Would You Terminate?

[Unregistered]

I'm considering giving probationary notice for termination. Baby has been here 3 months, has always had sleep issues, now it turns out its from reflux. Baby only sleeps 10-30 minutes at a time and is constantly cranky/fussy/screaming due to pain from reflux. I have several other kids/babies to care for, and its getting extremely difficult. Dr recommends baby sleep in carseat, waiting for a note from doc and approval from licensing board before I can try it.

Would you give probationary notice (if there is no improvement in mood and sleeping in 2 weeks with new sleeping arrangements, then termination) to this family?

Has anyone ever modified their pay scale for a very difficult child? I would consider keeping this baby (if no improvement happens) if I made more to care for him. I have an assistant now and could pay her to come more often if I made more, just to help out with this baby.

[TwinKristi]

You could explain that in order to keep watching him you need to have your assistant there more and therefore can either charge them a rate increase of blank or you can't watch him if things don't improve in the next 2wks.
A better question may be tips to deal with a fussy baby with reflux. Unfortunately someone else will ultimately watch this baby so while terming may be "easier" depending on how quickly you can fill his place (waiting list?) it may be worth it to offer the higher rate as an option using the addt'l assistant time needed.

[Play Care]

My contract is very clear that if I have to hire additional help to care for a child then I will have to term. I do have a sub who comes in from time to time, but I do that for *my* convenience so I can make appointments or run an errand. On the rare times I do have them with me, it's not really enough to get a "break" from an especially demanding infant/child and I get annoyed that I'm paying the sub and still not getting a real break. JME though.

[jessrlee]

I had a screamer for a year!! I will NEVER do it again! It affected everyting negitively! I'm a much better person when work isn't stressful!

[Laurel]

I'm considering giving probationary notice for termination. Baby has been here 3 months, has always had sleep issues, now it turns out its from reflux. Baby only sleeps 10-30 minutes at a time and is constantly cranky/fussy/screaming due to pain from reflux. I have several other kids/babies to care for, and its getting extremely difficult. Dr recommends baby sleep in carseat, waiting for a note from doc and approval from licensing board before I can try it.

Would you give probationary notice (if there is no improvement in mood and sleeping in 2 weeks with new sleeping arrangements, then termination) to this family?

Has anyone ever modified their pay scale for a very difficult child? I would consider keeping this baby (if no improvement happens) if I made more to care for him. I have an assistant now and could pay her to come more often if I made more, just to help out with this baby.

I just want to bring this up in case. A while back we were having a discussion about taking a child with a handicap. I had some misinformation about this so looked online into the law a little bit. One of the poster's gave me a link.

One cannot charge more to watch a handicapped child under the American Disabilities Act. It is against the law. Now maybe a medical problem like reflux is not considered under this. I don't know. I'm wondering if it is. It might be something to check out.

According to what I read, (sorry I don't know where to direct you to read about it), one cannot even refuse to enroll a handicapped child UNLESS they can't accomodate them. For example, it is a child in a wheel chair and you don't have a ramp. I'm wondering if you can even refuse to watch them simply because of a medical problem. You probably could if your reason was that you can't accomodate them because it would affect the safety and well being of other children in your care. After all, you can't ignore one to constantly watch another.

I may be completely mistaken but if I were you I'd want to check it out with a lawyer. I might even give another reason for terming rather because they have a medical problem. Maybe hours or ???

Just so it is on your radar. Be careful. Someone else might know if a medical problem would be considered the same as a physical handicap. I don't want to look it up but maybe you should before you make a decision.

Laurel

[Maria2013]

I had a screamer for a year!! I will NEVER do it again! It affected everyting negitively! I'm a much better person when work isn't stressful!

I wouldn't ask for more money....if I'm stressing, it'll never be worth it! :hug:

[kitykids3]

I had this problem in the spring. I had a baby here 10 hours a day and even though the parents said he didn't have reflux I could swear he did. Even if he didn't, he had something going on with his stomach because he was constantly gassy and his spitting up was more like throwing up. Even mom seem shocked when she saw it one day when she picked him up.

I had asked the parents 3 times to bring gas drops so we could at least try those. Never brought them, even questioned me suggesting them. Poor baby wanted to be held ALL the TIME cuz he didn't feel well. I couldn't do it. Even with my assistant here most of the extra time, it was a lot of stress on us and the other kids to listen to him.

One day I was by myself and holding him. I looked up and 3 of the 5 other kids I had here were looking at me all disappointed cuz once again I had to hold the baby instead of playing with them. That's when I knew I couldn't do it anymore. It wasn't fair to the other kids and was not able to provide the high-quality care to everyone anymore so I had to term. I felt horrible and part of the reason was because the parents didn't seem too cooperative on helping figure out what was going on with him, but I was honest about the impact of having to hold him and his crying on everyone.