My prices are on the high range for my area, but not unreasonable. And I'm full and turning people away right and left. However, for my high rate, should I be giving parents more "freebies" and conveniences???

For example, does anyone else:
1. Launder kids' sheets/blankets?
2. Provide wipes?
3. Provide sunscreen?
4. Provide swim diapers?

What kinds of conveniences do you give parents? What do you do that just makes it easier and streamlined for you instead of requesting from parents?

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I make parents take sheets/blankets home every friday and bring back on mon
They must provide sunscreen, wipes, diapers, diaper rash cream
Infants bring their own formula but I provide baby food/cereal

Other than that, I provide everything else they may need as far as toys, sleeping arrangements, food, etc. and my rates are comparable to others in my area. Not the cheapest, but not the most expensive either. But I provide a hands on curriculum where the children are actively engaged during the day. Many providers in my area either put the tv on for the kids or just give htem a box of toys. They feed them and keep them safe but they don't really interact with them.

While my rates are the same, many providers in my area also don't charge for days the child isnt there. I charge for holidays and days they don't bring their child, but I do credit them when I am sick. and I allow vacation time for them and for me unpaid.

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I provide healthy meals, lots of time outside, lots of toys and art materials inside and a structured day with happy kids. I don't offer any other extras really. Well, kisses, hugs, tickles and that sort of thing. lol

I do provide my own bedding for the kids beds (each has their own) so I wash that each Friday but it's because that's what I like to do. I find it easier to do one load on Friday afternoon after nap and then remake all the beds for Monday so it's done.

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I am on the upper end in prices.

I offer longer hours without an increased rate. It averages out though I have found. I am open 6-6 (I have one family that needs care from 6-5:15) I don't charge extra. Another family only needs care from 7-3:15. KWIM? I charge extra after THEIR contracted time.

Parents still pay for my vacation, their vacation or after contracted hours. They still provide diapers, wipes, sunscreen, etc.

I provide healthy meals and snacks, mostly organic, all whole grain/wheat and fresh fruits and vegetables.

I purchase my curriculum.

I wash bedding because then I KNOW it will be washed. I have had some come back Monday and I can tell by looking at it that it wasn't washed. Since it's a requirement for me to wash it weekly, I make sure it's done.

The only convenience thing I can think of that I do is regular parent nights. Saturdays from 6-9 (for free once every 6 weeks or so)

If you are full, I really wouldn't worry about changing anything. Obviously your parent(s) are very happy with you and are willing to pay for it!

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I provide the following:
- Diapers (I do cloth)
- Wipes
- Sunscreen
- Blanket and pillow for each (clean each Friday...unless someone has an accident)
- Cots
- Parents Night Out (every 1-2 months)
- Healthy meals and curriculum

I'm on the high end for my area and am full. I say though if your full you're parents appreciate all you do do for them and the kids and no need to change what you do. Maybe you could add occasional PNOs or something just to thank them.

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I'm on the high end for my area, but that sure ain't very high. I live border to a very, um, not-so-good area of the city and so I draw from people that want to buy in to the "Daycare for $10 a day!" fad. NOT that I charge that, ha! More than twice that...and in the interest of making MY life simpler because I don't trust most/many of my dcps to remember stuff...

1. I launder the bedding because it's easier that way--it's all mine and I don't see why I shouldn't (never thought of doing otherwise actually)
2. Provide wipes--I'm particular and don't like most of them. Target wipes ftw! (the unscented ones too, perfumes are icky for me)
3. I don't provide sunscreen on a regular basis because I don't agree with using it all day every day. If parents want that they have to supply it. But I do slather them up with some cheap stuff if we're having a water day or something.
4. Yes but that's because I have a couple of cloth swim diapers that we use. Again, it's easier that way.

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When I did childcare in my home, I laundered the sheets but blankets and lovies went home to wash. The sheets were mine so I did those. I also provided lunch and a snack. Anything else (breakfast, wipes, diapers, formula, baby food, etc.) was provided by the parents. I did not feel bad having them provide most items because I did not charge a ton. Oh...and I also had them provide milk because milk is very expensive and I was one of the lower priced providers in the area. I was also one of the few I know of who actually did NOT do care under the table. So, I was actually making less money at the end of the day than others in my area because I paid my taxes. No one ever complained about providing supplies for thier kids.

