originalkat 07:33 AM 12-28-2009
I recently read something interesting that asked if the home daycare providers wore makeup and what type of clothes they wore to work. It is always a bit of a struggle for me. I want to look professional but I dont want to get my nicer tops stained etc... I was considering getting some Tee shirts/polos with my logo on them to wear with jeans. I hate trying to decide what I will wear in the mornings. This would take the guess work out of it and still look nice.
I have heard some providers wear scrubs. This might be good for infant providers, but I dont have any kids under 2 so I dont think that would work for me.
I do wear make-up every day. Nothing fancy...it takes about 5 minutes to put it on in the morning. I usually pull my hair back into a simple pony tail or into a hair clip.
I wear jeans or stretchy pants (not sweats) but the nicer looking ones. They look like I would wear them to the office but they are stretchy. Anyways and then I bought a bunch of short sleeves and long sleeve shirts on vistaprint.com. They have them for free a lot so you just have to pay s and h. It took me awhile to buy them all so I had a different one each day but for free it was worth it!
tymaboy 09:33 AM 12-28-2009
I wear all kinds of casual clothes when I'm working. It all depends on what I need to do after work as to how nice the casual clothes are & if I put makeup on or not.
I've got custom t-shirts with my name and daycare name too. I pair them with jeans (sometimes pretty scruffy ones) but it's amazing what a difference it makes. Parents really seem to take me more seriously. I think it's because they figure if I've taken the time and expense to create my own "uniform", I must take my business pretty seriously and be in it for the long haul.
I've also gotten great reactions during interviews. It's worth it to get some shirts made up. I got mine through vistaprint too :-), and they were very well-priced. They do fade after repeated washes though, so I try to make sure I order one each time the free offers get sent out.
GretasLittleFriends 10:59 AM 12-28-2009
I wear jeans and a nice cotton shirt, sweater or sweatshirt. It depends on the weather and the mood I'm in. In the summer I wear shorts. There have been days when I've been doing yard work and worn scruffier clothes.
I wear cotton pants and shirts. I wear the same kind of play clothes I like the kids to wear.
SimpleMom 12:22 PM 12-28-2009
I dress like I would if I worked at a center. I wear a nice top and pair of jeans or cords. I try to keep my work clothes separate from my "play" clothes. My clothes get worn out very quickly, so I try to replace them when I can. I used to wear logo shirts and may start that up again. I just feel more professional that way.
I wear make-up and usually pull my hair back or staighten it...depends if I want to get up that early
mac60 12:39 PM 12-28-2009
I am the same, I dress like I am going to a job. I would never think of meeting someone at the door in sweats and a tee shirt, or pajama pants. Usually jeans and a descent top or sweater. In the summer shorts/capris. I always have shoes on, except I got a pair of clog style slippers for Christmas and I have had them on all day, they are so comfy and warm. I think it is important to look professional to a certain degree even if I work at home.
GretasLittleFriends 02:24 PM 12-28-2009
Originally Posted by mac60:
I would never think of meeting someone at the door in sweats and a tee shirt, or pajama pants.
There are many days I greet one mom at the door wearing pjs. I have one little girl that shows up at 3:45a, then goes back to sleep until 6:30. I don't see getting out of bed at 3:30, getting dressed, opening the door, putting her back to bed, getting undressed again, and going back to sleep for 2 hours. The days she's coming I do make sure I wear nice pajamas and robe, not my hubby's sweats and Ts.
I also do NOT wear makeup unless I'm going somewhere special with the kids. However, I rarely wear make-up when I go out anyway. My hair is always done though. We have a no shoe house, so I rarely wear footwear in the house. Sometimes if my feet are cold I'll wear slippers, but that's rare.
Lately with the growing pregnancy, comfort is much more important to me than how professional I look. The makeup has been making me break out, and some of my maternity jeans aren't top quality, no holes, just not completely stylish.
melissa ann 03:01 PM 12-28-2009
Since it's cold right now, I wear jeans and sweatshirt. In the summer, shorts and a tee shirt. I ususally have shoes on when the parents show up, normally those cheap $10 slip-on shoes. I hate wearing shoes. No make-up except for a little foundation/powder on days when my face gets red and blotchy on my cheecks. That ususally happens more in the winter. My hair is usually down but I do put in mousse to keep it from frizzing out.
