Does anyone use family daycare?

[juliek]

Hi guys,

I'm starting back at work full time in a few weeks and am in the process of organising family daycare.
I just want to know peoples thoughts and experiences. I will only be using them two days a week as my mum is doing one day and my Fil two.

Has anyone had any problems?
Do you think they're better or worse than a centre?
Does anyone know what regulations they have to follow?

Any info you have would be great.
Thanks in adavnce
Julie.

[QTB]

i use family daycare for my wee guys, he loves it, i love it!

Has anyone had any problems? nope! no problems at all, carers are supported completely by co-ordinaters, its great, just like a second family for Brayden, there is only a few kiddies and Brayden has got to know them all realllly well, they still go to playgroup and stuff like that, its fantastic

Do you think they're better or worse than a centre? i havent had brayden in a centre, but i wouldnt send him to one either, i have worked in child care centres and family day care are cleaner, they spend more time with the children and they love the kiddies like they are there own!

Does anyone know what regulations they have to follow? they have to follow all the same regs as a daycare centre, and some, there houses and cars are fully safety checked, they have to get roadworthys every 6 months (or year i cant remember) carseats have to be installed properly etc...

a few other things i love, she gives my son his medication on time every time (daycare centres couldnt guarente it would be done on time or at all!) they go with braydens sleep times, not when every other child is sleeping.... I always have the carers support as well as the co-ordinators support.

all i can think of at the moment, but if you have any more Qs let me know

i cant speak highly enough of FDC!!

[QTB]

BTW my bub is only in 2 days as well

[jungle_queen]

Like any childcare option, the experience all depends on the interactions between your child and the carer.
In NSW I had the most fantastic FDC. She was early childhood trained, had her own daughter who was a little bit older than mine and if I could have bottled her and brought her to Melbourne with me I would have! The saddest part of moving interstate was not being away from family and friends but leaving her! She was the first person on the list who had a place and so I was just lucky.
In Melbourne, my FDC was OK. I had a carer who lived in a small flat, and really I don't think she was keen on it at all. When I was offered a place in a centre I grabbed it. And my carer said "I would choose a centre if I had kids!" She wasn't a bad carer, just not overly energetic about it all ... and of course if you're looking after a few kids in each you need loads of energy and enthusiasm for the task.

Personally, if you find the right carer in FDC, this would be my preferred option for little ones (under 18 months say). IT's more like a family environment, and the attention is more one on one.

[Jem]

Been through a few carers.. Its a matter of finding one that loves your child.. and one that your child loves.

[RHJ]

I am a childcare worker who will be starting my own FDC at home in Jan. My 2 year old son has used both FDC and centre based care. He is an outgoing child who i thought would be fine in centre based care. And he was till i put him in FDC 2 days a week ( as i knew the carer and it was cheaper). He ADORED FDC and started crying when he went to childcare. So i moved him into full time FDC. all his carers at the centre were fantastic, he just liked FDC better.
BTW... FDC is NOT regulated in all states like childcare centres. Victoria does not yet have Regs. The council that i will be working for has their own standards and safety checks. So best to contact your local FDC scheme to ask those sorts of questions.