How did you "break up" with your child care provider?

[Anonymous]

We're thinking about switching child care providers, and I'm wondering how to do it gently and not jeopardize DC or the baby's care. We would have to give several weeks notice. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I have done this and it's very hard, but we went for the honesty route.

We were in a wonderful home day situation when I first went back to work. A spot opened up at my husband's company's onsite daycare, and we felt we had to take it. It is a Bright Horizons center and they have an excellent program, preschool program, etc., and you really can't beat the convenience factor. It is 15 minutes from our house in traffic, so it was even more convenient for me on my shorter work- from-home days if I pick up, etc.

We were honest: we said we thought it would take years to get off the wait list, and we have a spot and if we didn't take it, might never get back on, and it was convenient, etc. Our provider was very sad because she has a wonderful relationship with our daughter (and we still keep in touch) but she had previously worked at an onsite daycare for government employees and said it was so wonderful that the moms and dads could come down and be with their kids during the day, etc. and that she totally understood.

We gave about 4 weeks notice and we absolutely did not see the level of care drop. The fact is, most good providers are in it for the children, not the parents.

[Anonymous]

Provide written notice, and in the letter commend the provider for its strengths. if it is not due to any concerns, certainly clearly state that. I provided a letter of reference with my notice, that i offered they could use as they saw fit. When i moved from a home day care situation, i also offered to post on our neighborhood listserv.

I also wrote hand written notes to each of the teachers, thanking them for the positive impact they had made on our family, and again offered to serve as a reference. if you child is old enough, have them make a picture/card for teachers too.

If you are interested in keeping in touch (future child, ad hoc babysitting), let them know.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP - I'm the first responder and wanted to reiterate - we used an agency to be placed in our home care provider, and when we were wrapping up services we were asked to fill out a recommendation form, which we gladly did, and gave both providers that worked in the home glowing, excellent recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP - I'm the first responder and wanted to reiterate - we used an agency to be placed in our home care provider, and when we were wrapping up services we were asked to fill out a recommendation form, which we gladly did, and gave both providers that worked in the home glowing, excellent recommendations.

Which agency?

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the suggestions. We've only been at this provider for a month. It was the only one we got into and we thought the others would take another year, according to projections. I'm glad that others haven't had problems switching (I was imagining that they'd leave him in his crib or a bouncy chair all day to spite me). Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP - I'm the first responder and wanted to reiterate - we used an agency to be placed in our home care provider, and when we were wrapping up services we were asked to fill out a recommendation form, which we gladly did, and gave both providers that worked in the home glowing, excellent recommendations.

Which agency?

Monday Morning Moms - they only operate in Montgomery County and I would highly recommend them. They are expensive (still cheaper than a nanny) but it is run by 3 moms and they have been running it for more than 15 years.

No, i don't work there, we were just really happy with their service as first time parents. Their level of accreditation/standards is way above what state regulation requires.