Have you

[nikia]

Ever called past providers for new families you are considering caring for? I am just trying to think of ways to avoid some of the problem families I have run in to. Or do u think a past provider would have a bad taste in their mouth if the family is the one who terminated the care?

[laundrymom]

I require references.... and check them.

Ever called past providers for new families you are considering caring for? I am just trying to think of ways to avoid some of the problem families I have run in to. Or do u think a past provider would have a bad taste in their mouth if the family is the one who terminated the care?

[nikia]

I require references.... and check them.

I have the list their past providers but I have never called them and I'm thinking that was a mistake on my part. Do u find they are helpful and honest? Any resentment from the last provider if u have called them?

[Blackcat31]

I also require references and check them. However, I have had a past provider give a bad reference and the family turned out great for me and I've had the opposite occur as welll; glowing review but family was not so great for me.
So I take all I hear with a grain of salt and figure it is only a starting point.

The provider who said not to take a certain family because of paying issues was just sort of a heads up for me and I stressed my payment rules with that family from very beginning, never gave an inch and have had NO ISSUES with them in regards to paying. Either they learned their lesson from the old provider or I just prevented any issues because I knew about them ahead of time. Hard to say for sure.

[laundrymom]

I find them helpful,...I ask how long they were there, I ask if they would welcome them back,...were there any triggers or things I should know about the childs interaction with their group (ex,.. I have had kids terrified of the sweeper, the dishwasher, etc,..)

I listen for clues as to the persons feelings on the family.
we are a close group, care givers,... noone wants a bad apple. We often can relay that info without relaying it.... did that make sense?

I dont know of any resentment,..

I have the list their past providers but I have never called them and I'm thinking that was a mistake on my part. Do u find they are helpful and honest? Any resentment from the last provider if u have called them?

[laundrymom]

I also have to add Ive only checked references 4 times. All other kids I was their first provider.