Best way to find "crunchy" childcare?

[curiouscanadian]

If you're so lucky, how did you manage to find "crunchy" childcare? We're having some issues with our current sitter who is great with DS but isn't quite on the same page for a lot of things. While she's fairly willing to humor us, I think she finds our choices odd in varying degrees (ie. ok with the cloth diapers but thinks ECing is really weird, won't babywear and not really on board with what I would call healthy eating, let alone organic food). How did/do you go about finding someone with similar values to yours?

Also, how far out of your way would you go to have crunchy childcare? I came across an ad today that mentioned organic lunches and snacks, which is a good start, but it's the opposite direction from work and would add at least 40 minutes to the commute each way...

[Magelet]

Tell me how you would want to find a crunchy sitter?! lol. I'm a crunchy lady looking for nanny work. I'd rather work for a family who is also crunchy, but haven't been entirely sure how to advertise that fact.

[granola_mom]

I think the best thing to do is just look around at what's available in your area. You're probably not going to find something that's 100% what you are looking for but you'll get a feel for it once you see the place and meet the people.

[~pi]

Local contacts, local email lists, local LLL groups, etc.

[Ianthe]

I found a woman on craigslist in my area. She advertised that she did vegetarian and organic lunches, creative art projects and pretend play time.. I emailed her and she was OK with cloth diapering (she CD'd her own DD), and more stuff, I don't remember.

We didn't end up having her be DS1's child care provider because DH got laid off, but she seamed perfect for us.

[nina_yyc]

I used the following screening questions:
1. Give some examples of what the kids eat
2. DD does not watch TV. Will this be a problem?
3. How do you handle a baby who won't nap?

Luckily, I don't have to go out of my way, but since we share a car I have to do all the dropoffs and pickups. How far would I go out of my way? That depends. How many hours do you work? Does your DP do dropoffs and pickups? How available is childcare in your area? Do you get support with parenting and housework duties at home?

Personally, I would be fine with 10-15 mins out of the way (one-way.) I'm a working mom, it's not like I have tons of time on my hands. But, there are a wide variety of day homes available close to my work.

[columbusmomma]

Do you have a local,in your area AP group? You could check there.....

[Caneel]

Don't over look daycare centers. (Unless of course, you are opposed to them for specific reasons) I am so pleased with the mission of DS's daycare and in how the staff is 100% committed to honoring parent's choices, reducing waste, setting a mindful example and so on.

It is a not for profit and that probably has something to do with it. (It is not associated with any religion or affinity organization)

In the infant room, the caregivers wore the babies as much as possible and there is a contingent of volunteer grandmas for cuddling and rocking duty. They were totally supportive of BF/expressed milk. I don't know about the CD. I do know other moms supplied their own, homemade wipes.

While they don't do organic food, all food is prepared from scratch, on site, no junk ever. The older kids have their own garden and that food is incorporated into the menu.

I know requests such as soy milk, no dairy and of course, any allergy-related restrictions are strictly adhered to. There are big signs right at the tables and fridge - "no dairy for Sam" "Katie is allergic to...." and so on.

I regularly see boys dressed at princesses, my own included, so I know they don't restrict creative play to gender roles and where I live, that is a big thing.

[freestylemama]

Originally Posted by nina_yyc

I used the following screening questions:
1. Give some examples of what the kids eat
2. DD does not watch TV. Will this be a problem?
3. How do you handle a baby who won't nap?

Yes! I also asked about selective/delayed vaccinations, cloth diapers, open door policies, and sending breast milk for a two year old.

I think you should just tour places and get a feel for how kids are dealt with. I also asked working moms I knew from "crunchy" places where their kids went.

Good luck!

[nina_yyc]

Originally Posted by freestylemama

Yes! I also asked about selective/delayed vaccinations, cloth diapers, open door policies, and sending breast milk for a two year old.

I think you should just tour places and get a feel for how kids are dealt with. I also asked working moms I knew from "crunchy" places where their kids went.

Good luck!

Those are all great questions! I also observed the behavior of the older children (DD was only 11mo at the beginning) and her response to the kids. I did the interview during day home hours.

[JL83]

I had no luck with small private sitters. Some of them gave me the answers I wanted, but didn't appear to actual "walk the walk". Said they had healthy food, but that ended up being "whole grain" crackers from a box, or thinking that Annies mac and cheese was somehow better than the kraft stuff.

We went with a center because the policies, from discipline to food, were well laid out and followed. My DD was a bit older when we started (20mo) so knowing that they did not use punishments (like time-outs or other things) was very reassuring.

But they make all their food on site from scratch. They let kids make choices all the time. They don't force things (like jackets or hats).

[bajamergrrl]

I found someone on craigslist who identified as AP. When I interviewed her I asked about what that term meant to her. Turns out she had raised her daughter very similarly to how I am raising DS (i.e. cloth diapers, babywearing, breastfeeding on cue, no cry-it-out, no spanking etc.) . I'm going to give her a try starting next month. She's only about 20 minutes away from my house but I have a 45-minute commute to work so I'm going to have to plan my route carefully. I don't know if I could've gone with anyone that would've taken me really out of the way unless I couldn't find any suitable options in my area.

