Getting New Families While Pregnant

[LeslieG]

My hubby and I could really use a little boost in our income, so I am really wanting to enroll a new family (or two) asap! Only thing is that I'm pregnant… is this going to deter families?

I will only be taking off 2 weeks for maternity leave and of course I will not charge during this time. Also, my husband will be home to help with the kids from about 2 weeks before my due date (4/23) all the way through the summer.

I'm just getting a little worried that families will be turned off by the fact that I'm pregnant.

[NightOwl]

It's possible, but if I was interviewing with you and really liked you, I would make due. It's only two weeks.

And if you're in the first trimester, I wouldn't tell them anyway. Lots of people wait until after the first is done before they tell anyone, even close family members.

[Annalee]

I had been in business 9 years when I had my first child....the only thing my clients asked was if I planned to continue with child care after I had my children. It really wasn't a big deal to clients old or new....I went on like normal while I was pregnant and so did my clients....

[Patches]

I'm pregnant and interviewing and one of the moms flat out said that my two week unpaid maternity leave is too much of a concern for her, so I would say yes, it COULD deter some families, but what can you do besides interview and see what happens. Good luck!

[Annalee]

I'm pregnant and interviewing and one of the moms flat out said that my two week unpaid maternity leave is too much of a concern for her, so I would say yes, it COULD deter some families, but what can you do besides interview and see what happens. Good luck!

My contract was already where I was charging 52 weeks per year regardless and I took off 7 days after both pregnancies with pay....my clients new that when I went to the hospital, I would be closed for a week from that point....I had one mom that made a big tadooo about it, but she paid and continued with me!

[Kabob]

I enrolled two new families while pregnant. I just told them my plan for the weeks leading up to and after delivery and they felt comfortable enough to enroll...either that or they were desperate. Worked for me ether way.

[MOM OF 4]

Depends. When I was first pregnant, all the parents were like "OH WE WILL NEVER LEAVE", and the new ones said the same. I had my babies and they didn't even wait til I was in recovery! I had messages from ALL of them (6) that they were not able to make arrangements and how their new provider REQUIRED them to sign up for FT. They had MONTHS notice and not one problem about it was brought up til their DOB. It made me SO mad. And the NERVE of TWO of these moms to bounce checks for the services provided, while I'm in the hospital! We recovered it, but how rude!

[Rainbow]

I've finally gotten my daycare up and running and I have signed on 3 new families while pregnant. All of them knew, when signing up, that I am planning on being closed for about 2 1/2 months when I have my baby. I know I will most likely lose one of them when I close, but as far as I know, my other families are working on arranging temporary care and plan to come back. I suspect that they may have been desperate for care when signing up, since there is not a lot of openings for under 2 around here. I know that I could lose more families when I have my baby, but that's a chance I'm willing to take.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I interviewed through my entire pregnancy and told clients upon arriving at the interview. I enrolled, I believe, 6-8 new kids during that time and I had 2 kids start when I was 39 weeks pregnant!

I took 2 weeks off, unpaid, and only had 1 family leave. They leave EVERYWHERE, though, and have been through 5-6 places in the past 2 years. About 9 months later they had bounced from another place and ended up at my friend's in-home daycare. They are now leaving her 4 months later. So, all of that to say the BAD ones may leave but the GOOD ones will stay and make it work.

[Dilley Beans]

Anything can be a negative to the wrong person. If your maternity leave is a problem within the next 7 months, it would always be a problem for that person. Some people just don't care about others, or just don't have the support to get coverage for 2 weeks. Other than that, most can make it work.

Congrats btw!