How would you handle this?

[jen812]

I've had it with D's daycare provider. I'm currently looking for another, but in the meantime, ineed to handle this situation.

M, the daycare provider, has been doing a lot of small things that i don't like. Last Thursday, she really got me upset.

When I picked D up, she was feeding him a bottle. So far, he only drank 1-2 oz. She told me that was only his 2nd bottle of the day. His first bottle was at 9: 30. 7 1/2 hours is too long for a 5 month old to go without eating, IMO. I'd be starving as an adult.

I asked her why & she said it was because he slept all day. I accepted that answer until I got home & looked at his report card for the day. She changed his diaper 4 times, therefore there were time periods when he was awake. D has never slept through a diaper change.

According to the paper, there was also a 2 1/2 hr period when he was awake. D hardly ever falls asleep without having a bottle first.

Then, she said she took him to drop her daughter off at dance. She propped a bottle on him while driving, it spilled & got him all wet.

1. I was not aware she was taking my son anywhere.
2. He can't hold a bottle by himself yet.
3. Its unsafe.
4. He was still wet when i picked him up

Plus, I don't think she should be doing her personal errands while working. I had no idea she was driving anywhere with him. What if I went early to pick him up & no one was home?God forbid they got in a car accident. And she must have been bringing him every ThursdaysThursday since September & this is the first time I'm hearing of it.

Opinions please

[sara76]

My response got eaten. Boo.

Ok. Well basically I said that before I give my opinion keep in mind that I have a very flexible job where I can work very little for a year or two and give up a night pretty easily if I need to, and we can swing that financially for a couple years. Also keep in mind that I might be a little nutso because I have still yet to leave A with anyone other than family, despite offers. (We will see how that goes tomorrow). But I feel like I hate this day care chica from the few things you've mentioned of her, and I can't see myself leaving her with someone I don't trust, much less even like.

I'm so sorry this is what you've got right now. I hope you can find someone else soon.

[kimandross]

All of that sounds like completely valid reasons to pull D from her care. She sounds irresponsible and somewhat neglectful. There are so many red flags there for me. Propping a bottle on a baby that can't hold a bottle themselves? That is reason enough for me, even if he was being fed at the proper times, which it sounds like he is not.

This totally sucks Jen, and I hope you find someone else quickly.

[aegis2005]

I'd be pissed off.
I hope you find another care provider soon.

[Deleted]

Campaign of fire fueled with Mama Bear rage is what would be happening today. I'd also NOT send my kid until I found a replacement. I'd rather lose a few $ from my paycheck than have my kid suffocate from a propped bottle or die in a car accident.

[Deleted]

I hope you are filing a report with your local daycare licensing agency, too. This would not end with me pulling my kid out of her care. I might even go so far as to get the attendance records of the girl's dance class.

[jen812]

Nov 5, 2012 10:39:32 GMT -5 @bigtowlittletoe said:

I hope you are filing a report with your local daycare licensing agency, too. This would not end with me pulling my kid out of her care. I might even go so far as to get the attendance records of the girl's dance class.

I was wondering if there was a way to request a visit from the licencing agency?

What would you all do for the time being? I contacted a few daycares on Friday, but no one has gotten back to me yet.

[Deleted]

I would take the day off and march my happy tail down to every daycare I was interested in visiting. They should have open door policies. If they don't, then don't leave your kid there.

IDK which state you're in, FL?, but if ask they will go do a visit. I would suggest a time you know she takes her kid to dance/school.

[jen812]

Nov 5, 2012 11:57:19 GMT -5 @bigtowlittletoe said:

I would take the day off and march my happy tail down to every daycare I was interested in visiting. They should have open door policies. If they don't, then don't leave your kid there.

IDK which state you're in, FL?, but if ask they will go do a visit. I would suggest a time you know she takes her kid to dance/school.

Thanks. I live in Mass. I'm trying to find someone to contact at the agency now.

