Child care question (not sad!)

[game blouses]

Could you take the baby to daycare for a day or two a week during the summer? That way, he or she can stay acquainted with the teachers at daycare.

[sarahswim]

We use an in-home daycare who happens to live 5 houses away from us, which is awesome. The nice thing about a lot of (but not all, I'm sure) in-home places is working with a teacher's schedule. Ours let us bring DS once a week over the summer so he is used to being there and it's not such a shock for him when I have to go back to school. And I have a lot of friends who take their kids to in-home people who only take teacher's kids, so they can keep the same type of schedule. Good luck with your search!

[underwaterrhymes]

Can you take FMLA followed by your H taking FMLA? That would give you 24 weeks to play with, even if it might mean things would be tight financially for awhile.

This may not be feasible, but thought it was worth throwing it out there.

[keyslover]

I know of a few daycare providers that only take teachers kids so they all have the summer off. Check to see if any of those are in your area.

[hymen]

Our center allows kids to take the summers off, no problem. I just have to pay a deposit for the first week back in the fall during his last week. Look around. Some may be accommodating, some may not. One of the ones we toured did not, which was a major con for us and one of the reasons we decided not to go with them.

However, some of the daycare stories on here have made me realize our daycare is pretty much the shiznit, so take that into consideration too.

[jssymom14]

I am a teacher and addy will start an in home in August when I return to school. As others had said, my provider will not make us pay anytime she isn't there (so summer/winter/spring breaks). You can always ask about those 2 months that you are back and maybe plan a weekly day in the summer if you have to work or want to run errands without kid!
Ask or email other teachers who have young kids if they have any recommendations, that is how I found mine. Good luck!

[livinitup]

Our center has a big focus (and therefore draws) on teacher's schedules. So, if they had room in the baby room (if) they would accept you and then welcome you back in the fall. Since lots of teachers pull their kids for the summer, the center runs a "school agers" program for the summer with the same staff. It's awesome.

At other centers, you can start and then pay a hefty holding fee for your spot in the fall.

Or you can start in one place and roll the dice if they have a spot in the fall or start new with someone who has one. It wouldn't be terrible to have good care for 2 months, then you for the summer, and then a new place for the next school year.

Who knows, but you have lots of options.

[snickers]

Since you will have spring break and summer and Christmas off, you might want to look around at options that will allow you to keep your child home with you and not pay during this time. Maybe an in-home daycare might be a better option for that. I am not even sure if people do this often, but I know a few people around here who do it so it could be an option for you. I don't know any centre's around here that would allow this.
It would definitely pay to start looking early!

[pierogigirl]

A center was important to me. Ours won't hold our spots over the summer, but we can go to part-time, which is what we do. It's actually perfect because I get a couple of days each week to do what I want/need to do and if I have kids I'm tutoring I do it on a daycare day.

[underwaterrhymes]

Jul 8, 2013 18:10:45 GMT -5 mekiakoo said:

Jul 8, 2013 18:07:24 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Can you take FMLA followed by your H taking FMLA? That would give you 24 weeks to play with, even if it might mean things would be tight financially for awhile.

This may not be feasible, but thought it was worth throwing it out there.

I know H is allowed 6, maybe 12 weeks without pay at all (I get 100% for my first six weeks, none for the second 6 weeks). But following my leave? I'm not sure about that.

That's something we can look into. Thanks!

I know of a few people who did this. Can't hurt to look into, right? Good luck!

[copperboom]

I have a few friends who are teachers who use in-home daycares that are targeted specifically to teachers, and closed in the summer. Maybe ask around at work and see of any of the other teachers use a similar setup.

[osulori]

When I was looking for child care, I came across quite a few in home providers that mentioned accomodating teacher's schedules. Plus friends of mine chose a specific day care center because, among other reasons, they allowed drop off before 7am (both parents had long commutes at the time) and would hold their daughter's spot during the summer at a reduced monthly rate. I'd suggest checking into the options around you, you may be pleasantly surprised