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...and I did not provide sunscreen. If the parents wanted the child to have sunscreen put on throughout the day when we went outside, they had to provide it. Not only is sunscreen very expensive, especially when using the correct ammount, some children with sensitive skin can have reactions to some of them. I have a friend who has to get a very expensive one from the pharmacy because all the ones on the shelves have something in them that her daughter is allergic to. If she sunscreens another child with a different brand and then touches her daughter's skin before washing her hands, it turns bright red with a rash. Her experience with her daughter made me nervous so I required all topical stuff like sunscreen and diaper cream to be supplied by the parent.

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I provide nothing (with the exception of food, toys and environment). I do have blankets the kids use for naps, but they are mine so I launder them as well. NONE of my DCK's bring their own blankets for sleeping.

I don't provide sunscreen, bug spray, wipes or diapers.

The only convenience I offer to parents is a cubby and a basket for them to store their supplies in and that way, the only thing required to bring each day is the child.

All diapers, wipes, bottles and extra clothing (including snow gear and swim suits/towels) stay on site so parents don't forget them every day. Those items get taken home by the parents and laundered as necessary.

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Exact same here!

I charge on the higher end, and I don't feel guilty at all... my DCP's monthly fees go towards food, environment and MY TIME and EXPERIENCE. If I started doing/supplying extras, I would charge for it accordingly.

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Ditto for me!

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Parents in my day care supply EVERYTHING with the exception of morning/afternoon snack, lunch, and drinks. It's up to them if they want to use our cups or supply them. They provide wipes, diapers (both swim and regular), sunscreen, any creams..I launder nothing except their fitted sheets that I provide for over their sleep mats. Any item that came from home that needs laundering gets sent home.

Items like you've listed QUICKLY add up. I charge $30 a day and am seriously considering upping my rates even with just providing food and drinks. I feel like I'm not getting ahead with my wages at all.

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I'm pretty much the same as this. Except I launder the kids bedding, and occasionally their clothes.

I also do charge them when they take vacation, but not for mine.

So now that I read them all, looks like once again, BlackCat and I are on the same page. When will it end, Cat?

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Parents provide baby food, formula, diapers, and a change of clothes.

That said, I'm not rigid about it. They were furnishing wipes, but one parent's wipes kept getting cheaper and worse until they were so bad that I'd have had trouble wiping a doll's bottom with them. And I was having to nag both parents to bring them. I keep my own wipes for cleaning and spills and emergencies, and I ended up using them for the kids. I realized that for $2 a week I could buy the kind I wanted and not worry about it, so now I provide them.

They are suppose to supply spare clothes and shoes and coats, sunscreen (1 did, 1 didn't), bathing suit (1 did, 1 didn't), swim diapers (neither), swim shoes (1 did, 1 didn't), etc. I've had these kids long enough to know which battles to fight, and none of these were worth it. I bought spare clothes, swim shoes, tennis shoes, etc at yard sales and keep them here. It's so much easier. I found a huge garbage bag of swim diapers at a rummage sale for a couple of dollars and bought them last winter, so I don't worry about that either. I don't supply formula under any circumstances-it's too expensive. I do keep a couple of cups of baby food here for emergencies though.

As for diapers, I've taken 3 or 4 diapers out of the stockpile for each kid and put them back. That way, if mom forgets diapers, we're ok.

I learned that sometimes, it's just easier to do it all myself than to worry about it. Oh, and I wash my linens.

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I'm on the mid to lower end, and I do all of those things here. The parents bring wipes, but if they don't I always have them. I wash the sheets and bedding on Friday, I buy sunscreen, and we don't use swim diapers.

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Sunchimes~ I'm saying this in the most positive way I can and mean no disrespect by it, but you are in an essence enabling these parents by simply supplying things yourself.

It isn't the money. It is the principle. These are grown people who are in charge of another human being's needs and in no way what so ever would I agree to simply say not having to worry about missing items is a fair trade for paying for them myself and excusing the parents for something they should be responsible for.

If you require wipes (or any other supplies) and give a deadline for bringing them, don't allow parents to drop off without the items their child requires.

I can't believe that there really are people out there who have such little regard for providing for their children. That is just so wrong!