Jeans, t-shirts, sometimes sweats...
I usually don't wear make up during the day. Heck, I was at Target on a weekend and one my daycare Dad's almost didn't recognize me! LOL!
mac60 03:09 AM 12-29-2009
OMG, if I had to get up at 3:45 and let someone in, I would do the same and meet them in my jammies. That is an exception to my rule.
I think getting up at 5 and being ready by 6:30 is early enough.
kiddiecare 06:25 AM 12-29-2009
I also will greet in pj's for my early drop offs, otherwise i wear jeans and a t-shirt with a sweat shirt,nicer ones, even in the summer i usually have one on, I get cold easy, i rarely wear make up or do my hair (as in hairspray and all that jazz), I've also ran into parents when i was out on the town and they didnt recognize me all dressed up. I try to 'dress down' i guess for work, I've actually had a potential new client tell me that she really liked my set up but i was to pretty to be a 'babysitter' (her word not mine) and she wouldnt be comfortable with her spouse dropping off or picking up the kid. And i wear a lot of baggy shirts or if im wearing a form fitting top i will grab a sweater when a dcd is picking up, ironicaly i just had a conversation with my bf last night about that. Just got a new dck whose dad has full custody and is single, when he showed up for the interview i was wearing a tank top under a long sleeve form fitting cotton top but i left to grab a sweatshirt, I'm a size 6/7 with the bra size of a 32 DD, I don't know why i feel self consious about that with the dcd's maybe it was that mom not enrolling cuz of the way i look but now i do think about what i wear as before i didnt.
originalkat 06:41 AM 12-29-2009
I would be in my Pajamas too if it was 3:45 to let someone in!
AmandasFCC 06:58 AM 12-29-2009
I usually wear jeans and a t-shirt or sweatshirt. I dress for comfort, because I'm always on the floor with the kids. I like the idea of getting some t-shirts made with my logo on them, but that'll have to come in time.
OCCASIONALLY, if I'm not feeling well or something (as in twice so far in 8 months) I'll wear sweat pants and a decent looking top. I wore sweats yesterday because I felt like absolute death lol.
wejo928 09:07 AM 12-29-2009
I mear meical scrubs tops & bottoms. They are comfy and have pockets for pasifiers and tissues.
When I go out in public for a field trip I wear the scrub shirt w cargo pants. I have the 2 babies bottles and burpers in each leg pocket for easy accesss.I color code the babies items and sides. The girl is pink and on my left sholder, The boy is blue and the right side to keep things safe. When I had 2 girls I did 1 pink & 1 purple. The older kids have colors also. Plates cups, bowls, and hand towels plus matts.
If a child spits up on me it is a easy change and I have a varity of colors.
originalkat 01:45 PM 12-29-2009
I saw this post
http://www.pammshouse.com/scrubs and thought it looked interesting. When I started looking at some of the scrubs available I thought they were pretty cute and there a lot of styles that are not so "hospitally". They even have cargo style pants etc. I like the idea of comfortable, easily washable, hold up well to wear and tear, and the pockets...I always need those. LOL!
I was going to attach an image of some cute ones but I dont know how.
wejo928 09:17 AM 12-30-2009
I get mine at yard sales & thrift shop. I pay between $2 to $5 for each piece. And they are the good ones that last long.
I hve botten the ones from Forman Mills, Kmart & Walmarts for $5.99 to $14.99 and they just do not last as long as far as stain resistant and seams.
I hope this helps you all out.
I even get the holiday ones and charaters that are just to cute.
Unregistered 10:14 AM 12-30-2009
I used to wear jeans all the time, but the knees wore out too soon. I felt like a little kid who needed the reinforced knee patches. I usually wear nice sweats and a t-shirt and sweat jacket.
I almost always have on a little makeup. My hair takes forever to dry, so the parents that drop off never see me with my hair "done". I put it in a hairclip midday.
Former Teacher 11:32 AM 12-30-2009
At my former center we got to wear street clothes for years. Then a few years ago we had to wear scrubs. Then it was ok to wear street clothes during the summer because of all the field trips etc. Then it was back to just plain street clothes again.
