Unannounced Parent Visits

[Unregistered]

Parents just dropping by to visit.

I'm not cool with parents just dropping by to see their kids during the day and leaving a few minutes later. If a parent stops by to visit, then I require them to take their child home with them. I don't like dividing my attention between visiting parents and the children that I care for. When I first started my daycare, I would allow parents to visit and then when they would leave again, it would be totally chaotic! No more of that!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

This. We have to allow parents access to their children at all times and honestly encourage any parent with a child in daycare to do so. I feel it's within their rights to drop in unannounced for an early pickup. I wish I would have more with my last provider. I have heard stories of drop ins finding their baby being neglected, bottles propped in swings or not changed all day. It ****s for good providers who can be suspected but I'm sure one early drop in to find everything going well and baby properly cared for would alleviate the concern.

I've had one family who did this, showed up at random times maybe once a week, and looking back she was just kinda out there. First time mom who acted as if I'd never had kids or knew what to do. Insisted she take his bottles and cups every day, his linens every week, provided most (but not all... Weird?) of his food and only organic milk. The funniest part was how she tried to argue with me about the expiration date on a box of ultra-pasteurized organic milk that lasts a long time in the fridge unopened but only 7 days once opened. I tried to send it home with her because by Monday it would be open 8 days. She did NOT believe me and literally stood in my kitchen saying THIS is the expiration date and I had to actually show her where it says "keep refrigerated, use within 7 days of opening" and she finally took it but hello!? I can't believe I put up with so much of her crap looking back. She was very neurotic but for whatever reason she chose me after interviewing literally every daycare in town!

I actually had a Mom do this on Wednesday. She is separated and wanted to say good-bye before she went out of town and the child went with Dad. The child has ONLY been in care for 1.5 weeks of their life (with me) so I completely understood the concern. She cuddled in the entryway as we continued on with our loud dancing and singing. He was very upset when she left but that is natural. I feel for the little guy. That is the ONLY parent (out of more than 30 clients now...) who has ever stopped by to visit. If I put my baby in daycare I would do the same, quite honestly. There are horrible daycares around here where parents stop by to pick up their child early and see/hear crazy things (I know because they switch their children here after learning about us) so I would want to ENSURE that my child was being treated well and the place was in fact safe.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I allow parents and designated pick-up people to come by at any time, but they have the pleasure of taking their little one with them on the way out. If they do come at a random time, though, they have to understand that we tend to take a walk mid-morning so we may not be here. It's always best to let me know so we can make sure we're around.

I HAVE had parents swing by to drop something off, but that is done at the door where their child won't go through a second separation anxiety.

I have stuff dropped off at my door ALL THE TIME. Seriously, it must happen at least once a week. ::

[Unregistered]

I actually had a Mom do this on Wednesday. She is separated and wanted to say good-bye before she went out of town and the child went with Dad. The child has ONLY been in care for 1.5 weeks of their life (with me) so I completely understood the concern. She cuddled in the entryway as we continued on with our loud dancing and singing. He was very upset when she left but that is natural. I feel for the little guy. That is the ONLY parent (out of more than 30 clients now...) who has ever stopped by to visit. If I put my baby in daycare I would do the same, quite honestly. There are horrible daycares around here where parents stop by to pick up their child early and see/hear crazy things (I know because they switch their children here after learning about us) so I would want to ENSURE that my child was being treated well and the place was in fact safe.

Wow,what she did was very selfish. At that age he probably hadn't seen her for a few days, and he thought he was leaving with her. And inconsiderate to you, because you were left with a upset child.

And fyi, they always bad mouth their last sitter so don't believe they are always "horrible".
I was horrible because after two years they forgot I took Good Friday off. This was a teacher mind you, and even though I reminded her 3 days ahead of time, her husband called me and yelled at me about taking days off. He and his wife, made plans and they would often skip work together to do things. Guess they forgot about my designated day off. Long story short, they punished me by going to my neighbor next door, ! And we've had a field day, my neighbor is great and she told me she can't stand any of them...so of course it all backfired. I would say there are more horrible parents than horrible day cares!

[grateday]

Anyone know a lawyer who can answer this

I need to find a clearer way to make things to parents. I have not had any issues with unannounced, because it is like a revolving door here with flexible hours. I have them call so I can put my loud dog away who can be heard from houses down if someone just knocks. It is there right but I agree, it is not a hang out. I do need to make coming over and not leaving with kid a no no. Wow though bringing someone along now that is new and I am not sure if that is ok because they legally probably should not be there.

From a legal standpoint is the parent allowed to roam around the home, I always wondered? They are allowed access but how much is too much? Using your bathroom? Wandering into the kitchen and saying, lets see what everyone's having? Here is the short order cook, what would you like? I guess I was not in the mood for the humor this morning as my little one kept me up all night.

[mema]

I let parents know they can stop at anytime, but to try and be considerate of nap time. Also, if they stop, child must go with them.