what do u look for?

[audi]

hello! i am looking to start me own inhome child care. as parents, what would you look for? do you think my expecations and price is reasonable?
i could really use some suggestions as far as how to get started.
background...
i will be 22 in sept. i will be graduating college in 2 weeks with a bachlors in pscyhology. (minor in sociology/ criminal justice) and i finally decided it was time i made this desicion for myself. im not ready to go back to school for 3 years (occupational therapy masters). and my life long dream has been to start my own buisness. in home child care. i have a supportive uncle who offered to loan me a few grand to get started. i will need to buy a house, duplex or something, since i doubt my parents will let me do this out of their home, lol. but i think i can use the location as a tax write off. i would like to work with 2-3 infants under a year. im looking to charge around 7$ an hour. having the parents supply formula/food and diapers.
how should i advertise?
if there are any suggestions or thoughts, i would really appreacite them. pm me. thanks so much!
*hugs*

[winterrosewaitin]

This is just my opinion,

I used to babysit, and I also used to work and pay a babysitter.

7.00 an hour seems a bit high to me, unless you plan on going to their home and being a nanny.

The first thing I would look for is how many years of experience you have. Then I would ask for references.
I also would look at the location and see how clean and appropriate it is. Is the napping situation safe? Are the toy's of an appropriate age? Are there fire detectors? Are there Carbon Monoxide detectors? Has there been a lead testing in the home? Has there been a mold check in the home? Do you smoke? Will there be pets nearby? Will you be claiming this income on your taxes? Are there any child molesters in the local area? Are you CPR Certified? These are just a few questions I would ask.
I would also do a background check to see if you were ever turned for child abuse. Or, have any record of any kind.
I hope this may be of some help,

Blessings,
Winter Rose

[Seren_]

Are there any legal requirements you need to fulfil? In the UK, I don't think you can be a childminder without having the relevant qualifications - is there anything like that where you are (there may be a specific number of kids you're looking after before things like that apply)? Even if such things don't apply, it might be worth considering doing anyway - it makes you more attractive to prospective parents looking for a carer, and will give you the option to expand in future if things take off.

Also, what about first aid - do you have any certificates in that? As a parent, it's one of the things I'd be thinking of. Although probably first on my list of questions would be what experience with children do you have? Something else I might ask is what kind of activities will you do - trips to the park etc. And from a business/safety perspective, will you need special insurance for that, and as a parent, do you have it?

I can't comment on the amount you're charging per se, but from my own researches into the different kinds of care it's considered reasonable to charge a bit more for home care with only a few kids than sending them to a big nursery where the number of children per carer may be more. In theory, you're offering a higher quality in service because you can give the kids more attention. Being a new business, however, you might want to consider charging slightly less than other competitors in your area until you become established. So if you want to find out what's reasonable for your area, perhaps you should make some enquiries. I know childcare costs much more in some parts of the country over here, than other parts, so what some people consider steep, others may find fairly reasonable depending on where they are.

[audi]

looks like maybe i needed to add some additional information, but first please let me thank those who have replied. the suggestions were very helpful.

i have been babysitting since i was 12 and was a mothers helper before that. i worked in a day care and as a private nanny. i have taken a cpr course, it has since expired but i have the book and still know the tecniques. i took a babysitting course when i was younger. i took 2 child development courses here at college. and i have a natural repore with children.

i have called the county. they told me i did not need any certificates. i was surprised. if i keep the number of children small, as i intend to do- then they might look at it as babysitting and not a buisness. however i hope to do it as a buinsness so i can do taxes properly.

babysitting i was making between 5 and 10$ an hour, and sometimes a flat day amount of 75$...

did i miss anything? thanks! *hugs* :sunny:

[Ceres]

Around here, the flat rate for child care is $30/ day. This includes meals. Its a shame how little the people who raise children for a living make. The burn out rate in home day care is very high as it is stressful but not highly respected. What I found in my years of providing in home daycare was that it was best to go with an agency for placements, even though it meant more paperwork because your money would come from the agency, not the parents and they would solve disputes as well. If you want to be self employed, I recommend a housecleaning service because its cheap to start and doesnt carry the same level of responsibility.

[audi]

thanks for ur thoughts. house cleaning? well i dont really care much about the starting my own buinsess, i just love to work with kids! so house cleanig would defeat the purpose. but thank you for your thoughts! take care *Hugs* :hahugh:

[Ceres]

In that case, maybe if you bought a house near a school and did before and after school care for larger groups of older kids? Its intense for a few hours in the morning and again in the afternoon, but its not so intense one on one.

