Hours?

[BaileeB]

So currently my advertised hours are 7am-5:30pm. Most of my families drop off between 8-8:30 and pick up between 3:45-4:30. The infant I watch is dropped off between 9:30-10 or later and is picked up by 5:30.
I have had a few potential clients reach out wanting to drop off at 6 and 6:45. I am thinking of expanding my hours to open at 6 due to the demand but telling parents that drop off at 6 that children must be picked up by 4/4:30.
So I guess it’s similar to the contracted hours that some providers have.
my husband thinks 7-5:30 is ridiculous and my days are too long 🤣 he has no idea how this works haha so he thinks I shouldn’t open any earlier.
what are everyone’s hours like? Does anyone have 12 hour days and stay sane? Lol
if I do change my hours I think I will try to keep only early day clients and then have the infant be the only one here the last hour or so. Still on the fence since I like to be up at least 1-1.5 hours before first arrival and that would be a very early morning

[GirlMomma]

I wouldn’t go back to offering 6-6 ever again 😅

My hours are 7:30-5:30 for current families. I have one kid here from 7:40-5:25 daily. One family drops off at 9 and pick up around 5:15, one is here at 8 and leaves about 5:15 and the other is dropped off at 8/9 and leaves by 3:30.

Any new family I bring in is on contracted hours between 7:30 AM and 5:00 PM. I am phasing out my 5:30 closing time.

Just my opinion but only having one kid for the last hour gets annoying. I am ready to be done by the time the majority of the kids leave and I feel anxious because I’m stuck until that kid leaves.

[GirlMomma]

BaileeB Oh yeah! That would tick me off. My rule is OFF THE PROPERTY at 5:30. Parents like to pull into my driveway for their convenience. Fine. But they need to move so I can get my vehicle out of my garage when that clock strikes 5:30. 😂

If you wouldn’t mind getting up earlier and you trust her to let you know in advance when the kid wouldn’t be there, then you could accept her.

I have done this twice for parents after I shortened my hours, I am an early bird after all. I wouldn’t do it again though. Shortly after agreeing to do it, I resented the decision both times and here’s why:

1) whether it’s 15 mins or 60 mins, my morning time is precious time for me. I mentally prepare myself for the day, enjoy my water or coffee and sit outside… in silence of course 😂

2) that early morning child is leaving early, which is great! But your day doesn’t end early, you still have others to care for.

[BaileeB]

GirlMomma I am worried I will regret it but I also worry I would regret not taking the opportunity to be done earlier in the day. Especially once my daughter starts school.
My morning time is precious for me too lol that’s why I said I get up 1-1.5 hours before I open. I do all my cleaning and prep at night so that I can spend my time in the morning sitting in silence drinking my coffee mentally preparing for the day.

In regards to your second point, I am contemplating telling the 5:30 mom that my hours are changing due to family reasons and I will now close at 4:30. She can either find someone to pick up at 4:30 or find new care. I am REALLY not worried about losing her as a client because the infant cannot be set down without screaming, she’s only been coming for a month and has already essentially been late to pick up, she shows up anywhere from 9-10:30 in the morning with virtually no notice and it throws off our entire morning routine. The only saving grace is that it’s only M-Th.

[GirlMomma]

BaileeB if you work 6:45/7 to 4:30, then it’s definitely worth it.

CH brought up great points too. It totally depends on you and your family.

[e.j.]

When I first opened my day care, I worked 7-6. Once my kids started school, I switched to 8-4, mostly so they didn't have to share their home or me with the daycare kids. I've kept those hours ever since and would never go back to an 11 or 12 hour day. It was too exhausting. By the time the last dck left, I cooked dinner and cleaned up, it was time for bed. I felt like I had no life other than as a daycare provider.

[GirlMomma]

Yep! Especially in the winter time

[Valerie928]

I wouldn’t go back to offering 6-6 ever again 😅

My hours are 7:30-5:30 for current families. I have one kid here from 7:40-5:25 daily. One family drops off at 9 and pick up around 5:15, one is here at 8 and leaves about 5:15 and the other is dropped off at 8/9 and leaves by 3:30.

Any new family I bring in is on contracted hours between 7:30 AM and 5:00 PM. I am phasing out my 5:30 closing time.

Just my opinion but only having one kid for the last hour gets annoying. I am ready to be done by the time the majority of the kids leave and I feel anxious because I’m stuck until that kid leaves.

I have 1 kid here for the last hour by herself. I hate it too.

[Annalee]

My hours are 6-4:30 and parents get 9.5 hours not to exceed 4:30. All have to arrive by 8 or be considered absent for the day. Most are picked up by people other than parents to meet my 4:30 closing but if they want your services, they will make it work.

[Cat Herder]

If your kids are going to ride the bus one day, it would benefit you to open at least 30 minutes after bus pick-up time. There are constant days they have to bring something to school that can't be brought on the bus. There will be days they miss the bus. There will be Mommy and Me breakfasts and early morning teacher conferences. Allow yourself time to get your kids to school and get back home before opening. It is much better to start that way than to have to fight with clients to change hours later.

The family-only breakfast time will be something your own kids will cherish, they have to share your attention most of their waking hours, otherwise.

The small sanity break before the daycare kids arrive will lower your burnout risk, as well, on the days they ride the bus.

[DeeDee]

My hours are 7am - 6pm, but I have one family that drops off at 6am. They pay a higher rate for the early drop-off. Their my favorite family but it's definitely a long day and I'm pretty exhausted by the end of the day