Helpful Practices

[Blackcat31]

I read a lot of helpful hints or practices providers have that make their days easier so I thought it would be fun and useful to post and share some so what are some helpful practices practices you have that make your day run smoother?

Here are a few of mine:

• ALL children under 12 months on a bottle or spoon fed MUST be fed within an hour prior to drop off so that I am not trying to juggle drop offs with other kids while feeding a hungry baby.
• NO blankets, diaper bags, pacifiers, toys or items from home. I simply do not want the hassle of having to look for/find or maintain toys from home and I don't want to manage sharing them either. Also the "ick" factor from blankets that go back and forth is not for me. Just bring your child. Nothing else
• Children are NEVER allowed to touch doors, door bells, door knobs, gates, latches or light switches. This is for safety and sanity reasons.
• One parent at a time in the entry way. Keeps drop offs easier as I am only having to greet/manage one family at a time.

What are some of your tried and true time and sanity savers that make your day run smoother?

[Annalee]

I meet the child at the door (parents sign in/out outside) and take their hand, shut the door and go on about my day.

I place the child's hand in the pick-up person's hand and send them on their way.....

[Blackcat31]

I'm kinda bummed that I went back to drop off and pick up inside. I still have the only one parent at a time rule inside but I wish I would have stuck with outside too! lol!

[Annalee]

I don't plan on EVER coming back in....LOL

[Cat Herder]

Nope. Nope, nopety, nope.

[Alwaysgreener]

I read a lot of helpful hints or practices providers have that make their days easier so I thought it would be fun and useful to post and share some so what are some helpful practices practices you have that make your day run smoother?

Here are a few of mine:

• ALL children under 12 months on a bottle or spoon fed MUST be fed within an hour prior to drop off so that I am not trying to juggle drop offs with other kids while feeding a hungry baby.
• NO blankets, diaper bags, pacifiers, toys or items from home. I simply do not want the hassle of having to look for/find or maintain toys from home and I don't want to manage sharing them either. Also the "ick" factor from blankets that go back and forth is not for me. Just bring your child. Nothing else
• Children are NEVER allowed to touch doors, door bells, door knobs, gates, latches or light switches. This is for safety and sanity reasons.
• One parent at a time in the entry way. Keeps drop offs easier as I am only having to greet/manage one family at a time.

What are some of your tried and true time and sanity savers that make your day run smoother?

Ugh all the policies that I am having trouble with DCB isnt always feed with in an hour and depending on if he naps right away will determine if I will need to feed him before or after the bus.

DCB4 keeps sneaking his blanket in. I have told both parents that he is fine with out it but they keep bringing it. The thing is that it is not daily, just random. "When ever he needs it" according to dcm on top of it, it stinks. I do make him leave it in the entry way and I try to bag it so he doesn't see it at all.


MY last Dcg of the day just started trying to open the door when her mom arrives.

I think I nipped this one but it is rare that two drop offs happen at the same time.

[Cat Herder]

Give it back. Wash it and return it with a strong patchouli scent. They sell the little laundry sachets. lol! It won't take long before they won't send it because it always comes back home reeking of south beach speedo.

[Alwaysgreener]

Cat Herder this dcm may question me. What would I tell her why the blanket smells?

[Cat Herder]

I'd tell her the cigarette smell was strong and the kids were making comments to DCK, so you washed it "for her". Smokers know they stink.

[Valerie928]

I get up at 5:30 everyday. I know by giving myself ample time to have everything in order before the first kid comes helps a lot.

I make it a point everyday to personally 1 on 1 connect with each child. At least if the day ends up shitty, I can say I tried.

[Blackcat31]

YES!! Not enough time is ever devoted to personal time and as most of us have figured out, you can't pour from an empty cup so that little act of "selfishness" is absolutely vital to a person's well being! Good for you!!

I also love that you make a point of making sure you connect with every child 1 to 1 each day. That little moment is a huge moment for them!

[Valerie928]

Ugh all the policies that I am having trouble with DCB isnt always feed with in an hour and depending on if he naps right away will determine if I will need to feed him before or after the bus.

