I guess go with my instinct? opinions plz?

I have my 7 month old at a day care since late August. Its a home day care and the owner has 2 ladies helping her. Long story short: We get the impression that the owner is not there most of the time. (she might be upstairs in her house) but not in the room with the kids. (When we booked her, she promised she was there all of the time except when she drove her son to school and picked him up)

Today we found out she went away for the night and isn't there all day today. Didn't tell us or ask us. We didnt know the lady who was filling in for her and her helper (who we really like) lied to us when I asked if the owner was upstairs in the AM. (Lets just say facebook can really get you in trouble if you friend your clients/customers). Also, her helpers don't speak great English so I wanted to be sure that my kid is being spoken to in English and they are supposed to sing and stuff and I just dont think that happens.

Just wanted some opinions here since we are first time parents and are wondering if we are crazy/overreacting and why none of the other parents seem to care since she has a pretty full house most of the time.

That's our main issue with the place (a few other little ones) and just have a weird feeling the person we thought was going to watching our baby doesn't even know him. (esp since the last time she tried to hold him in the AM when I was there, he cried and wouldn't go to her, only the helper).

TIA

Re: I guess go with my instinct? opinions plz?

She probably just runs the place but isn't one of the caretakers.. this would bother me if she played it out as though she IS the child's main caretaker..

I would probably take this up with her myself but you have to ask yourself, does your child seem happy? are the women there that do care for him, good to him? what other complaints do you have? do you have backup childcare if you decide to pull him out?

GL!

Re: I guess go with my instinct? opinions plz?

I see so many red flags here...I would have a really BIG problem with 1) the fact that she went away without telling you (and having the assistant lie for her) and 2) hiring new help that a) doesn't speak english b) not introducing the new help to you. Is this place legit? I'm not questioning your judgment with whom you leave your child (you must have felt comfortable with them) but when it comes to in-home care, I would want to know every single detail when it comes to my child's care.

I don't think you're overreacting at all...quite the opposite.

Message edited 12/1/2011 3:03:56 PM.

Re: I guess go with my instinct? opinions plz?

I know. Its hard because he is so little - we can't ask him if he likes it! I guess he seems to be happy there.

A lot of the time when we pick-up it seems like a total zoo and the 2 ladies seem like they want to jump off a bridge. (there are a few other details here, I didn't want to write a novel)

We don't have early childhood experiences so when we pick-up, one would assume we could speak with someone about the day (poops, how he ate, slept, etc.) and that doesn't happen due to chaos with the other kids running around or because there is that language barrier. Just seems like the owner could really be useful to help corral the older kids. I could go on, but again, we don't know if this is normal and the grass isn't always greener on the other side. (we do have a possible back-up)

Re: I guess go with my instinct? opinions plz?

We loved the owner when we met her and in the beginning she was so nice to me bc i was having a hard time leaving and dealing with having him in day care.

She seems like she would be great with kids and may have gotten burnt out or something and checked out?

I am totally on the side of being too careful with things and who watches him and this has been unfolding more and more and I think we are at the point where it needs to be confronted and either we like her answers or we pull him out.

UGHH

Message edited 12/1/2011 3:05:58 PM.

Re: I guess go with my instinct? opinions plz?

How many ladies vs. kids are there?

there should only be a set kid to caretaker ratio there..

Re: I guess go with my instinct? opinions plz?

Re: I guess go with my instinct? opinions plz?

There are different numbers of kids on diff days and we don't even know but I am pretty sure they are OK as far as ratios.

(its a different # everyday so its impossible to really figure it out without asking each day)

Its a licensed place and been around for like 10 years.

Thanks so much, I think I know what I need to do but its weighing on me to make the 'right' decision.

Re: I guess go with my instinct? opinions plz?

Re: I guess go with my instinct? opinions plz?

I would start looking elsewhere asap!