$2 or 50 cents is not the issue.....it simply should NOT be your issue.

((((((hugs)))))) Big hugs to you for caring enough to worry about the kids but goodness, it is a shame that you care more about these little people's needs than their own parents do.

This is just another example of how parents now days figure they don't have to worry about anything ....because someone else always will.

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Heres some things I do:

Laundry all linens (blankets/pillows)
Laundry all changes of clothing and then restock
Trips to the library/fieldtrips
I used to have a lady come in and tell Bible stories once a week. Looking at starting this back up this year.
Hand out flyers for things going on in the community

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My answers are bolded above. I'd say my prices are middle of the road - not really sure as I don't know another home provider anywhere near me. I do those things for my convenience though - over the last few years I just found it to be easier - so parents don't forget their sheet on Mondays, because I want to use a particular brand of wipes and don't want to worry about using extras for hands, the table, etc. and the sunscreen so I don't have 5 bottles here. I don't provide swim diapers because that would be too much of a hassle with different sizes and we don't need them often so one pack per child lasts us the whole summer!

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Blackcat, I seldom take offense at anything. Even if you meant it offensively, I probably wouldn't notice. I just always assume people have good intentions, or just worded it funny. Or maybe I'm too lazy to be offended.

Anyway, I see what you are saying, and there is some truth to that. But I run my daycare pretty casually--I run my life pretty casually actually. I just have 2 parents since I can only have 3 kids. While they may be lax about bringing things, they make it up in other ways. One brings me things she buys at yard sales and has heard me mention wanting, or she thinks her daughter might enjoy it. Both have been saints about letting me take off when my husband was being tested for cancer and having surgery. I took off 5 days one month, and they never blinked an eye. That's worth a lot of wipes and sunblock to me. One pays me full price on the weeks I don't even see her daughter and never hesitates.

I have a tendency to adopt people, and be adopted. I have faux "grandkids" scattered everywhere, and my daycare families have just joined the crowd in that way. When you get my age, you finally accept that life is too short to worry about the small stuff. There is too much big stuff to worry about!

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sunchimes.... I often feel the same way you do. When I see posts here about not doing "special" for parents I often ask "why not??". I feel like they chose me over the local centers because I CAN give them and their child more "special" than a center does. And I'm ok with that. I understand people sometimes take advantage and when you give an inch they take a mile, but I have never run into that with my daycare families and I certainly have a pretty strong backbone but I'm also all for making the hustle and bustle of daily life easier for everyone involved. Sure, a parent can take home their sheets and wash them on the weekends and I can make them be responsible for getting them back to me on Monday - or I can just as easily take them off their mats at the end of nap time on Friday and throw them in with my own stuff right then (I'm always running laundry, LOL!) and have them ready to go back on the mats by Saturday morning. Its making it a little easier for my families and they are paying me back in a million different ways - I don't see it as enabling them at all. Blackcat, this isn't to say I disagree with you, I just see the other side of it too and I know I'm appreciated for doing the little things that a center might not do for these kids.

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wow- talk about inspirational- you sound a lot like me.

Last summer I asked for Sunblock- this year I have provided it. My parents know they should bring it in, but I think they just assumed I was using last years still or just didn't think about it, because they see that I have it. I don't know, but it has not been a big deal for me. I just buy it and use what I want. If they bring it in they know it is a shared product- I know I have been laxed on this, this year.

Wipes- I am big on wipes, I use them for everything and I make no bones about it. I supply them too! My parents are great about bringing these in.
I don't want to think twice if I use one wipe or twenty.

I have my own blankets and bedding and I wash it every friday or as needed. I don't want things going back and fourth. They can leave a special blanket here.

creams- the parents provide and I also have a huge assortment that I supply and use too.

Cups- I supply or they supply and they stay here.

I supply all food-

I also have a small stash of extra clothing for those times in need. I do ask parents to leave me with two sets of play clothes, outside gear.

I pick little stuff up like brush and comb for each child, toothbrush, towel etc. and those stay here.

I put a couple of diapers in my outside bag and leave them there as extra in case we get short. Parents put diapers in the cubbies and they know when they need to replenish- I try to remind when needed.

I also post local events and what not- helps and tips,nutrition information

I too have great parents. They bring me in things for no reason, flowers, a cupcake, little things, and treat me well on holidays and days I take off- like my paid vacations.

key is to be honest and up front from the start, the first interview in how you do things and what your expectations are.