Now I am a nanny to a wonderful family. Mom works from home upstairs in her PJs. Me and the little one are downstairs. She once made the comment that the little one can just stay in his pjs as well since she didnt do laundry. I said it must be nice! She said she didnt care what I wore. I, too, could wear pjs HAHAHA!
Of course I don't do that however I do take off my bra once the husband leaves. Once we were making an apple pie for Thanksgiving and my sister texted me to ask me what I was doing. I replied making pies with the boss. She said well I hope you are at least wearing a bra! I told that to my boss and she said...no one here is!
I do love that family!
HappyCamper 02:03 PM 12-30-2009
I originally ordered black (nice quality) aprons with our daycare name printed on them. Come to find out, I HATE things tied around my neck so I ordered sweat shirts and t-shirts with our logo that I match with black stretch pants and sandles or cute flats. My assistants also wear a sweat shirt with our logo.
I ALWAYS wear makeup, have my nails done, and often curl my hair. By the time the parents arrive, I look a little haggard. My makeup is usually worn off and my hair is in a clip.
LOL!!!
Carole's Daycare 11:00 AM 01-05-2010
I never greet families in pj's or sweats. If we want to be treated professionally then we need to look the part. I wear jeans or cargo style pants in Navy or black with Tshirt with my logo or a logo from my curriculum company. I have a handful of T shirts with my own logo, a sweatshirt & some long sleaved T's. I also have several polos in different colors with my logo. The Tshirts & sweatshirts I made myself w/ my computer to save $. They look nice, were cheap, and I don't have to mess up my regular clothes. In the summer I do wear capris & sandals. I wear my hair in a ponytail or clip and only wear sunscrean most of the time, but I try to be neat and presentable. The scrubs idea is kinda tempting... they can be really cute.
Unregistered 02:46 PM 07-11-2012
I guess I am not as professional as the rest. I ALWAYS am in yoga pants with my kiddos. My view on it is this - my job entails being up and down off the floor, moving this way and that while playing and entertaining and I'm sorry but jeans are just way too constricting for all that. I'd rather be comfy (as I ask the parents to dress the kids that way as well!) over "stiff" any day. Plus, it's not like the kids care, they just want someone to play with and care for them
I do wear make-up and style my hair...I just feel more put together that way!
Ariana 06:08 PM 07-11-2012
I wear comfortable casual clothes. I also usually buy a size up from normal so they're extra comfy. I never wear yoga pants or sweat pants and definately wouldn't wear scrubs. I want to look professional and put together because I consider myself a teacher.
3girls 09:01 PM 07-11-2012
I don't even own sweats or t-shirts - I just hate 'em.
I usually wear jeans and a cute top. I like the peasant blouse style. Makeup and a ponytail
Daycarelady1979 08:26 AM 07-24-2012
I also never wear jeans, they are just too uncomfortable. I wear all kinds of cotton, comfy pants & capris. They're not always super nice, but they work for what I do in a day...which usually includes getting puked on or pooped on. I have a pile of t-shirts that I wear for work, they are not nice either...just regular ol' shirts. I will not wear my nice clothes just to get stained & ruined. That just doesn't make sense. Plus I don't have much money for a clothing budget. I'm ALWAYS in comfy clothes. I've been doing this 9 years & no one has ever said anything about it. I am not a makeup & hair-fixed kind of a girl, never have been. My hair is long but I always wear it up on top of my head. I hate makeup & other *girly* things
I get down on the floor & play every day, we play outside, I get hot & sweaty, babies spit up on me, and sometimes our meal times can get quite messy! I always make sure my teeth are brushed & I have a bra on & I look somewhat presentable...and the kids truly don't care anyway. They love me & have fun here no matter what I'm wearing.
daycarediva 11:15 AM 07-24-2012
I'm a jeans and tshirt person, but I do fix my hair (always up) and put some make up on. I just ordered more tshirts with my logo on them, and now have enough to get me through a week. Vistaprint here too ( love them ) I also got some pens (lots of daycare parents 'steal' mine on accident while writing checks) and a window decal for my front door.
I'm addicted to vistaprint, but I blame my super cute logo!