ETA: I sent an email ti the agency asking who I should contact.

[mrsjenrn]

I am pissed off for you! That is completely unacceptable!!!! I would do what pp's suggested and file a complaint wherever you can and pull him right away. If you or your H have the types of jobs where you could take a couple days off until you find someone else, that is what I would do. I would call in sick if I had to, or have H call in sick. That is really scary!! I would also chew her ass out. I normally don't do that, but when you mess with my kid....look out!

[mrsshawanab]

As someone who is signing up my 5 1/2 month old for daycare literally tomorrow and have been looking at daycare centers and providers for about 3 weeks, those things you mentioned are exactly the type of things that scare me for leaving him somewhere. And I am pretty laid back I would say.. I've left him with my friend babysitting, my parents watch him a lot, etc. I actually looked into an in-home daycare but the woman told me she would be driving to pick up one of the kids every day at a certain time and my baby would have to go with her. This was one of the reasons we decided not to go with her (well, one of a few). Yours not telling you about it is a HUGE problem for me. Also the sleeping all day thing sounds weird anyway.. especially if that is not normal for your son. Having one bottle in 7.5 hours is not ok either. Pull him out immediately!!
I decided to go with a daycare center because I liked the fact that parents are coming and picking up their children at all hours of the day, so if anything weird was going on I would hope someone would see it. They have multiple adults in the building so there is always back up. I know that there are also benefits to in home daycare, but maybe after this situation you may want to look at daycare centers. I'm so sorry this happened to you!!!

[jen812]

**Update** I have an appointment to speak to the Family Child Care Supervisor at the MA Dept. of Early Ed & Care this afternoon.

Wish me luck. I'm super nervous.

[sara76]

Nov 6, 2012 11:07:33 GMT -5 jen812 said:

**Update** I have an appointment to speak to the Family Child Care Supervisor at the MA Dept. of Early Ed & Care this afternoon.

Wish me luck. I'm super nervous.

Good luck! You're doing the right thing.

[melis74]

Wow, I would totally pull him and file a report. That kindof stuff is what freaked me out about putting Mia in daycare. And FWIW Mia is six months old and has a bottle every 3-4 hours except for when she sleeps at night. AND sleeping for 7 1/2 hours during the day?! What kid does that? And if he really did, THAT would be a reason to call you because obviously something wouldn't be right. Good luck!

[jen812]

I just spoke to the woman at the EEC. I sent her an email before our phone converstation with basically the same info as in this thread. She said there were lots of red flags there & she will send someone out to do a unannounced visit ASAP. She was super nice & I feel a little better that she understood my concerns.

As far as a new daycare goes, I am having a really hard time finding one that will take an infant. I am open to sending him to either a center or someone's home, but so far I'm not having any luck.

Please send some thoughts/prayers/vibes/whatever that I can find the right place soon so that I can get D out of there.

[aegis2005]

Nov 6, 2012 14:02:02 GMT -5 jen812 said:

I just spoke to the woman at the EEC. I sent her an email before our phone converstation with basically the same info as in this thread. She said there were lots of red flags there & she will send someone out to do a unannounced visit ASAP. She was super nice & I feel a little better that she understood my concerns.

As far as a new daycare goes, I am having a really hard time finding one that will take an infant. I am open to sending him to either a center or someone's home, but so far I'm not having any luck.

Please send some thoughts/prayers/vibes/whatever that I can find the right place soon so that I can get D out of there.

Glad they're going to be doing an unannounced vist. Sending T&P's your able to find a new daycare proivder soon.

[mrsjason]

Ugh, what a headache finding a reliable sitter for your child. It was super stressful when I was looking for Macy. I hope you find something soon.

And no, you're not crazy, I would have pulled Macy from her care too. No way, there are too many things that are not acceptable.

[tashaandsage]

Good luck with finding a new care provider. Everything you mentioned is unacceptable, and you are definitely making the right decision in finding a new day care, as well as filing a complaint.