What to do???

[Jayne]

Last week a friend of mine called about having me watch a co-workers 6 week old baby. I told her that I had Timmy three day's a week and couldn't take on any more on those days but Tuesday and Thursday I had Free. She said "it will be about 6:45am till shortly after 4pm. (That is early for us) I haven't discussed pay yet with this person. I don't know her from Adam. But I am thinking two more days of pay would be fantastic for us to do some saving for when and if there is a new baby. I could maybe even tell her that I could only do it until a new one arrived. It would mean getting out all my baby gear early wich wouldn't be such a bad thing now would it???

What do you think....would you take on a 6 week old two days a week.

Alyssa is in school 2.5 of those hours. Tylor gets home at 4. ??????? help. I have to call her back at 11:30 to discuss it.

[Cami]

I think you should do it! Or at least talk to the parent and find out more. Assuming you're ok with all the newborn issues (your routine will be shot, dealing with carrying a baby around again, etc). But since you're going to try and have another baby, I think you're ok with all that. :) Good luck!

[Jayne]

So I called her back. She wants me from 6:30 - 4. She gets done at 3:30 but often has to stay a bit over. I told her 5$ an hour (thinking she would say NO...in our area that is a lot..I get 6$ for Timmy but feel they pay over!) she said she would like to come to the house and talk to me. She is coming tomorrow at 1.

I have the downstairs clean. (Always since I have Timmy) but the upstairs has gone by the way side since Christmas. Do I need to get all the upstairs clean. Maybe just the bathroom and Alyssa's room where the porta crib is??? I am actually thinking I will just use my moses basket for now for the baby downstairs but maybe it is best to have all that other ready just in case??? I have Timmy today so that makes it a bit hard since he sleeps in Alyssa's room too. I don't have much to do in the bathroom. (I try to keep that clean always) I don't know what to do..

I am not the best house keeper and so I worry. Maybe I am worring for nothing..I don't know these people at all and that makes me a bit worried. :dunno:

[marcy]

As long as watching the baby on your "off" days from Timmy doesn't interrupt your schedule (things like helping at the kids schools, etc) I say go for it. As for cleaning, just the bathroom and Alyssa's room upstairs - I wouldn't expect this person to inspect every inch of your house, just where the baby would play / sleep / be changed.

[mrs.knip]

Wow- $5 hr sounds great! That would be good for preparing for when you have a new baby both money wise and getting in the groove again. I guess if you have time I would get Alyssa's room straightened up bot otherwise I wouldn't worry too much. :)

[Jayne]

See most people around here range in pay from 6$ an hour to well up to about 20. If your getting 15$ an hour your doing well...So for me to charge 5$ an hour seems high to a lot of people. Especially if they are only making 7-10$ an hour. Half of their pay is going to their child care and a lot of people can't do that.

The only thing I can think of it getting in the way with is that I often schedule our doctor appointments for Tuesday's and Thursday's. Which I guess if she doesn't mind..well I can take her kid with me. The baby is still young enough to sit in the infant car seat the entire time. Timmy can be destructive so I try not to have him for our DR. Appts :lol:

I already just take Timmy along with me if I am helping out at the school so This won't be any different :dunno:

I wasn't going to take any more kids on because of the summer. I felt that I missed out on having a good summer last year because I had a different kid here every day. I am actually tempted to tell her that this could only last until July..so I had half the summer to me and the kids and also to me if I am pg :dunno: that gives her 7 months to find someone else :dunno:

[Cami]

I'm trying to put myself in the parent's place. I'd be hesitant to put my child somewhere that I knew was temporary, because I'd want to avoid the issues with the baby getting adjusted somewhere else, a new childcare person getting adjusted to my baby, and the hassle of finding a new person. But I think it's good that you're being honest with her. And maybe what you're proposing will work just fine for her too. (I'm just kind of thinking out loud.)

[Kara]

Tomorrow I would be more upfront with her and let her know about your situation...Also ask permission to take the baby in your car when needed...she would have to because you have to take Alyssa...but just to be sure...I don't think you have to have the entire house clean..just where the baby would be. Find out babies schedule too and stuff like that. Do I know them???

[Jayne]

Oh I agree with you Cami but I want to be honest as I can't have a baby here when I have a baby. I don't have the space in my car for two infant seats and Alyssa's booster. An infant seat and the toddler seat and the booster all fit in fine so having Timmy isn't a problem but the infant seats are bigger then the booster/toddler. Tylor will still be an issue but for in town he can ride in the front. He will be 12 and he is 84 lbs now. So he meats the requirements for the front seat. I don't like it and will do that as little as possible.

Aside from that I don't know how easy it will be to carry two infant seats. NOt that it can't be done. People with Twins do it all the time but I don't have two cribs and or the space to keep two up. Timmy will be in a toddler bed/twin by then (Talked to his parents) and so he can sleep in TYlor's bed or Alyssa's when the time comes.

