family day care Questions

Im starting a course which will be 2 days a week 9-4 and im trying to organise childcare for one of those days, my dad will have her the other day which will be good.

ive sent an email to the placement officers (for FDC) because im not sure about how i go about enrolling her and finding the right place etc

Can anyone help me with a few questions i have
1. how much will it cost?
2. DD won't sleep on her own, i usually cuddle her and rock her to sleep.. will this be a problem?
3. how do i know im picking the right place ?


i cant think of anymore but if i do ill come back hanks everyone in advance xx

My DS was in family daycare about 8 years ago so things would have changed alot im sure.
I knew it was the right place because DS loved it...it was just like dropping him off at a friends house.
DS was always a bit quirky and the lady made allowances for him it was great.
as for the cost i really cant remember now but I do know as a single parent at the time it was very affordable else I wouldnt have done it :)
good luck with your course :)

As for picking the right place, i have always gone and spend 2 hours at their home and seen them in practise checked it all out. I always check their credentials, my kids have only ever been in fdc and love that 1 on 1 feel they provide. Its about 6 dollars an hour before rebate so much cheaper than other daycare.

I have had a FDcarer since DS1 was 8 months old. And DS2 begun attending once he was 10 months old. I called our local council and they gave me a couple of numbers of carers who had vacancies. From there i called the numbers and organised a time to meet with them and see their home.

I currently play $5.80 an hour but i think that is about to go up in July. (I provide everything that my children will require for the day, food, clothing, nappies) I pay $187 per fortnight (for 4 days in total) 8:15am-4:30pm (after the CCB is deducted)

Your daughters sleeping pattern is something that you'd discuss with your carer and you can both work out what will be best for DD whilst at day care. I know when looking around i realised that going to childcare centre DS would have to fit into their routine where as at FDC i gave her a description of DS routine and she did her best to work to that.

The first carer i visited was nice enough but there were a few things that just didn't sit right with me, I just didn't feel comfortable leaving DS there. The home was quite messy, i got the feeling her teenage children had a bit to do with the 'care' of the children and her attitude to the 'rules' were a little too laid back for me.
Visiting the second carer was totally different, she had portfolios out for me, a brochure of fees, her philosophy, a recent newsletter that she gives to parents and her home was really clean. I was really impressed. I could just imagine DS being well cared for and being really comfortable in the environment she provided. I also checked out child care centres and when asking around people would say you'll just get a 'feeling' when you find the right place for DS and i just kept thinking HOW??? But i did and i've never looked back. I think the thought that was in my mind when i made my decision was her home and her temprement towards the children was very similar to mine and that what he would be receiving from her would be an extension of what i do my best to provide for him.

I hope i've been of some help and i hope you are successful in finding a carer for your DD. I have absolutely never looked back.

Good luck :D

I had a massive post somewhere around here with this info... i'll try and find it for you :)

We pay $28.50 for 16 hours a week. So about $14.50 a day. Yours should be a little cheaper I think hun as you'd get a slightly higher CCb rebate than us due to being a single mummy.
As for sleeping, I cradle Orlando to sleep all the time and I let our carer know that when he started there, I think she gives him his sippy cup of milk on her lap and then lies him down. I think the one thing I've learnt is that kids will adjust a bit to the routine in different places, for example she gets away with lying him down awake and I can't so I think he's learnt that that's how it happens there but it doesn't change how mummy does it, if that makes sense?
Finding a good one- go have an interview with the carer, stick around for as long as you want if its ok with them and get a feel for the place. If you feel really safe and comfortable its a good sign, if not you don't need to be told not to leave miss G there lol

Good luck hun!

I visited two carers who had vacancies and I could have visited more if I wasn't happy with those but I knew pretty much straight away the first one was right. His carer and I are very much on the same thinking so chatting to her about why she does FDC, her child care background, what she likes to do with the children through the day pretty much covered it for me.

My carer charges $8 per hour so for the 10 hour day my son is booked in it is more expensive than LDC. We also have to send food and nappies. But I'd pay it in a heartbeat as he doesn't cope in large groups and she is so good with helping him through the day with other children.

My son was very sad at first and she devoted a lot of one-on-one time with him, developed a relationship and settled him. He really likes her now and goes to her if he needs comfort. He was self settling at home but I never leave him to cry to I asked her not to do that. Fortunately he's so tired he goes off to sleep very quickly there but she generally gives him all his comfort items and sits with him till he is asleep.