Changing Child Care

I'm torn between a rock and a hard place. DD started child care at 4.5 months. She loves it. She loves the carers (especially the ones from her old room) and she has a special bond with some of the kids - there are two she is always with and have been dubbed the "Three Musketeers". However, DH and I have become increasingly uhappy with the centre and the current carers. Some of it is small and trivial but it all adds up; they can never tell us about her day and how she went - we always get "Oh, I've just come into the room" even though they are the designated carers for that room!; she is NEVER in her home nappy (they do change the nappy before we get there but it is never the one from her bag); twice we asked for DD to be given food at a certain time (when we had to collect her later than usual) and it wasn't given; the medicine debarcile a few weeks back; the current fee debarcle we're having (don't ask - let's just say I'm NOT happy!); DD is CONSTANTLY in the younger room (when they have too many kids, some go up and some go down... but why is it always DD who goes down and not the younger kids?); they don't seem to be able to control DD all the time - she will just waltz into another room to see her fav carer if they leave the door open and won't bring her back for fear of a tanty!
So DH and I have been discussing for a while about changing centres. The one we currently go to is in our old suburb and not really on the way to work for either of us. But DD is happy there (despite not wanting me to leave of late... but then she doesn't want to be collected at the end of the day either!) and we didn't want too many changes so kept her there... but now we're seriously thinking of changing.

Today we went and saw a brand new centre near us. The staff seemed friendly and the kids were definately happy. The Director was so happy to show us around even though we dropped in without an appointment. But my concerns are this;

it is on a main road (as is the current centre) and has bar fencing (you know, kind of like a pool fence and you can see through it) which does nothing to reduce smog etc into the play area. Our current centre has colourbond fencing. This also reduces ick factor for any unsavoury people...

There are very few children in the centre (probably because it is new). There are rarely more than 5 children in DD's room. Her current centre often has 7+. I'm worried this will reduce her socialisation skills as she enjoys the kids company at the moment.

The new centre has few resources and I worry about whether or not DD will be exposed to the same range of things she currently is (craft etc) the playground looked very bare - none of the slides that the current centre has and DD loves.

It's a new centre and I can't help but feel "better the devil you know".

A plus is the small class size means more attention for DD.

Another plus is that the new centre is MUCH cheaper than the current one and provides all the same things...

Any advice? And yes, we have to utilise child care.

TIA

MG

MG, maybe moving her is the right thing for you, but not necessarily that new centre. If you have doubts that would be telling me something. Maybe have a look at other centres in the area. Or wait and see if the centre gets more resources and I am sure more children will start soon - new centres tend to fill up over time. Maybe just keep an eye on it.

We made the difficult decision to move DS1 to a new centre when I went on maternity leave for DS2. His old centre was near work and the new centre near home. I still wouldn't have moved him, but the old centre was bought out and the good carers that we liked were starting to leave. That made my mind up for me. I also really liked the new centre when I saw it. It turns out making the move was the best thing I could have done. It did take him a few weeks to settle in - longer in fact than it took him to settle in first time around, I think being older didn't help. But now both boys go there and I am so happy with the carers and facilities. HTH.

Im having a similar dilemma at the moment too. DS loves the kids and the carers at his centre but the administration and management are driving us insane, plus they have reduced the hours of care (close at 6 now, used to be 6:30) which means DH is having to leave work early so that he can get home in time to collect DS without getting charged additional fees. They also have floating staff at morning and evening drop off time a lot, so n one is there who can tell us what sort of day he has had etc.

We will be moving soon, further away from the centre where DS attends, but I just dont know what to do. part of me wants to move him (DH really wants to move him) but I am resisting cos he really is settled and they have a pretty good program there.

And I'm the opposite MG I like that they have a pool type fence rather than a concleaed one, all he newer centres near us have colourbond.

I've thought about FDC but DH is not really a fan, plus we like the fact that with multiple carers, if someting weird is going on someone will find out? That sounds terrible but it really is a fear that we both have, and no knowing many people near us who use FDC (and hence could make a recommendation) makes it worse

Thanks girls. DH and I have had a bit more of a chat and are going to take DD to the new centre and see how she interacts with the staff and kids. I just don't want to make the wrong decision...

Mantaray - I am worried about that exact thing; that it will take DD ages to settle in to the new place because she is older and more aware.

Ray - I used to like the pool fencing as well - but I worry about less than desirables - especially since it is on a main road. And when I left today, there was a guy sitting in his car in the driveway with a smoke He left as soon as I got in my car. His car was labbeled as a security monitoring company - one that organises surveilance etc so he may have had a legit reason for being their - but it made me realise anyone could sit and watch the kids play. How horrible I have to think like that! But like you, I prefer having multiple carers incase something happens. That is why we decided not to get a private nanny.

What a heart wrenching decision to have to make!

MG, it is a valid concern, and she probably will take a while to settle in. But if she will be happier and better looked after then it is worth it in the long run. I know how hard the decision is, having BTDT. I know you will make the right decision. Give yourself time and it will become clear. That's a great idea about taking her to the new centre, I am sure that will help.

hi MG,
Not sure where you are but maybe do a post on here to see if anyone knows a cc in your area that they can recommend?

We used to go to the best cc. DS loved his carers. They were so reliable and caring and they always went out of their way. BUT. We had to move for work. It was so hard finding a new centre. But DS just slid right into his new centre and made best friends really quickly and already has a favourite carer (has been there twice). It seemed a lot harder for us then for him honestly.
Good luck with your decision. My advice would be to have a good look around and get all of your options. :)

Thanks Krys. The centre we're looking at is, literally, brand new. It has only been open a few months.

DH went to pick up DD today from the current centre and was so mad. There was an agency girl in there without any ID so he had no idea who she was and the other lady is useless (she is probably about 60 and seems to really dislike the kids). DD was really upset because another kid had her special Teddy but the carers couldn't work out why and when DH pointed out the reason they couldn't have cared less! Very annoying. So we're dropping in to the new centre next week to see how DD goes with the kids and carers and then, if she is ok there, we will slowly intergrate the new centre so she has time to adjust instead of just whipping her from one to the other. That way, we also still have a secure spot at our current centre if we decide (as iF!) to stay there...

It sounds like you have made a good decsion...

Id be fuming at the old centre too..

**how has she gone at the new place***
(just realised how old last post was?)

thanks for asking littleme. We didn't actually end up changing centres. I took DD to a trial at the new centre and was appalled!

The carer made NO effort to engage or include Abbey.

She had a little girl who had started that day (so point one forgiven) who was crying a lot and she ended up putting her down and saying (rather annoyed) that she can't hold her all day!

(Without sounding bias or blowing my own trumpet) DD was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more advanced than the kids in the room. She was seriously bored in there.

A kid hurt themselves and came to ME for sympathy and attention instead of the carer.

The carer made a comment that she needed an extra pair of hands in the room and I told her that if DD joined it would make 6 kids in the room and she told me they'd still find a way to not have an extra staff member! Hmmmm.

And to top it all off, they have the kind of handles you pull down on to open the door... and DD hated it so much she took herself over to the door, opened it, and walked out!!!!! So I spoke with DH and we decided it is better the devil you know...

Wow MotherG
sounds like the new centre need more staff......
sounds like you made the right choice and your DD may be better of for it

I love that she walked out!!!smart little one!