Parenting Newborns & Infants (0-1) Support Group

Feeding your infant and ensuring they are getting enough nutrition is one of the most important aspects of parenting during that first year. This community is dedicated to those who are nurturing a baby, whether breastfed or formula-fed.

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Dawnee222 12/01/2010

My 5 month old DD goes to home daycare full time and WE LOVE them! There's 2 people who run it - the lady in charge or daycare person (DCP) and her assistant who happens to be her mother-in-law. We've had DD going for close to 3 months. I know it is customary to give your childcare provider a bonus around the holidays, but what do you think is appropriate for my situation where DD has only been going there 3 months? I know I want to give something as my appreciation to her is priceless, but what is an appropriate amount? And how much should we give to her assistant as well? I've been hearing anything from $30 to a weeks pay. That can be any amount! I was thinking cash of $75 for our DCP and $50 to her assistant and definitely more next year. Just not sure. I just don't want to be stingy. Or should I give one amount, put both names on the envelope and let my DCP divy it? Just curious as to what others have given. Thanks!

deleted_user 12/01/2010

Great Post! My DH and I have been debating the same thing. Our son is in a similar daycare situation and we are so happy he is there. I'm curious to see what others say.

deleted_user 12/01/2010

Oh my I had NO idea about this! There are a lot of people working at the daycare where I send my babes. I really like the owner and her daughter, not sure about the others, they arent there very long. What to do? What to do?

deleted_user 12/01/2010

There was a time when I gave my single day care provider one week's pay as a bonus. If it is many people who care for your child, you may consider a small gift card. If it is a large day care, yo may even consider something for the cook, a bigger gift for the main providers, and a smaller one for those who are "substitutes".
Alternatively, a small gift for each, like a box of chocolates, some bath essentials, and I found a bottle of inexpensive wine is always welcome, and not too expensive!
How much do you pay per day to your current provider, to see if those amounts that you mention are ok?

deleted_user 12/01/2010

We use an in-home care provider and instead of a bonus we buy her a gift and a gift for all the kids to use (like art supplies, a DVD, or a board game). We couldn't possibly afford to pay her an extra weeks pay since we have two babies there.

Dawnee222 12/01/2010

I pay $270 per week.

deleted_user 12/02/2010

We have four ladies at our montessori school and were going to go with $50 in gift cards each. We were thinking Wal-Mart or Target since just about everyone shops at one of those places.

Now I'm wondering if $50 is enough. These are the folks that watch the person I love more than anything in this world...

deleted_user 12/02/2010

I asked some of my friends who have been at this longer than me. They also use home daycare with the provider and her assistant and some give one week in a card addressed to both the provider and asst and some give the provider one week and the asst 1/2 of a week. Which GULP, is a lot of money for us a xmas.

Dawnee222 12/02/2010

I talked to DH about it this morning. Given we've been there short of 3 months, we're probably going to give them each like a $25 gift card somewhere and a bottle of wine or something...not sure exactly what. Next year is when we'll discuss a larger bonus, like possibly a week's pay. Thanks everyone. But I'm still curious what others respond.

theletter12 12/02/2010

Ugh - not to be mean but come on - I know the daycare provides for my child - but a tip too - A WEEK's PAY - wow - I have a job - I don't get a bonus or a tip at christmas. I can't even go to the Christmas party for my $20 free dinner because I can't get a baby sitter who I'd have to pay more than $20 free dinner.. I pay the daycare on time, provide everything for her... it is so expensive already.

I was just going to give some of my homemade cookies that take me all weekend to bake. What happened to nice, small gifts like that???

laraM 12/02/2010

I am not sure what we are going to do but I have heard that a week's pay was a customary gift. GULP is right!

deleted_user 12/02/2010

I like that idea theletter12...Every year since I was prego with dd (I guess thats only 2 yrs lol) but I make chocolate peanut butter balls (some call it buckeye candy) I think I will make extra and put it in a nice tin can, with a card attached. My babes only go 3 days a week if that, some weeks they dont go at all.

deleted_user 12/02/2010

We pay $100 per week (thank God for our sitter!) but she only watches DS on days that school is in (DH is a teacher and keeps him all other days). So the week of Thanksgiving our sitter only kept DS 2 days and over Christmas it will be 2.5 days - we are going to give her full pay for both weeks plus an extra $25 which will end up being about a week's worth of pay.

deleted_user 12/02/2010

A bonus on the holidays for a daycare? This is totally new and foreign to me....I'm in Canada...do people do that here? Really?

deleted_user 12/05/2010

Great thread all... in my research I found the same thing.. (1) week is customary. We have a nanny at home but she's only been employed for 1 1/2 months by Xmas time so I am going to give her the one week prorated for the time she has been with us and will then do the full one week next year. It is a lot for sure.. boy I certainly do wish homemade cookies would do the trick!

deleted_user 12/06/2010

I think people should give what they want AND are able to give. If you want to give a weeks pay and have that to give, by all means, do it, but I know that a heartfelt hand-written note given with a small, thoughtful gift can be very meaningful as well. I pay my sitter year round, whether or not my son is there (I'm a teacher, and she takes 3 weeks of vacation as well), and I know not everyone does that. I know she appreciates that I do that, and it works well with our budget to pay the same year round rather than breaking the bank at Christmas. I also think treating your child care provider well all the time and reminding them often how grateful you are to them is better than the best Christmas present!

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