Any Family Day Care users out there?

[PinkPalace]

Well since my last post.... i have been contacted via family day care in my suburb.
And it sounds really nice and thnking to not commence DD at the child care centre...

Wondering (i know they are all individual people) but what peoples experiences are with Family day care?

[visitor1]

Both my girls go to FDC and looove love love it!

Chelsea has been going since she was 5 months old (now 20 months) and Jasmine since 8 months (now over 9 months). Chelsea enjoys it alot. She seems to have grown a great personality and very sociable.

There carer is Sri Lankan and takes great care with them,her kids are lovely too...

Id reccomend FDC over a child care centre any day!

[Kazmar]

I used to work with a lady and her daughter who is the same age as Annabelle went to FDC.
She loved it! If I needed to get Annabelle looked after if I was heading back to work etc I would choose FDC. Just really good with the one on one time and there isn't 15 other children in the room.
Find one where your happy, comfy and can trust the carer. The lady I worked with swore by it and could realax at work instead of worring whats happening to her child.
Ayla, the little girl, would always be happy and clean when she was picked up

[Lea79]

Well I haven't yet had personal experience yet but I will say that I grew up in a house where my mum did FDC for 20 yrs and is still going strong. Growing up in that environment is wonderful and the kids are treated more like family when you get a really good carer with a great setup. This will be our first choice when considering care for our future bub for sure! Good luck!

[PinkPalace]

Is anyone else worried that if you are sick, go on holidays or public holiday you still have to pay them and cant swap for another day?

[Snoopea]

Is anyone else worried that if you are sick, go on holidays or public holiday you still have to pay them and cant swap for another day?

Yes it happens but rarely, depends on how much care you plan to use to how affected you'll be. You also qualify for CBC and are allowed 42 days for absence or sickness where the government will still pay CBC. Unfortunetly your paying for a service, but if the careprovider is sick or away then no fee is payable!
Hope this helps, if you want to know more you can contact me by PM and I'll give you my e-mail.
Snoopea

[Snoopea]

Hey Pinkpalce,
I would recommend it but then I'm an family day care provider!
My mum got me into it 6 years ago and she's been in the business for over 20 years now.
The main thing is to make sure your happy with the provider and the premises, then leave your daughter for a few hours to start with to make sure she's happy.
I always have a 2 week trial period with all my new families just to make sure that they're happy with the care and that the child is fitting in.
It's amazing how attached you come to the kiddies they become an extension of your family and when they leave for school or due to moving, it's a real heartbreaker.

But if your looking for a home environment were DD will be a person and not a number then go for it.

Ohh by the way I put my son in Family day care on a tuesday while britneys at school, so i can go shopping or fill in appointments e.g dentist ect!

Best of luck with it!

Snoopea