Well No Wonder.....

[Crazy8]

I have mentioned needing some kids by Sept, not getting any calls in months, etc. and now I can see maybe one reason why.... I just signed on to care.com as a parent looking for care and there are well over 200 listings within 5 miles of me. There are over 75 listings in my town alone when I search for full time care.

I know not all of these are true home daycares, many are even just teen/young adult occasional babysitters, but how the heck do you weed thru all them to find the handful of us who are home daycare providers?? I have read many of you say so many do home daycare near you, I really didn't think there were many near me, now it does seem everyone has decided to "make a few bucks watching a few kids". Bummer for those of us who actually take the job seriously and have a real program.

I just enrolled one new child, really need a few more to make it work!!

[DayCareDynasty]

Bummer for those of us who actually take the job seriously and have a real program.

I just enrolled one new child, really need a few more to make it work!!

Hi Crazy8! It really concerns me :confused: that parents are actually taking their children to baby sitters who have hardly the training we have, such as cpr,first-aid,ECE etc...

Anyway, try the website I suggested in my second pm. It puts your business right on the first page of Google for your area. You wont have to worry about parents sifting through a listing to find you!

I am up to 7 phone calls now and the competition is steep here in Northern Cali. However since I am not actively taking kids I am referring these parent leads to providers in my area.

Congrats! On your new enrollmenthappyfacehappyface

[daycarediva]

I haven't received a call in over a week, which is completely unheard of, but craigslist is FULL of sahm's offering care for dirt cheap.

[Unregistered]

try the website I suggested in my second pm. It puts your business right on the first page of Google for your area. You wont have to worry about parents sifting through a listing to find you!

Any chance you could share that website w/ all of us?

[cheerfuldom]

Its like this everywhere...its just the economy...people trying to make ends meet in whatever way they can and parents trying to cut corners by looking for cheaper care. I have never found care.com to be that great of an option for home daycare providers anyway. I would research past threads for other advertising ideas. The ones that work the best for me are door to door flyers/mailers or signs hung up in the area (I put an email address, not a phone number or actual address). I get a little bit of traffic off Craigslist.

I used to be one of the only providers on my side of town....five years ago. Now there are a half a dozen home daycares within walking distance of me.

[dave4him]

It's crazy how many people are out there who are just so trusting

[Crazy8]

Its like this everywhere...its just the economy...people trying to make ends meet in whatever way they can and parents trying to cut corners by looking for cheaper care. I have never found care.com to be that great of an option for home daycare providers anyway. I would research past threads for other advertising ideas. The ones that work the best for me are door to door flyers/mailers or signs hung up in the area (I put an email address, not a phone number or actual address). I get a little bit of traffic off Craigslist.

I used to be one of the only providers on my side of town....five years ago. Now there are a half a dozen home daycares within walking distance of me.

our area's craigslist is a NIGHTMARE!! No luck on there at all. I've done all types of other advertising, I know a lot of people know of me because I've been doing this for 11 years now, but I was just surprised to see the number of listings on care.com when I don't know but 1 other provider in my area!!! You do not have to be registered in our state so anyone can just "open a home daycare" if they want to.