Would You/Have You Taken Children Whose Mom Previously Did Daycare?

[bunnyslippers]

I am currently interviewing preschools for my youngest son, and I am a current preschool/daycare provider. I am going back to work in September. I haven't had any resistance to people wanting to meet with me.

I think it could be a good thing to have a previous provider as a client. She will have already dealt with many of the frustrations, and may be empathetic to the challenges of being a provider. She could end up being one of your easiest clients!

[RosieMommy]

A lot of providers starting out will call around pretending to look for child care when in fact they are rate/hours fishing so they can set theirs. Some will even go so far as to interview, get the contract/policy handbook and then copy it word for word. It happens way too often for most of us not to be suspicious.

I've also heard a lot of providers say that the *worst* clients they ever had were former providers and they could never understand it. :confused:

I would really have to know the person well and know the situation (are they really leaving child care?) before considering it.

Oh ok I understand.

[MNMum]

I do daycare M-Th, and my 3 yo drops in on Fridays at a home daycare. I'm pretty new to licensed daycare and so is my son's daycare provider. I know she will do things her way and that is fine with me! I was nervouse about how my child would behave at another daycare, because at the time he was my hardest client! But she reports that he is good for her.

I think it would depend on the mother's perspective towards her job as a daycare provider. I'm the type that is always looking for ways to do things better, and love to see how other people make this job work for them and the kids. If this person were the type that thought they knew everything daycare, then I may think twice before accepting.

Hopefully she would be a great client, because she knows first hand how difficult it is to deal with parents, etc...

[Cradle2crayons]

I've had nothing but good experiences taking in kids of previous providers. One in particular had a one year old and a two year old and was watching two other children. She did it for a few months and had troubles getting people to pay and got frustrated. She didn't even have a handbook or contract or anything. I took both if her kids and yes, she was the best parent ever. She totally got it. She did say several times she wished she had thought of some things I was doing. But she went back to her previous career. Her kids were great well adjusted kids and very well cared for at home as well as here. After a year and a half her husband got transferred and we all cried when they moved . I wish all of my parents were like her!!!

But sure, I can see it could have a very very annoying side too!!

[AmyKidsCo]

I would interview, even if she doesn't have a job yet. If things go well then you'll be all ready to go when she does get a job.

[e.j.]

Personally, I would agree to an interview. Even if she doesn't have a job yet, you would have at least met with her and you'd have a sense of whether or not it could work out. If the interview goes well, you could always either offer to hold a spot for her (with a fee) or tell her you can't hold a spot for her but she should call back once she has a job.