her, etc...

I don't think I'd worry too much about gaining their trust. It's now your job to show them that finding a quality caregiver IS possible and show them how lucky they were to find you!!

[DCBlessings27]

I agree that you should just do the interview and not get worked up about the situation. I've had 2 great kids come from bad situations. Dcg came to me at 8months bc family friend just stuck her in pack n play in front of tv all day long. She wasn't crawling or scooting at 8 months. By the first day, she was scooting around my house and crawling soon after since she was no longer stuck in a pack n play anymore. She's almost 3, and I still have dcg. The other child I had kept getting scratched at her former daycare. Yet, the provider would say that the cat was locked up all day and dcg must be scratching herself. I would still have that family if they hadn't moved to another state.

Hopefully, the parents will be willing to place their trust in you just as they placed their trust in the other lady. As for the bad babysitter, the parents should report her even if she's unlicensed. We have a ton of unlicensed people here, but it's illegal. One babysitter did get shut down bc she posted pics on FB of tiny babies sleeping in unsafe manners. One was asleep on a boppy on a couch; the other was asleep in a bouncer on the couch.

[Crazy8]

ice cream??? why the heck would they even do that?? I just don't get it, even if they were giving them something to sleep, wouldn't putting it in their formula that they are used to be the better choice?? A 4 month old doesn't know to like ice cream. That is just strange. And how the heck did they find out? Did the provider tell them she gave a bottle of ice cream??

Anyway, I wouldn't really get wrapped up in the reason they are leaving their provider, just interview like you usually do and let them make their decision!

[Kiki]

I don't think you should be worried at all. The DCG I have had for the longest came to me from a horrible provider. She was left in a highchair pretty much all day long, was 10 months old when she came to me, and could barely scoot. By the time she hit 11 months we had her taking small steps. Mom would also make comments to me all the time about how clean she was when she left my house, and how dirty she used to be. Long story short-I've had DCG for almost 2 years now, and have had nothing but great comments from her parents.

Sorry to derail-my point was, if you are giving great care, that is all they will notice. For a few weeks I think they might be wary, but after that if you are doing great, they will stop being worried about you doing something wrong. Do the interview like you normally would, and if you think it's a match go for it! I'd be tempted to go for it just to make sure the parents could see how great in home care really can be.

I am super curious though, how in the world did they find out about the ice cream bottle, maybe showed up early and saw it? And what in the world would she be putting in it?!

[SilverSabre25]

two of my dcks came from bad situations--one was seriously overcrowded, the other had very little supervision (and in fact, dcb got out and was picked up by the cops, and that's why he's here). They've been with me very long term.

[cheerfuldom]

thank you for all the help. i will update after the interview.

i dont know why I keep hearing these horror stories recently. a friend said that she had to pull out her kids from a daycare because she walked in and the provider was spraying (yes spraying!) the kids down with Lysol in order to "clean them up and get them ready for pickup". what is wrong with these people?????

[Meyou]

One of mine comes from a horror story home daycare too. They've been nothing but wonderful. I gave them a little extra attention at the beginning with reports and little details but really not anymore than I give any first time parents with a child starting daycare.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have two children that came from bad daycares.

Child #1 was in a daycare where the provider lost her own child (wandered out of the home and the provider did not know for a couple of hours that she was even missing).

Child #2 was in a daycare where the older children constantly hit him and he was fearful of daycare.

They are great to work with.

[e.j.]

thank you for all the help. i will update after the interview.

i dont know why I keep hearing these horror stories recently. a friend said that she had to pull out her kids from a daycare because she walked in and the provider was spraying (yes spraying!) the kids down with Lysol in order to "clean them up and get them ready for pickup". what is wrong with these people?????

I'm thinking it could be partly due to the economy. People who aren't qualified but need jobs might be tempted to open a child care business because they think it's easy money?? As my brother used to say, "There's a whole lot of strange out there!"

I'm glad you decided to do the interview. I've had a few families come from bad day care situations and I find they tend to be some of the best to deal with. They will compare you to the other provider and will appreciate knowing they now have someone they can trust. Good luck!