Let's talk childcare options

[MsSassyBaskets]

What does your job look like, typically? I'm just trying to brainstorm.

I work from my home office, online from 8/8:30 AM to 5 PM. There is some flexibility, but I'm expected to be "in the office" during normal work hours and to take PTO if I'm caring for a child during work hours, just like if I was in an actual office. I could certainly flex my start/end times a little (half hour to hour) one way or another, I can run the occasional errand during the day or flex a couple hours here and there for appointments. I'm on the phone a lot during business hours and otherwise am writing or doing project management. It's basically like your typical office job with a little flexibility. I travel about twice a year for 2-3 days, so nothing like T&S in that respect!

[Vanquisher]

Okay. So, your med school friends that work, or any local friends that work, could you "rent" for a very small amount (maybe nothing) a room in their house for 8 weeks to work from while you have a nanny at home?

[SoonerTexan]

Then maybe care.com or other local boards (local Facebook groups?) for people who provide in home care

[v-girl]

Send the baby to me. Hehe! 😉


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[MsSassyBaskets]

Good question, that would be a very creative solution.

[SoonerTexan]

I can vouch for her excellence in childcare!

[MsSassyBaskets]

I can vouch for her excellence in childcare!

Haha, I meant the renting an office bit, but I wish I had someone like V around! I'd jump on that offer in a second!

So, looking at both centers and home daycares/providers, if they're not reviewed online somewhere like Yelp or Care.com, what do you look for? I'm feeling totally uncomfortable about just googling for childcare! But the more I search, the more I find some of the less fancy centers that might still have openings and take us short-term if I can just vet them properly. But Care.com and other sites don't seem very active here so I'm not sure what else to check before just visiting.

[JDAZ11]

All of my friends here found their nannies on care.com. I'm surprised to hear that it isn't very active.

I only know two people that send their kids to day care, and they both use the one at the hospital. I hear it's great, but absolutely impossible to get into. I know that isn't helpful.... I'll see if I still have a packet from my tour guide. It had all sorts of kid info in it.

[MsSassyBaskets]

All of my friends here found their nannies on care.com. I'm surprised to hear that it isn't very active.

I only know two people that send their kids to day care, and they both use the one at the hospital. I hear it's great, but absolutely impossible to get into. I know that isn't helpful.... I'll see if I still have a packet from my tour guide. It had all sorts of kid info in it.

I was looking at the centers side of things and it was only giving me like 20 options in the entire metro. But the nannies side is more active, if you can pay someone $20+ an hour and have room for them in your home. I'm not finding an option to search for people who provide out of their own homes, looks like I would need to post a job for that.

[civilspouse]

I'd just try to visit the ones you think might work. That is what I did and there was a clear winner. I also wasn't able to find much info online. I wouldn't worry about telling them it's short term. They don't have a guarantee from anyone that they'll stay forever. People leave all the time for different reasons. We decided to go with a daycare center vs in-home because there is oversight and we were worried about trusting someone we didn't know. I really didn't like it when my babies were tiny though. With a 4 to 1 ratio the babies spend a lot of time alone on the floor. It gets better when they are older and can play.


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[JDAZ11]

I wonder if someone might be willing to split a nanny with you - at their house. Might be worth posting some kind of ad.

(I haven't read all the posts, sorry if someone suggested that already).

[OrionGrad]

I wonder if someone might be willing to split a nanny with you - at their house. Might be worth posting some kind of ad.

People in our local mom's Facebook group are always looking for families to do this with. If you can find another family nearby, it seems like this would be a great solution.

[JDAZ11]

My tour companies info really only talked about schools. It just mentioned the hospital day care and then a place called carriage house.

I assume you already tried that one?

[MsSassyBaskets]

Another good idea - thanks guys!

[JDAZ11]

Angie's list has a few reviews.