FAQs About Running A Daycare

Here are a few questions I have received from other childcare providers…

I have a parent who wants to do a full trial day before starting their child. Should I let her do a trial day? Should I charge for the day?

I would charge them a drop-in fee for the day. Ours is $50. If they want to do a trial day before they start, they pay the drop-in charge whether it is 2 hours,  half-day, or all day. I will sometimes let a parent come "hang out" in the class for 30 minutes or so with their child for free, but if they leave them with us, they pay. *Consult with your state department to see if parents are allowed to visit for short periods of time.

So I have a mom who wants to drop in 2x a week to breastfeed her daughter. My concern is that other moms will see this, and I will have several moms hanging out in my daycare. Should I be flexible to her needs and allow her to stop in and breastfeed?

We have a small private area with a rocking chair available for breastfeeding moms. We do allow it and actually encourage it. Nursing their little ones can help relieve their anxiety about leaving them and make for a happier mom. We don't have many moms come in to breastfeed; if they do, it's usually only for the first few weeks. Moms are busy and need to get back to work, so they don't have time to hang around for long. 

What policies should I have in my parent handbook?

A childcare center or daycare is only as good as its policies and procedures. That's why having a solid parent handbook in place before your daycare or childcare center opens its doors is important. I wrote a great article detailing 30 must-have policies for your childcare business. Click here to read 30 Daycare Policies You Need in Your Parent Handbook.

If each mom wants a specific schedule for their child, should I accommodate them? I worry that each infant will sleep different hours, and we might not be able to go outside for a walk.  

I would have the schedules in place. Having all the kids on the same schedule will make your life a lot easier. You can tell moms that you don't expect infants to be on your schedule immediately when they start and that you will allow time for adjustment. The feeding and sleeping time for infants may vary at first. You should feed them when they are hungry and allow them to sleep when needed. For our center, we give parents an infant feeding plan to fill out to give us an idea about their child's schedule, but we have our own schedule and expect them to eventually get on our daily schedule. Our toddlers and preschoolers are on the schedule our center has in place from the time of enrollment. 

Should I charge parents tuition when their child is sick and I am not providing child care for the week?

Yes, you should implement policies in your parent handbook that state that child care tuition is due regardless of attendance. Have the parents sign a contract in your child enrollment forms stating that they understand and agree. If you choose, you can give families a vacation week every year. You can also implement an absent rate policy if you feel that charging full tuition is harsh. At our child care center, parents are required to pay half if the child is absent the entire week. Whichever you choose, do require parents to pay every week to “hold their spot”. Parents should not be allowed to choose the weeks their child attends and only pay for those weeks. You as a child care provider, need constant steady income coming in for each spot.

I have baby sleeping cameras installed in the nap room. Do I allow access to parents who want this? Or deny access?

We have cameras and allow parents who want access to be able to view them for a $10 per month fee. This fee, however pays for our surveillance company. We only charge because we pay a hefty monthly bill. We have about 100 children, with about 50% enrolled in the camera viewing. If you aren’t paying a fee yourself, I probably wouldn't charge. I would allow them to view. Parents love to see their babies while working.

I am an in-home daycare. When should I hire an assistant? When I have more than 3/4/5/6 kids?

Hire when you feel that you need it. Of course, stay in your ratio. Our infant ratio is 1:6 but 6 babies is a lot for one person. We normally have an assistant to help with part of the day. You could start with just hiring someone for a few hours a day when it's the busiest for you. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this as long as you meet your state ratios and give quality care.  

How do I find qualified staff to hire?

You can post jobs on Indeed.com to hire at no charge but just screen properly. Require a background check, get references, look for experience, and require CPR & 1st aid (check your state guidelines of course). You can start with a phone interview, then do a face-to-face. If your state allows, do a "working interview" first to see how they do in the classroom. Download my free Interviewing Guide with Questions and Position Descriptions here. If you want a complete step-by-step blueprint for attracting, hiring, and retaining high-quality staff for your childcare business while creating a rock-solid team and positive work culture, check out The Ultimate Staffing Blueprint.

Should I send text messages and pictures throughout the day? Should I use an app or send a group text to all the parents?

I would definitely not create a group text. I would either send home a paper daily log at the end of the day or use a daycare app and avoid texting. The texting will wear you out. If you have staff, you do not want them on their phones, having the parent’s contact info, and responding to text messages all day.  Check out the brightwheel app, himama app, or Tadpoles app. If you have staff, they can use these apps on iPads. There may be a monthly charge, but these apps allow you to post pictures, communicate, check-in and out children, even billing. This would be your best option. Whatever you decide, just make sure you are setting the guidelines so that you are not feeling pressure to respond to parents all day. 

I want to own my own daycare, but I don’t even know where to start. Can you point me in the right direction?

Yes, I would suggest reading Starting A Daycare Business. It will help you get started. Remember to take one step at a time. You can also download my free Daycare Starter Guide here!

Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to :)