The Ins and Outs of Drop-In Daycare Centers

Every parent on the planet comes up against the problem of needing a caregiver for their child at the last-minute, at some point. No matter how well you schedule, there are occasions where something which you haven't anticipated will stop you in your tracks and you will need to find some last-minute child care.  This is when the drop-in daycare center comes into its own... as a back up for when life just happens!

Drop in daycare centers are becoming very popular for overworked and harried parents. But there are rules which you should know in advance. First, remember that most drop-in daycares insist that kids must be pre-registered before using their services, and this means paperwork. Second, remember that each drop-in center will have different hours (although typically they run from around eight in the morning to about ten at night). Some don’t offer care on the weekends.

Some centers offer traditional daycare with the addition of drop off services; others are strictly drop in. Make sure that you check out in advance the quality of any center you are considering using for your child, even if you only intend a short stay. Any center must meet your State's guidelines and the same rules that apply to regular daycare centers, so a license should be readily available. Find out whether the staff have training in CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation), are experienced with all ages of children, and have been checked through the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) criminal checks procedures. Make sure that the center follows the regulations for employee per child ratios of care at all times. 

Fees vary enormously, and depend on where you live and where the daycare centre is located. The larger metropolitan areas generally cost much more. Because the center is providing specialized care on a part time basis, all costs will be higher than a typical daycare for daytime workers. In the drop in daycare service industry you’ll find that other fees will apply too. Extra costs for food or diaper use are often charged, and many drop in services required a standardized fee of up to $100.00 for registration. Caring for your children on special holidays, weekends, or late nights will all be charged at higher rates.

There are good and bad points to drop in services - but if you need a quick unplanned hour or two here and there (perhaps when you visit the doctor or dentist, or have some serious shopping to do), a drop-in daycare could be just the thing. Quality drop off services will have lots of planned activities that can allow children to join at a moments notice. You’ll find craft activities based around the age and abilities of children and you may see, if weather permits it, outside group activities that will encourage interactive play and physical exercise, too. Drop in daycare centers will have themes for daytime and night-time that will cater to most children and activities and crafts which your child may well not be able to experience at home. You child will have a lot of fun, and will want to come back again and again.

There are obvious disadvantages. Your child may not settle easily and may be unhappy when you leave. Unless you leave them at the same center regularly, they may find the noise, staff and other children intimidating. All sorts of children will be left at the center, some with illnesses (colds, coughs, etc) and annoyances (nits, etc) which your child will be exposed to. I left my daughter at a daycare center for 2 hours once and she came back using some rather unpleasant language! You must decide whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.