What Do You Wear For Daycare?

[originalkat]

I recently read something interesting that asked if the home daycare providers wore makeup and what type of clothes they wore to work. It is always a bit of a struggle for me. I want to look professional but I dont want to get my nicer tops stained etc... I was considering getting some Tee shirts/polos with my logo on them to wear with jeans. I hate trying to decide what I will wear in the mornings. This would take the guess work out of it and still look nice.

I have heard some providers wear scrubs. This might be good for infant providers, but I dont have any kids under 2 so I dont think that would work for me.

I do wear make-up every day. Nothing fancy...it takes about 5 minutes to put it on in the morning. I usually pull my hair back into a simple pony tail or into a hair clip.

[gbcc]

I wear jeans or stretchy pants (not sweats) but the nicer looking ones. They look like I would wear them to the office but they are stretchy. Anyways and then I bought a bunch of short sleeves and long sleeve shirts on vistaprint.com. They have them for free a lot so you just have to pay s and h. It took me awhile to buy them all so I had a different one each day but for free it was worth it!

[tymaboy]

I wear all kinds of casual clothes when I'm working. It all depends on what I need to do after work as to how nice the casual clothes are & if I put makeup on or not.

[DBug]

I've got custom t-shirts with my name and daycare name too. I pair them with jeans (sometimes pretty scruffy ones) but it's amazing what a difference it makes. Parents really seem to take me more seriously. I think it's because they figure if I've taken the time and expense to create my own "uniform", I must take my business pretty seriously and be in it for the long haul.

I've also gotten great reactions during interviews. It's worth it to get some shirts made up. I got mine through vistaprint too :-), and they were very well-priced. They do fade after repeated washes though, so I try to make sure I order one each time the free offers get sent out.

[GretasLittleFriends]

I wear jeans and a nice cotton shirt, sweater or sweatshirt. It depends on the weather and the mood I'm in. In the summer I wear shorts. There have been days when I've been doing yard work and worn scruffier clothes.

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

I wear cotton pants and shirts. I wear the same kind of play clothes I like the kids to wear.

[SimpleMom]

I dress like I would if I worked at a center. I wear a nice top and pair of jeans or cords. I try to keep my work clothes separate from my "play" clothes. My clothes get worn out very quickly, so I try to replace them when I can. I used to wear logo shirts and may start that up again. I just feel more professional that way.

I wear make-up and usually pull my hair back or staighten it...depends if I want to get up that early

[mac60]

I am the same, I dress like I am going to a job. I would never think of meeting someone at the door in sweats and a tee shirt, or pajama pants. Usually jeans and a descent top or sweater. In the summer shorts/capris. I always have shoes on, except I got a pair of clog style slippers for Christmas and I have had them on all day, they are so comfy and warm. I think it is important to look professional to a certain degree even if I work at home.

[GretasLittleFriends]

I would never think of meeting someone at the door in sweats and a tee shirt, or pajama pants.

There are many days I greet one mom at the door wearing pjs. I have one little girl that shows up at 3:45a, then goes back to sleep until 6:30. I don't see getting out of bed at 3:30, getting dressed, opening the door, putting her back to bed, getting undressed again, and going back to sleep for 2 hours. The days she's coming I do make sure I wear nice pajamas and robe, not my hubby's sweats and Ts.

I also do NOT wear makeup unless I'm going somewhere special with the kids. However, I rarely wear make-up when I go out anyway. My hair is always done though. We have a no shoe house, so I rarely wear footwear in the house. Sometimes if my feet are cold I'll wear slippers, but that's rare.

Lately with the growing pregnancy, comfort is much more important to me than how professional I look. The makeup has been making me break out, and some of my maternity jeans aren't top quality, no holes, just not completely stylish.

[melissa ann]

Since it's cold right now, I wear jeans and sweatshirt. In the summer, shorts and a tee shirt. I ususally have shoes on when the parents show up, normally those cheap $10 slip-on shoes. I hate wearing shoes. No make-up except for a little foundation/powder on days when my face gets red and blotchy on my cheecks. That ususally happens more in the winter. My hair is usually down but I do put in mousse to keep it from frizzing out.

[jen]

Jeans, t-shirts, sometimes sweats...

I usually don't wear make up during the day. Heck, I was at Target on a weekend and one my daycare Dad's almost didn't recognize me! LOL!

[mac60]

OMG, if I had to get up at 3:45 and let someone in, I would do the same and meet them in my jammies. That is an exception to my rule. I think getting up at 5 and being ready by 6:30 is early enough.

[kiddiecare]

I also will greet in pj's for my early drop offs, otherwise i wear jeans and a t-shirt with a sweat shirt,nicer ones, even in the summer i usually have one on, I get cold easy, i rarely wear make up or do my hair (as in hairspray and all that jazz), I've also ran into parents when i was out on the town and they didnt recognize me all dressed up. I try to 'dress down' i guess for work, I've actually had a potential new client tell me that she really liked my set up but i was to pretty to be a 'babysitter' (her word not mine) and she wouldnt be comfortable with her spouse dropping off or picking up the kid. And i wear a lot of baggy shirts or if im wearing a form fitting top i will grab a sweater when a dcd is picking up, ironicaly i just had a conversation with my bf last night about that. Just got a new dck whose dad has full custody and is single, when he showed up for the interview i was wearing a tank top under a long sleeve form fitting cotton top but i left to grab a sweatshirt, I'm a size 6/7 with the bra size of a 32 DD, I don't know why i feel self consious about that with the dcd's maybe it was that mom not enrolling cuz of the way i look but now i do think about what i wear as before i didnt.

[originalkat]

Agreed!

I would be in my Pajamas too if it was 3:45 to let someone in!

[AmandasFCC]

I usually wear jeans and a t-shirt or sweatshirt. I dress for comfort, because I'm always on the floor with the kids. I like the idea of getting some t-shirts made with my logo on them, but that'll have to come in time.

OCCASIONALLY, if I'm not feeling well or something (as in twice so far in 8 months) I'll wear sweat pants and a decent looking top. I wore sweats yesterday because I felt like absolute death .