This works for me, I am good to my clients and my clients are good to me. I always do things because I WANT to do them, and for no other reason and it has taken me a while to get here. I never expect back when I do- except the respect of following my daycare rules.

Best-

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I'm also very lax. I do things the same way i'd do them if the kids were my own. It's not hard to have creams and wipes here. I even keep a pack of diapers here just in case.

We just roll with the flow... I rarely feel taken advantage of. I have some who go the extra mile for me, and I go the extra mile for them. I have some that think I am just here because I don't have anything better to do. They do very little for me, very little for their kids....but, in the end, only their kids suffer. Not me, not the other kids... it's all on them later in life.

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I do the laundry, but only because I do not want to be trying to scrounge blankets when parents forget to bring them on Monday.... :P

Otherwise, all of the other things - sunscreen, wipes, kleenex, etc, we take turns bringing. I also supply insect repellent but only because I've had parents bring 3 different kinds that weren't strong enough, complaining that their kids were getting mosquito bites, and I ended up buying better stuff anyway.

I supply all food, snacks, treats, parents sometimes bring a special treat like cupcakes for a birthday. I provide all toys, equipment, unless they want me to use something special.

For pre-school curriculum they pay for their own child's cost of materials. E.g. if I purchase a certain workbook for each of the three of them to practice small motor skills, each parent pays the price of their child's workbook. I have LOTS of materials that I provide for everyone's use, but individual use items are covered by the parent.

I also have a very small craft fee each month ($5 per child). I supply the rest.

I supply all field trip expenses EXCEPT a few times a year we try to take a big field trip and then they provide some extra money to cover fees and extra food.

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I had to laugh at the "small stash of clothes" My3cents. I am a sucker for kids clothes and my grandkids are all too big to buy for now. I can't resist buying the dcks clothes for my spare box. I've had one of my girls since she was 6 mo and one since she was 10 months. I just went through my chest of spares to pull out the things they have outgrown. I have a large garbage bag full of the most adorable little girls things. I have a 6 mo old boy who isn't nearly as much fun to buy for--I just realized that he has outgrown every single thing I had for him in his pile. He just turned 6 mo and wears 12M clothes. I have a ton of 12M clothes, but his daddy would have a fit if I dressed him in pink flowered shirts. ;-)

Now and then I find something really cute and just give it to the moms. Luckily, we all feel the same way about hand-me-downs since I can't resist buying them.

I don't want to give the impression that my moms are perfect and never take advantage--they are human and they do take advantage sometimes. And sometimes, I whine about it because I'm human too. But, I whine about my almost-perfect husband sometimes too!

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That is actually awesome!!! .......and completely negates anything I said about enabling or taking advantage.

You aren't simply doing things because daycare parents are lazy but are doing them because it IS or DOES work both ways.

If the daycare families you have are golden, then I absolutely see the value in the trade off you do!

Good for you!

If all parents were like that, then more daycare providers would be more like you! Which is awfully BIG hearted!

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Nope, I don't think you are disagreeing at all. I think you ARE actually right. There is no hard fast rule about doing "special" or rather to not do "special" as that is kind of the point of being self-employed....we get to pick and choose whether or not we do special and for whom and when.

I have done "special" many times before and don't get taken advantage of as I too have a very strong backbone (or maybe just a big mouth....I don't know but either works I guess ).

I have families I would absolutely do stuff for and families I wouldn't dream of giving a millimeter let alone "special". NOT all families are alike and there for being a child care provider enables me to pick and choose which situations work for me and which don't .

I have been burned in the past and there are some hard fast rules I will never break, even if I can....but most of those involve money. But there are some things I have no issue doing either. You get stricter and more ridgid in some areas and softer in others I think the longer you have do this job because your own life goals and priorities change so naturally your rules and policies change at the same time.

The things I would NOT have tolerated a few years ago are not so big deals now but things I let slide years ago, I would not tolerate today, so just like life, this job and the role we play is a constant flow that changes every day.

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I have families supply baby wipes, diapers, and the parents put on sunscreen on their own children, before coming to daycare on a swim or sprinkler day. I provide am and pm snack, and dinner only.

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