DCB4 keeps sneaking his blanket in. I have told both parents that he is fine with out it but they keep bringing it. The thing is that it is not daily, just random. "When ever he needs it" according to dcm on top of it, it stinks. I do make him leave it in the entry way and I try to bag it so he doesn't see it at all.


MY last Dcg of the day just started trying to open the door when her mom arrives.

I think I nipped this one but it is rare that two drop offs happen at the same time.

Ewwww, stinky blanket! That's so 😝 gross

[Alwaysgreener]

Dogs and smoke, yuck

[GirlMomma]

Alwaysgreener the worst smell!!!!

[Cat Herder]

1. I change everyone's diaper and coat them with a medical-grade skin protectant upon arrival to make changes easier for the day. No more rubbing or, gag, flaking off undigested food particles. I repeat every other change, minimum, and after every BM. Changes every two hours, minimum. No diaper rash here.

2. Nothing is allowed from home other than a change of clothing and shoes. - I am legally liable for anything on the premises, known or not. I do provide personal fleece blankets that the children pick out themselves from a vast collection. It "belongs" to them until their very last day here. Team Jersey rules.

3. I provide everything (diapers, formula, wipes, diaper cream, shampoo, baby bath, sunscreen, etc.) included with tuition. - Less product preference and resupply drama when it is free. If someone has a preference, they express a great reason why, and it is not price prohibitive I will change products for everyone. Change my mind, I love it.

4. Everyone has a chapstick in their cubby. I rub it on their cheeks, lips and chin after every nose wipe to avoid that iconic slapped cheek look. I also apply the skin protectant to infants' chests upon arrival to avoid those prickly heat and contact dermatitis rashes from spitting up or drooling.

5. I use a fruit-scented detangler mixed 1/1 with water in a spray bottle to brush everyone's hair and freshen them up for going home time. The kids love the scent and attention. For parents, picking up a clean, fresh-smelling child reminds them that they are only little for a short while. They remember when they loved fruit-scented shampoo and perfumes, too. Non-verbal, maybe even subliminal, but they hug them just a bit longer and breathe them in. I love that part. They comment on that the most of everything I do.

There are a million other things, but those are the ones that come to mind right now.

[Momboss]

I provide everything too, but i still get parents that would prefer their child using the brand they want and tell me they will bring those items. How do you prevent that? Idk how to explain that i dont want to keep track of whose diapers are whose, whose clothes are whose..which is eexactly why i provide them. Less mental work. Lol. I have parents that stil lwant to peovide their extra clothes, but i tell them that by me providing the clothes, they ar eless likely to forget to replace their supply here because when they wash the outfir, they will remeber it doesnt belong to them, thus bringing it back to daycare.

[Alwaysgreener]

Momboss you could take their supplies as donations, and when they bring the supplies you can thank them for the donation.

Add add a policy that states that all supplies brought in by the parents are considered donations to the daycare and will not be returned.

[flying_babyb]

this dcm may question me. What would I tell her why the blanket smells?
Last edited by Alwaysgreener; 6 hours ago.

"Im sorry mom, little johny needed his blanket alot today, including during outside time. it just got SO dirty. I know he loves it SO much, so I washed it"

[Alwaysgreener]

The kid is four and I don't let him have it outside of nap time. Today he brought it and played around during nap, (annoying me by constantly moving around on the mat making crinkling sounds), I warned him if he didn't stop, I was taking the blanket, he didn't stop so I took the blanket. It wasn't long after that he was asleep and hard to wake up when it was time to get up. Yesterday you didn't have his blanket and he fell asleep early and stayed asleep the whole time.

Anyways, he goes home like 30 minutes after nap so anything that happened to it would have to happen before nap.

Honestly I thought about blaming my allergies, I'm allergic/sensitive to both smoke and dog. I think I'm getting headache during nap time on the days that he has it.

[Cat Herder]

Make it simple. "It smelled bad so I washed it for you." It is a service, not a punishment. Or you can just tell her NO.