A question from T. of St. Paul….

My husband and I are going away for several days in March, and a babysitter couple that we use will be staying with the kids.  We have no idea what to pay them.  Wondering if Cribsheeters have some ideas of the going rate for long-term sitters. 
 
Salient facts:

husband-wife couple in their late twenties,
we know them well and the kids love them,
will be staying overnight with two kids, 3 and 6 on weekdays,
will drop kids off at schools/daycare and pick them up at the end of the day,
and in between they’ll both go to work (obviously, if a kid is sick they will have to take the day off from work)
on weekend, will drop off/hang out at a couple of activities (circus class and sunday school)
they will be with the kids for essentially 5 nights and 6 days

Cribsheeters?

Today we have a great question from Cribsheet’s in-box prompted by last weeks post “Day Care Decline” regarding childcare and the current economy.
Any other parents or providers want to weigh in?

What is the normal policy of providers when families are expecting baby #2? Our completely-reliable and otherwise-terrific home day care provider is balking at holding a spot for baby #2, because her next opening is much sooner than baby will arrive. I’m curious about what others have experienced. What’s fair, and what’s not? Should we be expected to pay for those open months? I don’t think so, but out of respect for my provider, I don’t want her to forgo income, either.

- Jennifer

Last month I walked in the door at my day care providers house - she blurted out worriedly “Do you still have a job!?” she had just heard the news of layoffs and Chapter 11 at my place of employment. She was in the kitchen talking with other mothers about layoffs at their companies. I nodded yes. “Oh good, I worry about you guys, and myself. When the parents lose jobs I lose kids.”
On the front page of today’s Star Tribune Jean Hopfensperger reports that exact situation going on all across the metro area. Day Cares Take Hit

How about you Cribsheeters. Anyone affected by layoffs and pulling kids from day care? Or what is your Plan B for childcare if you were to lose your job?

I just checked our Cribsheet in-box and we’re getting several questions about what to give your child’s provider for the holidays.
We had a lot of great ideas and discussion on this topic last year (read here) - but it is always worth revisiting this time of year.

What to give your daycare providers/teachers/teachers assistants for the holidays.

A few inquiries we’ve received:

Between my two kids, we have about 15 gifts we need to give, so I’m
unable to afford nice gift cards. And I’ve heard that teachers get weary
of getting sweets (seems crazy to me!).
Does anyone have any fabulous and inexpensive ideas?

What about the giving a gift equal to one week’s daycare rate to a home daycare provider - does this unwritten rule of thumb still exist?

Please share your thoughts and ideas. What are you doing this year for your provider(s)?

All you frazzled parents out there searching for the right day care center, with your spreadsheets and checklists (yes, in our house we actually had a spreadsheet), help may be at hand…

There’s a pilot project to rate day cares in Minnesota. It’s limited so far - just St. Paul, north Minneapolis and Wayzata but will expand soon. The centers get one to four stars, based on things like staff training, teaching materials and parent involvement.

Licensed child care facilities have to volunteer to be rated and the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation in St. Paul is the chief backer.

Here’s the story.

What do you think? Useful? Not? What would you like to see in a rating system?