I have considered this option for the opportunity to stay home and raise my kids. I even went as far as to keep a few kids for a short period of time.

It was one of the hardest things I had ever done. The kids were good kids but had moments that made me want to pull my hair out. i tried keeping them busy, we had snack time, nap time, outside time, even learning time. If they were all in the mood, we did good. But there was always the one who didn't want to and made the rest of them just crazy.

After about a year, i quit. It was hard and at the end of the day, I was too tired to be with my kids. The ones I had at home didn't want to share me and at times were the worst one of the group.

In the end, the reason I quit was not because of the kids but because of the parents. Some thought that because I was not a center, that they could pay me whenever they wanted to. It left me short of the supplies that I needed for the week.

I found some pros and cons of in-home child care services

----quote---
Type of childcare Average cost for full-time care Advantages Disadvantages
Home daycare $344 to $792 a month for babies • Nurturing, homelike • No backup if provider gets
and toddlers (average $525) atmosphere sick
• $295 to $750 a month for
preschoolers (average $474) • Smaller groups of • Most providers don't have
children than at large formal schooling in early
daycare centers childhood education
• Less expensive than
most other childcare • No caregiver
• Kids socialize with supervision
children in the same • Less stringent
and other age groups licensing
• Usually more flexible requirements
pickup and drop-off
times than a center
------end of quote----

A home day care and a day care center have similarities. Both entities are subject to state laws regarding background checks, inspection, licensing, insurance, education and the number of children per adult caretaker.

Child care in the home now requires licensing with the state, as well as proof of CPR training. Having a contract for services rendered should help parents fully understand that the home child care is an actual day care center (in the home) and therefore, payment is required for services. It should be listed in the contract that the child(ren) can’t come back to the caretaker home if they missed a payment. Late payments shouldn’t be tolerated either.

Some parents are bound to think that the home day care is less professional and it’s not a problem to place additional burdens on the caretaker. If the caretaker requires that children bring their own meals and snacks and the parents fail to do so, then the caretaker should charge in addition to the regular fee. The caretaker should not have to provide diapers, baby formula or a clean change of clothing if it’s not specifically stated in the contract.

The home day care should be child-proofed and have special space for playtime, sleep time and meals, the same as a day care center.

The downside to a home day care is that state inspectors can come into the home and look around, which can be a bit uncomfortable, since it is a home. Any licensing documents or certificates should be displayed on the wall for parents to see.

Having a home day care just to make a few extra dollars is not a good idea. Caretakers should like children and have a high tolerance for other people’s children, especially in numbers, and be prepared for differences in behavior due to their own home training. Some children are taught manners and some are not. One of the main things regarding manners is the teaching of children to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, so that germs won‘t get spread. This can be very repetitive, as it takes the small child many tries to get it right.

Taking care of several relatives’ children may or may not make it an easier run child care. A relative may feel free to be late picking up their child or sit down to relax instead of taking their child home.

I would not have a home day care because of the time constraints. Working parents usually work every day, and there wouldn't be enough time for a caretaker to run errands. Taking the children out of the house would require additional permission contracts from the parents. Working in a day care can be flexible if there are other workers that can alternate days or shifts.