Potential Client Only Needs Every Other Week Care

[wahmof3]

I have a potential client only needing care every other week due to shared parenting.

How do you charge for this?

I don't think she can afford to pay for the week she doesn't use, but I think it would be difficult to fill the opposite week with another DCF.

I have not talked to DCM. I was contacted through email.

Any suggestions?

Would you just pass on this family?

[greentea78]

I had a parent like this contact me. I told her that she could pay by the week, but that they would be considered drop in and I couldn't guarantee a space or that she could pay my full time weekly rate even on weeks the kids wouldn't be here. I only talked to her on the phone. I don't think she liked either answer as I never heard back.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Is every other week care something you offer? If it isn't, then I would charge for weekly care.

I, personally, do not offer every other week care. It's not something I can afford to offer. If I were approached with this I would charge for the spot and they can use it as they see fit (whether that's every other week or every week). I have had children who attend 3 random days per week who pay for 5 days because I can't accommodate 3 random days per week.

[NeedaVaca]

I have a DCB that comes one full week and the next week only Mon & Tues. They pay my full weekly rate every week and have no problems with it, they are even considering putting him in part time preschool and still bring him here when they can and pay my full time weekly rate. I guess it just depends on the parents...

[MarinaVanessa]

I had a parent like this contact me. I told her that she could pay by the week, but that they would be considered drop in and I couldn't guarantee a space or that she could pay my full time weekly rate even on weeks the kids wouldn't be here. I only talked to her on the phone. I don't think she liked either answer as I never heard back.

I wouldn't make any exceptions for clients no matter what their circumstances were. I charge what I charge and this would apply to everyone so I would agree with what greentea said.

Either they pay me my FT weekly rate every week regardless of attendance to get a guaranteed spot or they can pay my drop-in rates but have no guarantee. Even when I have a client that has inconsistent schedules (retail, restaurants etc) I require them to pay FT if their schedule changes week to week.

[Cradle2crayons]

I don't offer every other week care either. They pay for the FT slot, regardless of attendance. If they don't like that, they can look elsewhere but NOBODY here would offer that.

[Soccermom]

I think it really depends on what you are looking for.
If you might like the break every other week and don't need to fill a full time space then by all means help her out but if you are looking to fill a full time spot I would be honest and tell her you need to be paid every week. (You could offer a discounted price for the weeks she doesn't need....where does she go the other week? It would be nice if the parents could have one permanent daycare for their child where they each pick up and drop off on opposite weeks).
You could also take her on a casual basis but tell the DCM that her spot is not guaranteed unless she pays for FT care. That way if a FT daycare spot fills up you can let her go.

[coolconfidentme]

I have a single parent ask me for two weeks on, two weeks off. Split parenting too. She said she doesn't like it, but ex lives 3 hours away. idk...

[Blackcat31]

I have 12 spaces. Parents pay PER space.

They can use it every other week, every week or a combination of on and off but the rate is still the same.

Someone else's financial and/or marital status has no bearing on my budget.

I have had parents over the years ask for similar things. While I empathize with them about their situation, I can't take a monetary lose due to their personal lives.

[Blackcat31]

Just wanted to add that YOU can choose to work it however YOU feel is best for YOU.

If you did choose to allow it and charged a full rate, partial rate or no rate, that is ok. It's all in what YOU are comfortable with and can financially afford to cut someone a break, then by all means you should.

Don't ever feel like you have to do what others do.

[daycare]

Speaking from experience DONT DO IT!!!!!

I did this several years ago for a family that was divorced. The parents had 50/50 custody and would go with dad one week, mom the next. When the child was with dad, they went to dads house not here. When with mom the child came here.

The child was 3years old and OMG was it the worst idea ever. The poor kid never new what was going on, every other week was retraining day(s).

Eventually the dad had to move out of state and the kid came full time. BOY let me tell you that the kid went from driving me crazy to being one of my best daycare kids.

Payment was that they paid 1/2 the normal tuition when the child was not present in care.

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I have 12 spaces. Parents pay PER space.

They can use it every other week, every week or a combination of on and off but the rate is still the same.

Someone else's financial and/or marital status has no bearing on my budget.

I have had parents over the years ask for similar things. While I empathize with them about their situation, I can't take a monetary lose due to their personal lives.

Amen, Sister!!!

[sharlan]

I have one family currently doing this.

I knew from the beginning that it would only be every other week. I also know that it's only for the summer. The child lives with the other parent 2 hours away, but spends every other week during the summer. Since I am holding a space until the end of summer for another child, it's working out. I'm able to make some money off of that space.

[itlw8]

I am licensed for 10 but 2 of those spots I usually fill with a p/t 3 day a week child. so I might consider taking them on but instead of f/t one week and none the next I would charge 2 weeks of p/t rate for the week they are here.

so instead of 95 a week they would pay $132 for that week.