I am a daycare provider in Iowa & from my experience, any provider without a contract or policies is not a provider I would want my own children with. This demonstrates a lack of communication & clarification between provider & families, which is exactly what you are experiencing. I have stated in my policies that families are responsible for back-up daycare BUT I give parents a months notice when possible. I also schedule appointments after hours or on weekends so never do my parents have to pick up early or drop off late. If that is the case then I would take a half day or full day & coordinate it with my contract fees of my time off. Your provider did not set herself up for success by not having a contract. Yes, surgery/illnesses/accidents cannot be avoided but if a provider cannot carry out the duties of daycare it needs to be docked as a day off & as stated in a contract predetermined how payment is handled for that time off. NO matter how "established" or how many years this provider has been in business, if I were you I'd start looking for a provider with a contract. It leaves all the guesswork & awkard situations at bay. Good luck & god bless you & your family & the struggling provider.

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