[~pi]

I would consider your priorities, and, if possible, list them. You're unlikely to find a place that has everything that you want (close, convenient, into babywearing, cloth, EC, etc.) so it might help for you to identify for yourself which are must-haves and which are nice-to-haves.

E.g., for me, the big deal is general demeanour and discipline style. I put up with minor quibbles on other issues (e.g., occasional TV, minor differences in what we understand as healthy food) to get someone who rocked my DS to sleep for naps and used GD.

[FourTrees]

If AP/babywearing, food from scratch are very important to you, my suggestion would be to look for a place that not only says that they are into the things you listed, but has no other infants. An example: I am AP all the way. But, in addition to my ten month old son, I care for my five month old nephew while his parents work. I can't wear them both and some days feel like all I do is go back and forth with them. That means that one is left crying because I really have no choice. Granted, I keep the crying one with me as well, but it goes against how I feel they should be cared for... As for food - there is no way that I could add in homecooked food during the day with the two babies.

I just thought I'd throw that out there. If you are looking at a place with only one caregiver, make sure there are no other infants. Older children would be different and of course it would be different if there were multiple caregivers. Just something to think about...

[freestylemama]

Originally Posted by JL83

I had no luck with small private sitters. Some of them gave me the answers I wanted, but didn't appear to actual "walk the walk". Said they had healthy food, but that ended up being "whole grain" crackers from a box, or thinking that Annies mac and cheese was somehow better than the kraft stuff.

We went with a center because the policies, from discipline to food, were well laid out and followed. My DD was a bit older when we started (20mo) so knowing that they did not use punishments (like time-outs or other things) was very reassuring.

But they make all their food on site from scratch. They let kids make choices all the time. They don't force things (like jackets or hats).

This is all really amazing. Are you at a Waldorf daycare? I can't imagine a center functioning without forcing things like jackets or hats. The kids wouldn't be able to go out. Granted, I live somewhere very cold and most children get used to bundling up pretty quickly. I also can't imagine one not doing any processed foods. I love my daughter's center but they get ww crackers and sometimes worse. Then again, we give her processed mac and cheese at home, so food obviously isn't my big issue .

[MamaChicken]

I found mine on MDC.

[JL83]

Originally Posted by freestylemama

This is all really amazing. Are you at a Waldorf daycare? I can't imagine a center functioning without forcing things like jackets or hats. The kids wouldn't be able to go out. Granted, I live somewhere very cold and most children get used to bundling up pretty quickly. I also can't imagine one not doing any processed foods. I love my daughter's center but they get ww crackers and sometimes worse. Then again, we give her processed mac and cheese at home, so food obviously isn't my big issue .

No, it's a prefectly normal center except that it has AP values. I actually wouldn't send my child to a Waldorf school. I object to the teachings of Steiner.

They don't use force. I live in a cold northern city and they still let kids chose. They don't have to put on their coats (although almost all of them do with no fuss) but if the teacher thinks its cold enough, they need to carry them to the playground. Same things with hats. They can chose to put them on or not, but they do need to bring them. In reality, the staff will carry them if the kid throws a fit (because it's pointless to try to force a 2yo to carry anything).

They have a cook. He cooks and bakes everything onsite. They use fresh fruit all the time, and there are lots of stews and soups. But no nuggets or fish sticks or hotdogs.

[curiouscanadian]

Thanks so much for the suggestions mamas, keep 'em coming!

I particularly like the screening questions. I think part of the problem with my first search not turning out quite like I'd hoped had to do with me not knowing what questions to ask.

Do you have a local,in your area AP group? You could check there.....

We do have a local AP group but they meet once a month during the day which I can't make because I'm back to work already. I think I'll try the LLL group though, it meets next week anyway. ETA: This is part of my problem, my few RL "crunchy" contacts all seem to meet during the week, and now that I've gone back to work I don't see them anymore

Don't over look daycare centers. (Unless of course, you are opposed to them for specific reasons)

Caneel, sounds like you found an AWESOME daycare, can you ask them please to open another one where I live?? Honestly though I hadn't really considered daycares because I liked the idea of a consistent caregiver, but I suppose I ought to at least look. The sitter he's with is through a dayhome agency so they follow a lot of daycare-type standards and policies just in a smaller setting. (Unfortunately the agency doesn't seem to have much in the lines of other openings at the moment.)

I did the interview during day home hours.

I'd love to do this, but again, working during the day... How do you vette them when you can't see them in action so to speak, or do I really need to take time off work to do this? (How important is it?)

I found mine on MDC.

Oooh! That'd be great, but where did you post something like that?? I'm not sure where a thread like that would be appropriate. Except maybe here, lol! HINT HINT

[Caneel]

Yeah, it is awesome. I was just talking to a college student that works there in the afternoon (maybe not paid, might be part of her studies) and told her to pay attention and learn from the staff because she is in a great facility.

[Ellien C]

network, network, network -- but also realize that you are going to have to give up some things. I was very happy with our small day care center, but they used time outs (what are you gonna do with 12 kids?) and there was ocasional TV. You may not find someone who going to be "just like you," and that's OK. It will be good for your kid to have a different experience with someone else.