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Hi!
I'm a new childcare provider. My very first daycare child (16 months old) started this week. The parents seemed concerned about the cost of daycare, so we agreed that they would pay "x" amount per day if they provided all of the child's food, "x+$4" per day if I provided 1 meal and 2 snacks, "x+$5" if I provided 2 meals and 2 snacks (probably unnecessary, since he's here from 9:00-5:30, and would probably go home for dinner, but I wanted all the bases covered). They assured me that, if they chose to have me provide the food, he eats anything, and I can serve whatever I want to.
This is the third day, and so far, everything with the child and the parents is lovely. Everything except the food.
They chose to provide the food, and the first day, the mom dropped him off with multiple sippy's of milk and juice, and four ziplock baggies: teddy grahams, puffs, cheezeits, and some sort of wafer cookies.
I was taken aback, I never expected this to be what the parents would send! I didn't see what she had sent until she left for work, and even if I had, I wouldn't have known what to say. I thought, "It's the first day, and she's in a rush. Surely, tomorrow she'll actually pack him some real food." I packed up everything that was left over (a lot, because she sent so much in each baggie) and sent it all back home with him. The next day, she sent the same 4 baggies that I'd sent home with the leftovers in them, and more milk and juice. I sent them home again at the end of the day. Today, the same 4 baggies of food, but more juice, and less milk (so... even less nutrition).
The dad will usually be picking the child up, but yesterday it was his grandmother, and grandma's picking up again today, so I won't be able to speak to either parent in person today.
What do I do? Surely this isn't how they feed him at home (he seems very healthy, and the parents said he eats anything)??? I wish now that I had just quoted the higher price and told them that I would provide all food. I told them that it was their choice, and it's only been 3 days, I can't suddenly have a policy change can I, especially since this is my only daycare child? HELP!
I'm a new childcare provider. My very first daycare child (16 months old) started this week. The parents seemed concerned about the cost of daycare, so we agreed that they would pay "x" amount per day if they provided all of the child's food, "x+$4" per day if I provided 1 meal and 2 snacks, "x+$5" if I provided 2 meals and 2 snacks (probably unnecessary, since he's here from 9:00-5:30, and would probably go home for dinner, but I wanted all the bases covered). They assured me that, if they chose to have me provide the food, he eats anything, and I can serve whatever I want to.
This is the third day, and so far, everything with the child and the parents is lovely. Everything except the food.
They chose to provide the food, and the first day, the mom dropped him off with multiple sippy's of milk and juice, and four ziplock baggies: teddy grahams, puffs, cheezeits, and some sort of wafer cookies.
I was taken aback, I never expected this to be what the parents would send! I didn't see what she had sent until she left for work, and even if I had, I wouldn't have known what to say. I thought, "It's the first day, and she's in a rush. Surely, tomorrow she'll actually pack him some real food." I packed up everything that was left over (a lot, because she sent so much in each baggie) and sent it all back home with him. The next day, she sent the same 4 baggies that I'd sent home with the leftovers in them, and more milk and juice. I sent them home again at the end of the day. Today, the same 4 baggies of food, but more juice, and less milk (so... even less nutrition). The dad will usually be picking the child up, but yesterday it was his grandmother, and grandma's picking up again today, so I won't be able to speak to either parent in person today.
What do I do? Surely this isn't how they feed him at home (he seems very healthy, and the parents said he eats anything)??? I wish now that I had just quoted the higher price and told them that I would provide all food. I told them that it was their choice, and it's only been 3 days, I can't suddenly have a policy change can I, especially since this is my only daycare child? HELP!
How should I phrase it to the mother, though? They just started, and I told her it was her choice to bring food, or not. I never considered that I'd have to specify the type of food. After telling her it's her choice, how do I now say, "Nevermind, I'm doing it. (So now you have to pay me more)" :confused:
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