Tell me your positive stories of Family Day Care

[Frangipani Lou]

Ok. So as the title says. I'm interested to hear your positive experiences of Family day care please. I'm meeting with 2 educators today and am VERY anxious about DD going into care 3 days a week.
I upset 1 educator with a long list( now I see it as too long but it was the list of an anxious Mumma) of questions over email. I also managed to annoy the coordinator. So not my intention.
I think if if hear some positive FDC stories it might help me to feel calmer for these meetings this morning. I've also revised my questions heavily with the help of a friend who's in the FDC field.
Thank you in advance fellow BB mumma's.

[AnyDream]

Both of my DDs were in FDC all the way through, and we used FDC for after school/evening care for a long time for DD1.

You will know when you find the right carer. We've had 3 main carers and they have all been fantastic, they are like family members now. My kids have thrived in FDC they get to have a relationship with the carer, it's like a normal home environment, and it doesn't smell like boiled vegetables like childcare centres do. LOL definitely have your list of questions but let the carer talk first. And ask if they enjoy caring for children - the good ones light up when they answer this question, and it's pretty much the main thing you need to know.

[inlove]

We used FDC from 6 months old with my first and 4 months old with my second. It was fantastic we had two different carers over that time and they were both fantastic for the kids and followed our gentle parenting and sleep routines. We eventually changed eldest DD when she was 31/2 because she was getting a bit bored and DD2 the year after when she was 3 also. I would highly recommend FDC!!

[JLeigh29]

DS had the best experience at FDC! He was very clingy, a little anxious and didn't like groups or loudness, so I knew regular day care wouldn't work for him. We had a great first meeting with our educator, watching while the kids played outside. I could tell by the way she interacted with the other kids there, and by the way they interacted with her, that she was great. Quietly spoken, friendly and confident in her answers (which were basically that she would follow whatever our wishes were). The area was set up well, inside and out. I met another parent in my first week who'd had all her chn there over 7 years and followed her when she moved house. Her other parent (of both the other boys there) raved about her too. She'd regularly buy/change over toys, organised activities based around what the kids liked and have special activities for special occasions.
We had two play dates first, then eased into it with a couple of hours at a time until we were comfortable with whole days....DS used to ask to sleep over, and would sometimes cry when we had to leave! He still talks about and remembers everyone there, 11 months after we moved states.

[dinky]

My Mum was a carer for FDC for years and years!!! I am talking almost all of my childhood and beyond!!! She was amazing, and I met a few of the other carers as well and they were also great! My mum had the same kids for ages. I had one of her kids in my wedding party as a flower girl and this same girl is now godmother to my youngest! I think we added all the kids up and it came to well over 150 kids in the time that she did it. But she always made sure that they were well cared for, they were always given gifts for their birthdays, xmas, and she also baked special treats all the time. They did lots of stuff and all of these kids are now well adjusted adults now, with kids of their own. We had about 40 of them turn up to my Mums funeral, that tells me how much she was loved.
You will know if it will work for you....things changed a lot over the time and they got a bit precious about numbers which was why my Mum stopped, so it was upsetting for her, but trust your instinct!!

[Frangipani Lou]

We didn't gel with the first educator- no love lost there. The second one I felt pretty comfortable with and so did DD. she would be ok but id ok enough? Their are a few not so great points about this educator etc though. There wasn't much for the children to play with and it was all plastic( blah). The educator wasn't thrilled that we don't need care in school holidays but she liked us and that was good. I didn't like how she used good girl lots with the other children and I mentioned that we don't use it with DD. I asked the FDC coordinator for more names and she's reluctantly looking for another educator for us so we have more options.
I've even thought about quitting my job. But that would mean financial issues.

[Joeve]

It's hard because no one will ever be as good as you want/expect/would be yourself.
I have DD booked in for 2 days per week next year and for me given she will be 1 I asked myself would I be confident this person can keep my DD safe and happy whilst I am not around. I then loved her programmed which was a bonus

[briggsy's girl]

My Mum was a carer for FDC for years and years!!! I am talking almost all of my childhood and beyond!!! She was amazing, and I met a few of the other carers as well and they were also great! My mum had the same kids for ages. I had one of her kids in my wedding party as a flower girl and this same girl is now godmother to my youngest! I think we added all the kids up and it came to well over 150 kids in the time that she did it. But she always made sure that they were well cared for, they were always given gifts for their birthdays, xmas, and she also baked special treats all the time. They did lots of stuff and all of these kids are now well adjusted adults now, with kids of their own. We had about 40 of them turn up to my Mums funeral, that tells me how much she was loved.
You will know if it will work for you....things changed a lot over the time and they got a bit precious about numbers which was why my Mum stopped, so it was upsetting for her, but trust your instinct!!

This is my growing up too (except the funeral but. Mum still going ) Mum did fdc for at least ten years. Quite possibly longer. The kids really were part of our family. One of the kids she had in care was page boy at my brothers wedding, because they really were like family to us. I had a bunch of them at my wedding. Have travelled interstate to visit with the families that moved away etc. I work with some of the ex fdc kids now (and some of the parents) and we still talk about fdc days sometimes! My folks are godparents to one of the kids.

If you gel with the fdc carer it can be awesome! If we had to put dd in care, fdc would be my choice. Interview as many as you need to until you feel the right connection. This is someone that will be your kidlets primary care giver for many hours a day so you need to be comfortable with them. You may find when you interview number three that your doubts ain't number two were unfounded and choose to go back there.


Always remember you can change carer if things don't feel right...

[nothing2lose]

I've seen both ends of the spectrum. My DD had a brilliant carer. Her brothers had two carers from seperate councils that were brought up on criminal charges.

Do your homework (as you are) and never be afraid to ask 'too many' questions. A good carer will understand your apprehensions and be happy to answer any queries you might have.

[Frangipani Lou]

AHH.. thanks everyone. I think I need a thread that talks lots about the emotional side of things too. I'll get that started.

[Frangipani Lou]

Just a quick update. We ended up meeting 10 FDC educators and a few were good but we managed to find a brilliant, calm, warm, professional and smart FDC educator who's been doing FDC for about 18 years. She's only about 10 minutes from home and I feel so much more relaxed about DD going there. Unfortunately we could only get her in for 1 day at this stage so DD will have 1 day with my parents, 1 at FDC and 2 days with my lovely cousin who has worked with children for years and is also lovely and gentle.
It's a bit of a puzzle of care but its the best option we could work out and DD is a pretty happy and relaxed bub so fingers crossed it works out well.