Why Do Daycare Centers Not Have 2nd Shift?

[daycarediva]

There have been some really inconsiderate and ignorant posts in here. Reasonable responses would be nice with regards to anyone who may work later hours at their employer (or may have to be in earlier than the average employee.) If you know anything about the multiple facets of businesses and the demands they have put on their work force, you'd know that many fields of industry are requiring employees to come in as early as 6AM, they are requiring employees to stay longer than a normal 8 hour shift, and they are opening up later shifts such as a 2nd or 3rd shift to meet their production needs. Now regardless of what I have heard "Some daycares can't handle the costs," "people should hire someone to take care of their kids".... no. If you are going to open a daycare, you open it to meet the demands of your entire community's work demands or you don't open one up. If you only have one customer/two customers per 2nd or 3rd shift, you keep one person on to accomodate those who are striving to keep our economy flowing and so hard working individuals can get the child care they need. Just like the customers who work later shifts, the daycares should employ staff to work later shifts. It may not be the intention, but it is inadvertently discriminate of those who don't work a 'typical' 9-5 shift.

This has GOT to be a joke.

If not, get over it. You chose to have children. You chose that job. I choose to not spend 18 hours a day working to accommodate that schedule. We all have choices.

That being said, there ARE providers that are open odd hours, holidays, even weekends. Call your local state resource and referral agency and ask for provider recommendations for care outside of traditional hours.

If I hired someone, at $12/hour to watch second shift children, I would have to have her on at 2:30 pm (as later would put me over ratio). I would have to pay her until 11:30pm. That's 9 hours, or $108/day. NOT including the taxes that employers match, or the insurance (disability, unemployment, comp, liability), or the food, or the utilities. I would have to MAKE probably $175-200/day to make it cost effective. If I only had TWO second shift kids (as you state, even with low numbers we SHOULD have care available) I would have to charge each family $87.50/DAY to be able to afford it.

No way a business can take a loss to offer a service.

[Blackcat31]

Hey Sean.... let's do some simple math.

YOU have children + I own MY business = YOUR issues are not MY issues.

[Unregistered]

Overnight Kid Care 50/50

I live in a military town where service members and contractors all have to do shift work. I am a contractor with a toddler, and I have to rely on family members to help me with her care, but they are not always available. Last year, I was on 2nd shift frequently, my employer would not budge, so I had to send her to stay with my sister and her family for 3 months at a time, since shift rotations last that long. when I got on Days shift this year, my employer gave me a Wednesday to Saturday schedule. What will I do for Saturday, day cares are only only Monday - Friday. Here I was again, struggling to find help so I could stay connected with my daughter, and to not have to send her away while I constantly call out every saturday, and can potentially lose my job. I want to start an overnight day care facility that operates from 6pm to 6am. I feel like I would benefit more by helping struggling military families, and contractors here, if I do this. I need guidance. Can someone tell me how to start my business? It is a community necessity at this point, since single parents keep quitting their positions for the same reason - no child care. Also, many of them got out of the military after being stationed here, and decided to start there families here, but are stuck without help for overnight care. I'm going to create a survey and send it out to my local community to validate this. I believe I could help service members and contractors get relief with an overnight child care facility.

[Snowmom]

I live in a military town where service members and contractors all have to do shift work. I am a contractor with a toddler, and I have to rely on family members to help me with her care, but they are not always available. Last year, I was on 2nd shift frequently, my employer would not budge, so I had to send her to stay with my sister and her family for 3 months at a time, since shift rotations last that long. when I got on Days shift this year, my employer gave me a Wednesday to Saturday schedule. What will I do for Saturday, day cares are only only Monday - Friday. Here I was again, struggling to find help so I could stay connected with my daughter, and to not have to send her away while I constantly call out every saturday, and can potentially lose my job. I want to start an overnight day care facility that operates from 6pm to 6am. I feel like I would benefit more by helping struggling military families, and contractors here, if I do this. I need guidance. Can someone tell me how to start my business? It is a community necessity at this point, since single parents keep quitting their positions for the same reason - no child care. Also, many of them got out of the military after being stationed here, and decided to start there families here, but are stuck without help for overnight care. I'm going to create a survey and send it out to my local community to validate this. I believe I could help service members and contractors get relief with an overnight child care facility.

Go for it.
Check with your state's requirements & licensing agency. They should be able to direct you to the proper resources. You can also see the links located on daycare.com's main page. Quick link: https://www.daycare.com/states.html

Just be aware, many states require a provider to be awake during daycare hours. Not sure that would solve your problem with being able to raise your toddler since you'd be awake all night doing overnight care.

[Cat Herder]

Just be aware, many states require a provider to be awake during daycare hours. Not sure that would solve your problem with being able to raise your toddler since you'd be awake all night doing overnight care.

That and most parents expect to pay the same rate as 1st shift care or less "since they will be sleeping, anyway". Nighttime sleep requirements are much more stringent and expensive, too. (own bed required here if overnight, not mats or cots). You will get inspected more often, too, as you will be rare.

[springv]

We are opened from 6am until 6pm and are a licensed center