how to look for temporary childcare

[Backroads]

So I find myself in very new territory: looking for childcare.

Background: husband and I both work. But our schedules made childcare for our daughter only an occasional need usually resolved by Grandma for an hour or two.

In February Husband will be out of the state for 3 weeks. I'm not sure if daycares are willing to take a child for a short amount of time or if we should go to the ward (anyone struggling financially that could take an extra toddler for pay).

What's the best way to go about this?

[Guest]

I would ask the ward if anyone would like a short-term childcare job. I'm sure someone could use the money after Christmas. I don't know if daycares would do short-term care or not, but frankly I wouldn't put a little one in daycare in the middle of cold season unless I had to. 

[Just_A_Guy]

There are daycares that will do short-term arrangements (We sent a four-year-old daughter to spend a month with my parents in CA a couple of months ago, and they were able to make an arrangement with a daycare--the same one I went to thirty years ago--to take her about 3 hours per day). 

 

But Just_A_Girl has also done some after-school tending for various kids in our ward (she's a SAHM) and that's worked out pretty well, too.  If you go that route, I'd just suggest that a) you be sure that you trust whoever's doing it, and b ) be generous with what you pay them.

Edited December 7, 2014 by Just_A_Guy

[kapikui]

I would ask the ward if anyone would like a short-term childcare job. I'm sure someone could use the money after Christmas. I don't know if daycares would do short-term care or not, but frankly I wouldn't put a little one in daycare in the middle of cold season unless I had to. 

I used to work in a day care.  I'm pretty sure daycare centers were invented by the Russians during the cold war as a form of biological warfare.

[Bini]

I'm super picky about who I leave my daughter with, even when it comes to family. Be picky! Be careful leaving your child with someone that is eager to make a quick buck. Also, if you don't know the individual on a personal level, make sure you have some good background history on him or her - it's not a perfect process but it's a start. I would never leave my child with someone who does not know CPR (and it's different from infant to adult). So those are some things to consider when looking for someone to tend your kiddo.