I haven't decided if I am trying to talk myself into this our out of it :lol:

[Jayne]

Kara...Maybe..I don't know her..but...hang on..I will talk to you through IM. I don't want to put a last name here.

[Lyoshka]

decisions decisions... I hope it works out for you, Jayne! let us know how the meeting goes with this lady :)

[TtownAnne]

Hrm - maybe I'm the only one, but I'd be a little put out at my friend just volunteering me to watch a 6-week old baby, which is a MAJOR commitment of time and energy. And you are definitely not being paid enough to watch a tiny new baby. Middle schoolers in my area make more than that and would laugh at being offered $5!

[Jayne]

I guess I didn't explain that exactly right Anne. A woman from church knew I watched Children. She called me first and asked if I was still watching children. I said yes but only had tuesday's and thursday's available. She asked if she could give someone she works with my name and number and I said yes...Fully thinking she wouldn't call because she needed someone full time :dunno:

[mrs.knip]

Anne- I guess it all depends where you live, my sister pays $1.75 hr for my nephews child care he is 4 months. The average in my area is between $1.75-2.45 /hr for one child. When my kids had to go to daycare while I was in the hospital I paid $3.25 hr for both of them.

[TtownAnne]

Oh, I see - okay, I'd be less annoyed. But still, that is a major commitment of time and energy for $5 an hour. I'd have to say no.

[mrs.knip]

wanted to mention that is for family run childcare and we do pay our babysitters (ie: our nieces $4-5/ hr when we go out for the night)

[Jayne]

I used to do it for way less. 4$ an hour was the most I had made for a long time. the 6$ an hour I get for Timmy is top dollar around here for a Nanny. People pay less an hour for Daycare around here.

[Sandy]

Holy crap, I am astonished at those prices!!!! So CHEAP!!!! I'm truly amazed!!!

[TtownAnne]

That was my thought, Sandy. Of course I can understand it being cheaper in more rural areas (like Brandi's), but I know the general area where Jayne lives and it's not like she's out in the boondocks!

[Jayne]

Trust me. I wish we made more around here. However you will be hard pressed to find many homes over 200K here either. A really nice home runs around 100K..we are talking 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, plenty of land..all for 100K...so our cost of living isn't as high here either

[Jayne]

That was my thought, Sandy. Of course I can understand it being cheaper in more rural areas (like Brandi's), but I know the general area where Jayne lives and it's not like she's out in the boondocks!

Nope..I am not I am in town!

[Jayne]

go to Google Maps (http://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl&q=) Type in Salem Ohio and then go to Satelite mode and zoom in. You can see the area

[Dennis]

I say go for it. Just make sure you're clear that you probably won't be available after July.

As for the price, it definitely would be very low for out her, but my SIL (in northwest NJ) charges $3 an hour.

[Jayne]

DH say's go for it. He is excited about me cleaning some more :lol: He said that it would be nice to have an extra 90$ a week..Which is true..Hey..anything is nice!

[schwanda]

I can't believe how cheap childcare can be in certain areas. We pay ALOT more than that!!!! Alot!
If you feel up to it, it sounds very do-able.

Amanda

[Hannabanana]

I can't believe how cheap childcare can be in certain areas. We pay ALOT more than that!!!! Alot!
If you feel up to it, it sounds very do-able.

Amanda

Ditto here. I just read in the paper that Chinese immigrants who have professional careers are sending their children back home to be raise by their families there because the cost of childcare is too high. Odd to imagine that here!

I hope your meeting goes well tomorrow ... you could find that you just don't get a good vibe off the mother and might not want to take her baby on so don't stress yourself out about it Jayne. At least you've got people in your community knowing that you're taking children so if this doesn't work out, there might be someone else right around the corner who might need you.

[Girlo]

I'll also say go for it!! :aok:

Btw, we pay someone in-home $4/hour for Alex....avg. 10/hrs/week. We feel VERY fortunate to have quality care for him in a space he loves for so little money. :)

[Jayne]

This seems to come and go in droves. Over the summer last year I had 5 different families call me but all of them wanted full time and I have committed to Timmy three days a week and just couldn't do that to them. People really prefer inhome care for their children and being that I have been a Nanny/sitter since I was 12 I am known in our city for doing so. It is nice to have a good stream of people calling every now and then. My friend insists that I should open a Day Care because so many people often ask for me but then it wouldn't be the inhome that I love so much and love to offer.

[Melissa]

Sounds like you made a great decision. I hope it all works out!

[Jayne]

The mom is so nice and the baby is so cute. It is going to work out perfect. They may be moving to Kent in June and if so her MIL will watch the baby daily! It is perfect timing! She said that the 5$ an hour is a bit higher then they wanted to go...but I didn't budge and it looks like they are going to go with me!

[Dennis]

Great!

[marcy]

Meant to be! Glad it's going to work out.