Have You Ever Had to "Dump" One of Your Daycare Kids??

I would much rather know that it is not a good fit with my kid then you continue to watch the child and not be happy with the situation. So just be honest and don't feel bad!! when you see her tomorrow just speak up and let her know then(don't drag it out)tell her, you thought it would be a good idea to have the infant, but infants are a lot of work and responsibility and you have come to realize that as much as you love her precious baby that you realized that you are pass the baby stage. Give her about a month or so to find a new provider(you don't want to give her much more time because if you are already ready to be done, even a month is a long time!!

wow thats a long time to be away from mom. Tell her the truth. Yiour having a hard time juggling the older kids with the demands of the little one. You love him but feel he needs a place that has more time for him.

As a mom who had this happen to her, my only suggestion is to expect her to be very upset. I'm sure this mom doesn't like being away from her little baby for that long of a time period and would probably do anything she could to Not do so. She has probably been comforting herself with the fact that at least she has such a great provider. Mama guilt is crippling, as I'm sure you know. Not only that, but now her little baby has to make another transition to a new provider, once she finds a good one (which can be a feat in itself). So this is going to be a big deal to her. My advice is to give her plenty of notice and don't get offended and take it personally if she gets upset. be empathetic but NOT defensive. It sounds like you are feeling guilty, and it would be easy for you to react defensively to her if she gets upset initially. Try not to, it will just make things worse.

You could call your liscensor and get some resources you could give to her to assist in her search.

just be honest with her as far as letting her know what you told us about cutting into family time and affecting your family as well. 10-8 6 days a week is alot to take care of a newborn,infant and will take a toll on you physcially and mentally.

Be very sure you really want to do this. Infants take some juggling I know. But they usually stay from birth to school. It's so much easier to care for a 2 and 3 year old that you have helped raise up. They don't go through the separation anxiety when they've been with you for a long time like that. Also, they know your rules inside and out before they enter the terrible two's or the mouthy 3's. I would NEVER let go of a family for these reasons. You wouldn't let go of your own infant would you?

If you are determined to do this, I'd tell her that you aren't suited for infants and won't be taking them anymore and mean it.

Oh No! Can you be honest that it's too much, and maybe see if she can't find someone else for 3 of those 6 days?

:(

I am a home childcare provider also. I agree with others, the sooner you tell her, the better. You might want to change your working hours. Mine are 7:30am to 5:30pm, Monday thru Friday. I have a 10 year old son and I need to give him total attention at least in the evening (help him with homework, or take him to sport activities). I take care of infants, sometimes more than one and I think it is very demanding, so I make sure I give myself time to rest, recharge.

Bethany,
Well, I did not read all your responses but the few I did read, WOW, seriously, whoever S L M is, come on! Yes, I did have to end care for a child that I had in my care. She was a high need baby, I had a high need baby and I felt that I was not able to give the level of care to either of them, much less the other two babies I had to tend to. It was tough, but I expressed that it was too much for me at that time and I truly wanted her child to receive the level of care needed, and that I would give her til this (specify date) to find another provider. I expressed my love for her child but felt completely torn in trying to meet the needs alone.

The hours you are keeping that child is too long!!! Bless your heart. It is so hard to be an in home provider----you never know, you prompting this may allow for her to see if she can work less hours to spend more time with your child. Sometimes there are other things at work that we can't see....in the child I was watching, it was a wake up call, she had the child looked at, she got tubes, and was so much happier......I hate that it had to be after I dismissed her, but honestly I am thankful that baby got the much needed rest and calm she had been screaming for for so long.

Do what is right for your family and you.......

I had to ask a family to leave and it was really tough. The child wasn't easy, but the parent's were totally crazy and they were making me crazy.

In your case, I would do as others have suggested. Be honest about the fact that you really like them and the child, but it isn't working for you in other areas of your life. Give them a date when you have to stop care so they have a chance to find a new provider. I agree that 10-8 6 days a week in A LOT of time... I would definitely decide on what you want your schedule to be for your life to feel in balance and not take kids outside of that time.

Good luck!

I used to do childcare, before I had my 2nd child.
I did that until I was 8 months pregnant with my 2nd child.

I had a toddler, that just did not fit in, with my eldest child. She was, a real bratty/rough kid. Anyway I tried many things. The parents were nice. But I finally had to 'dump' this child. The parents understood. It was fine.

But yes, you can give the parent time to find someone else. But HAVE a deadline. Or you may be waiting for them, forever. To do that.

Next: if you continue to watch other kids, you have to delineate how long you will do that. 10:00am-8:00pm is a long time.
So YOU have decide, on your hours.
Or, you have to decide, on maybe not babysitting anymore.
Because yes, it is tiring. And you entire day will revolve around the other kid(s). That is your 'job.'

I did childcare, from 8:00am-5:00pm. Only on Monday-Friday. NO weekends.
After that, it was MY family time with my daughter and HER routines. Thereby, it did NOT, interfere in my family's evening time.

Honesty is the best policy.

Be truthful in that it is just more than you can continue to take on right now with your family life. Give her a written notice with a deadline/last date that you are available. My contract said 2 weeks. When I had to "dump" a family, that's all I gave. However, I didn't like the parents OR the child. In this case, I'd probably give a 3 or 4 week period for her to find someone else. But I doubt it will be easy with that schedule......