[Sequoia]

Also, just out of curiousity, why did you stop being a nanny?

I know that here in California, you have to have special certification AND 12 college units of Early Childhood Education before you can even work in a preschool, let alone run one.

********

Hmm, in response to your question... The things I would probably look for...

-VERY CLEAN ENVIRONMENT: Not necessarily a hospital or anything, but orderly, clean, no obvious smells or biohazards ;) Tidy, and definately all the "icky" type stuff immediately cleaned up.

-SAFE: If there are stairs, babygates. If there are "off-limits" rooms, babygates or lockable doors. All medications locked away, anything toxic locked away. Electric socket plugs, kitchen blocked off (babygates!), bathroom carefully monitered. The house would need to be structurally sound - if I saw chipped paint, cracks, drafts, or any manner of disrepair, I probably wouldn't trust it.

-STRUCTURED: That's just me, personally. I'd like to know that there was a set schedule, food times, play times, nap times, homework times (when appropriate). Probably also set aside areas for play, work, and naps.

-SUPERVISED: I'd want to know how many children would be there, with how many adults. I'd want to meet each and every member of the family that would be there, and I'd want to know just as much about them as I would about you. (Example: Don't be offended if some parents want to do some kind of referencing and background check - these are their babies, after all!)

Things like that... good start of a list, I think. ;)

[LadyTrinity]

What I would look for in a sitter...


Someone who can preform CPR
A non smoker care giver
Someone with a baby proof home....
Someone who provides meals so I dont have to the night before
Someone who will change diapers at no extra cost
Someone who is nice to the kids and doesnt yell to get them to listen
Someone who charges 3$ or less per hour expcially if the childcare is needed for 40 h a week.
Someone who is close to a hospital or has a vehicle to get to one
Someone with a tidy home
A place full of toys so my son doesnt have to bring some from home

[BrigidMoon]

hello! i am looking to start me own inhome child care. as parents, what would you look for? do you think my expecations and price is reasonable?
i could really use some suggestions as far as how to get started.
background...
i will be 22 in sept. i will be graduating college in 2 weeks with a bachlors in pscyhology. (minor in sociology/ criminal justice) and i finally decided it was time i made this desicion for myself. im not ready to go back to school for 3 years (occupational therapy masters). and my life long dream has been to start my own buisness. in home child care. i have a supportive uncle who offered to loan me a few grand to get started. i will need to buy a house, duplex or something, since i doubt my parents will let me do this out of their home, lol. but i think i can use the location as a tax write off. i would like to work with 2-3 infants under a year. im looking to charge around 7$ an hour. having the parents supply formula/food and diapers.
how should i advertise?
if there are any suggestions or thoughts, i would really appreacite them. pm me. thanks so much!
*hugs*

I would look into the cost of licensing and certifications in your area. Also, there are programs that help within the govt. on healthy snacks, milk sometimes formula etc. With a license and certification, I'd charge more than 7.00 an hour. I'd looking into the childcare resources and find out how much they charge and for what ages. Also, there are laws about 1 provider per a number of babies and children.

Just a few suggestions :)

Also, for women's small businesses you can get grants and loans easily without perhaps having to get money from family.

[BrigidMoon]

I totally disagree. I think that leaving my baby in the hands of another human being should be qualified and certified and I would pay quite a bit a week for that type of quality service.

This is just my opinion,

I used to babysit, and I also used to work and pay a babysitter.

7.00 an hour seems a bit high to me, unless you plan on going to their home and being a nanny.

[Amethyst Rose]

$3 or LESS an hour LT??? That's insane! I'm sorry, but if someone is looking after your children that is an incredibly valuble service and they deserve to be paid way more than that. Way more! I was actually thinking that $7.00 an hour was pretty decent.

As for what I'd look for..... Certification is #1 for me. I don't care what the town/county/state, etc. requires, I woudn't leave my son with anyone who didn't have the certification required in daycares. On top of that is CPR certification, updated at least once a year, ideally every 6 months.

Next is experience in a professional situation. For me, I'm afraid that babysitting wouldn't be good enough....I'd want at least 5 years experience working in a daycare or as a nanny...some sort of childcare outside of babysitting.

Environment of course is key.... baby proofing, cleanliness, child/careworker ratio, play areas, nap areas, eating areas. Provided meals would be ideal, but not incredibly necessary. And what everyone else said.... structure/schedule, only certain people (staff and parents) allowed on the premesis.

Umm.....that's all I can think of for now. :)

Edit: maybe my opinion is a little harsh, though, and I'm being a little over protective.... I did hire a professional child care worker as my babysitter, after all, instead of just going with a teenager.

[BrigidMoon]

$3 or LESS an hour LT??? That's insane! I'm sorry, but if someone is looking after your children that is an incredibly valuble service and they deserve to be paid way more than that. Way more! I was actually thinking that $7.00 an hour was pretty decent.

As for what I'd look for..... Certification is #1 for me. I don't care what the town/county/state, etc. requires, I woudn't leave my son with anyone who didn't have the certification required in daycares. On top of that is CPR certification, updated at least once a year, ideally every 6 months.

Next is experience in a professional situation. For me, I'm afraid that babysitting wouldn't be good enough....I'd want at least 5 years experience working in a daycare or as a nanny...some sort of childcare outside of babysitting.

Environment of course is key.... baby proofing, cleanliness, child/careworker ratio, play areas, nap areas, eating areas. Provided meals would be ideal, but not incredibly necessary. And what everyone else said.... structure/schedule, only certain people (staff and parents) allowed on the premesis.

Umm.....that's all I can think of for now. :)

Edit: maybe my opinion is a little harsh, though, and I'm being a little over protective.... I did hire a professional child care worker as my babysitter, after all.

Totally agree :)

[Sequoia]

$3 or LESS an hour LT??? That's insane! I'm sorry, but if someone is looking after your children that is an incredibly valuble service and they deserve to be paid way more than that. Way more!

Especially since in some areas (like mine), seven an hour is minimum wage! I get paid more to babysit!

[audi]

thank you so much for all the help. the suggestions are very helpful.

when i did day care and worked with infants, they ratio was 5 to 1. im only looking at 3-1 max!
i had to stop being a nanny due that i left the state to go back to school.

i really appreciate the support. i most likely wont be getting it from home so atleast i can find it somewhere.
:fpraiseyo

[Sequoia]

i really appreciate the support. i most likely wont be getting it from home so atleast i can find it somewhere.
:fpraiseyo
Erm... would this be the same home you're hosting the day care from?

[spooky]

you can almost definitely find a family of three or less to look after this summer. put up ads in rich neighborhoods, on the bulliten board of the neighborhood pool if they have one. a newspaper ad might be a good idea, and many neighborhoods have newsletters you could put an ad in.

7 an hour seems a little on the low side for a qualified adult looking after their kids day in and out. it would cost them more in lost wages to quit and look after them. if it doesn't cost them more than that they just won't hire you and somebody else will. have a little resume on hand, along with a qualification of CPR so you can show them if they ask. i bet a hospital nearby will have a CPR course to take, if you think it is important.

will you be going to their house or your own? taking them to your house would take baby proofing and toys. i'ed go by their house if it's posssible. yay to you. i loved babysitting, too bad noobody turns to unemployed 22 year olds and says "hey, you need some extra money?" actually, they do- but they aren't offering a babysitter job. not in my area any way *shudders*

[BrigidMoon]

thank you so much for all the help. the suggestions are very helpful.

when i did day care and worked with infants, they ratio was 5 to 1. im only looking at 3-1 max!
i had to stop being a nanny due that i left the state to go back to school.

i really appreciate the support. i most likely wont be getting it from home so atleast i can find it somewhere.
:fpraiseyo

Call perhaps social services or an agency that can help with daycare licensing and programs to help you. I am sure there is some kind of program that will help you get started. Perhaps some books at Barnes and Noble on this too. You never know!

[Greybird]

In addition to what was mentioned above, I'd be wanting/wondering:

~I'd want to see a current CPR certification. I've been certified for more than a decade, and every time I recertified, something had changed or been improved.

~I'd want the option to spend the first day with my child in the daycare, both to observe the process in action, and to let my child become comfortable.

~Are you planning on accepting special needs kids? You'd be surprised at how many local daycares turned us away because our son is mildly autistic. One way or another, this is a question you'll be asked eventually.

[Darakash]

7 an hour seems a little on the low side for a qualified adult looking after their kids day in and out. it would cost them more in lost wages to quit and look after them. if it doesn't cost them more than that they just won't hire you and somebody else will.

Good point, I was thinking that for me, 7 an hour would be high....280 a week in my area would be a lot to pay considering the wages that most workers receive here, the average person would be paying 70% of their wages for childcare, which for the most part would defeat the purpose, i would think...but if in Pittsburgh, that is not the case, then, obviously, it would be a fair amount. Another thought I had was that you might want to consider and hourly rate for people who are "part time" and a flat rate (based on a slightly reduced per hour calculation) for full-time? Like maybe a 36-40 hour per week child you charge 200 (5 per hour) and a part time, child you charge the full 7? just a thought....